Table Over-Turning

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. 

At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well. (John 2:13-25)

This reading from John provides a vivid scene of an unusual Jesus.  He is angry, spills coins, overturns tables, and whips money changers out of the temple area.  He shows his “angry” side that takes us all be surprise.  This is our seemingly soft-spoken, non-violent Jesus?  Absolutely!

First, a little history is in order.  According to Howard-Brook and Gwyther (Unveiling Empire, 1999): “The temples played a role in the economy of the cities of Asia, operating both as banks and marketplaces. Large-scale financial transactions were impossible without recourse to the banking facilities in the larger temples…The temple of Artemis in Ephesus was the financial headquarters of the province of Asia. These temples lent money at interest and took mortgages on property. They received income through large-scale bequests and through ownership of land and livestock…the temples were key to the economic life of the city and the empire…The role of temples in the economic life of the Roman Empire made them more like both the stock exchanges and the craft and produce markets of our day, rather than like our churches.” 

 It’s no wonder Jesus took great offense at how the Romans and their collaborators treated the Temple of Jerusalem.  The elite conspired to take the land of the poor for their own benefit and profit.  Independent farmers became servants.  Rome and its supplicants were portrayed as the “Dragon” and the “Beast” in the Book of Revelation.  Revelation was written long after Jesus’ crucifixion, but its author(s) who followed Jesus completely understood Roman oppression and control. They understood the “Roman effect” that led to the Roman destruction of the Temple in 70 A.D.  

Revelation was written after its destruction or somewhat before.  This makes sense in light of what Jesus is believed to have said: “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.”  The Gospel continues: “The Jews said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken.”

Three days figure prominently this Lent.  We have Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.  Over these three days we will rise in spirit and faith.  We won’t have to deal with money changers; however, our money offered to the Church serves many purposes such as helping the poor in contrast to Roman Empire disregard for those in need [Note: Calling ourselves Roman Catholics never ceases to make me wince, just a bit].   

Deacon David Pierce