15 Mar 09
Third Sunday in Lent
A New Temple
John 2:13-22
If we are not careful, the things of the world tend to find their way into our holiest moments and places. Even temples can become cluttered and corrupted.
The anger of Jesus in ridding the temple of all those who were turning it into one large shopping mall can be understood in what He said: “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (v16). Elsewhere He admonished that they had turned God’s House of Prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). The temple authorities had allowed the Court of the Gentiles in the temple to become an “obstacle course” crowded with money-making ventures. They made lucrative profits from “religious business”, turning the worship of God into a highly profitable enterprise. Not only were they corrupting the temple with their greed and shady business practices, but they were also making it difficult for God-fearing Gentiles to visit the temple.
In so doing, the mafia that was running this business in the temple had totally distorted the sacred theological truths about worship and mission represented by God’s Temple. Hence, the anger of our Lord.
The corrupting influence of the world and the quest for wealth and power that is deeply embedded in the human heart continue to threaten our sanctuaries. If the Lord were to visit our churches, what or who would He throw out? The more we instituitionalise our churches, the more we have to be careful that we don’t turn them into obstacles to or substitutes for true worship and mission.
Jesus introduces us to a new Temple---- He Himself (v21). We can enter Him without being deceived or distracted for He is the heavenly Temple ---- fully God, and without corruption. Here we find true encouragement and hope.
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender the things of the world that I have been bringing into your holy Church.
Lord, I surrender all the corrupt and sinful things in the sanctuary of my heart that bring grief to your holy heart.
Prayer:
Lord of the Temple, cleanse, with your precious blood, our churches and our hearts of all that is deceived and deceiving, and make us holy sanctuaries, fit for your eternal purposes. Amen.
Third Sunday in Lent
A New Temple
John 2:13-22
If we are not careful, the things of the world tend to find their way into our holiest moments and places. Even temples can become cluttered and corrupted.
The anger of Jesus in ridding the temple of all those who were turning it into one large shopping mall can be understood in what He said: “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (v16). Elsewhere He admonished that they had turned God’s House of Prayer into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13). The temple authorities had allowed the Court of the Gentiles in the temple to become an “obstacle course” crowded with money-making ventures. They made lucrative profits from “religious business”, turning the worship of God into a highly profitable enterprise. Not only were they corrupting the temple with their greed and shady business practices, but they were also making it difficult for God-fearing Gentiles to visit the temple.
In so doing, the mafia that was running this business in the temple had totally distorted the sacred theological truths about worship and mission represented by God’s Temple. Hence, the anger of our Lord.
The corrupting influence of the world and the quest for wealth and power that is deeply embedded in the human heart continue to threaten our sanctuaries. If the Lord were to visit our churches, what or who would He throw out? The more we instituitionalise our churches, the more we have to be careful that we don’t turn them into obstacles to or substitutes for true worship and mission.
Jesus introduces us to a new Temple---- He Himself (v21). We can enter Him without being deceived or distracted for He is the heavenly Temple ---- fully God, and without corruption. Here we find true encouragement and hope.
(Bishop Dr Robert Solomon,
Bishop, The Methodist Church in Singapore)
Commitment:
Lord, I surrender the things of the world that I have been bringing into your holy Church.
Lord, I surrender all the corrupt and sinful things in the sanctuary of my heart that bring grief to your holy heart.
Prayer:
Lord of the Temple, cleanse, with your precious blood, our churches and our hearts of all that is deceived and deceiving, and make us holy sanctuaries, fit for your eternal purposes. Amen.
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