Read Luke 19:45-48
Yes, Jesus gets angry! Our intimate walk with Jesus to the cross continues as he enters Jerusalem. You’ll recall how he cried out to Jerusalem in our last reading, lamenting her future. Now he sees firsthand how the holy Temple has been abused! Jeremiah’s prophecy had predicted it, “Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken!” (Jeremiah 7:11)
What did Jesus’ disciples do at his outburst? They were certainly surprised. Jesus was usually the calm, level-headed one who loved even the unlovable. This display of anger made sense, especially considering the pressure Jesus was under knowing his final hours were approaching.
My reflection goes in a personal direction. Our bodies have also been likened to temples. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul says, “Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
How are you doing at keeping your body holy to worship Jesus? Do you even give it much thought? If we’re not careful, the evil one can infiltrate our lives and entice us to use our bodies for other purposes. It comes down to our surrender. I want to honor God in all I say and do.
Jesus seems to have made his point pretty clear. Other accounts of Jesus’ rage go into a little more detail. I like how Luke moves on to focus on how Jesus continues to love on his followers by teaching them daily. There is so much left to share! I imagine I would have been like those hanging on every word Jesus spoke.
Would I have even noticed the religious leaders showing their disapproval? Would their scheming have been obvious to onlookers, or did they make their plans in secret? Jesus knew, and that breaks my heart knowing the agony Jesus must have been going through in these last days. I’ve always marveled at how these smart religious leaders could be so blind! How was it that God was in their very presence, and yet they could not see?
Has Jesus made himself obvious to you? Think of an encounter you can explain no other way but to say, “that was all Jesus!” It’s often in our times of weakness when Jesus shines through. I always remember the story of Gideon and how unprepared he felt to be used by God. Or David, as a shepherd boy coming up against the giant, Goliath. The Holy Spirit’s power has been empowering God’s people for a long time.
So why not now? Perhaps that’s what it looks like to us, that the Holy Spirit wasn’t there giving the religious leaders eyes to see. What if the opposite is true? What if it was the Holy Spirit working in them, keeping them blind to accepting Jesus’ true identity. How else could God’s salvation plan have played out if the religious leaders were holding rallies and revivals, bringing positive attention to Jesus because they craved his presence, too?
As unlikely as it seems, these leaders had a role to play. And they didn’t falter. They did what God needed them to do. Our journey with Jesus to the cross will show us how seriously they took the role they had been given.
What role have you been given in Jesus’ story of love and redemption? Think on that today.
Let’s pray …
Heavenly Father, I give you thanks for your perfect plan that includes me. You have chosen me for a purpose, and I want to live that out. It was good to see Jesus being real with his anger and disappointment in the people’s behavior. May I never abuse you or take your mercy for granted. Give me the strength I need for today. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
