By Joanne Gallardo, Campus Pastor
Scripture: John 2:13-22 (NRSV)
Jesus cleansing the temple is one of my favorite passages in the whole Bible. I think Jesus’ anger speaks to us in a way that other passages often quoted seem to not. We’re familiar with the pastoral scene of the 23rd Psalm, we know that no other foundation can be laid except Jesus Christ, and we understand that nothing can separate us from the love of God. But can this loving, caring, gentle Jesus also…brandish a whip and turn over tables?
That’s the thing about love and zeal. Jesus is not committing a violent act, Jesus is trying to rid God’s house of people who would do it harm. This is not unlike mama bears who protect cubs from outside nefarious influences. When danger comes, they see that it is gotten rid of. Jesus is protecting a house of prayer.
With this week’s theme of wisdom, it may be difficult to connect such a brash and instinctual act to “wisdom.” What I like about the pairing of this passage with this theme is that anger can be seen as “wise.” Even the wisest among us get angry. There is often a sense that wisdom is calm, understanding and even-keeled.
Not so in this case of Jesus. Jesus is doing the wise work of protecting the temple, the place of worship, the house of prayer. Is it not wise to protect the most important locus of connection to God? Does the embodiment of wisdom become angry and full of zeal? It certainly does! Wisdom is full of righteous anger at times, helping us remember what’s important and where our passions should lie. Zeal is wise. Zeal is love. Zeal protects.
As you reflect on wisdom in the coming week, I invite you to challenge your assumptions of what wisdom looks like. Is it caring, gentle, quiet and all knowing? Or does it have zeal, passion and intense love? Why not all of the above?
Scripture: John 2:13-22 (NRSV)
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.