Jesus Cleanses the Temple

What is the condition of your temple like? Did you know, that if you are a Christian, the Bible says your body is a temple of the living God? It isn’t just bones, flesh and blood, but the very vessel which God, in His wisdom has promised to inhabit and dwell in. Read 1 Corinthians 3:16.

During my devotional time yesterday morning, (which I have to say has been challenging and difficult of recent) the Lord spoke to me powerfully through His Word on the topic of my body as the temple of the living God. I’m writing this blog entry so I can share with others the power of Jesus and also to document Gods wonderful and abiding presence in my life, thought I deserve it not. These scriptures remind us again and again that our lives belong to God and that they have a purpose. The devotion is taken from Mark 11:15-19. I’m going to go through each verse, expositionally, and break it down with some application which the Lord spoke to me.

Background Summary of Mark 11:15-19
This same account is also recorded in the Gospel of John 2:13-22 but with more detail. This isn’t just some minor or co-incidental event which randomly took place. This is the direct fulfilment of prophecy taken from Malachi 3 and Jesus, knowing who He is and what His mission was, came and fulfilled this prophecy with great zeal and authority.

Jesus went into the temple and began driving out those who bought and sold in the temple…

The Lord asked me as I read this: Vic, what things have you stored up in your temple? What bargaining is going on in your life? For what have you sold in exchange for precious time with me.

and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

As a Christian, what tables and seats have appeared in my table without me knowing it? Or even worst, what compromises have I made to allow for these tables to be erected in my life? If this temple has been designed for one purpose, what purpose is it serving? Jesus has every authority on His temple because it belongs to Him. Have I allowed certain junk to come in without seeking His permission. Jesus, would you come and overturn every single one of them upside down.

And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.

The temple authorities, those who were put in charge of the temple of God, compromised and allowed traders to carry stock and to use the temple as a shortcut to get to other parts of the city. This is an outrage. Christ will not allow any old junk to pass through this temple and for the devil to use it as a shortcut because He has not purchased me with His blood to become a trade route or highway for other uses. What is going through my life, through my mind, my heart and soul?

Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves.’”

Jesus directly quotes from the old testament Prophets. He uses scripture to validate His prophetic office and to get His point across. Here Jesus seeks to rebuke me but also heal me by reminding me what this temple is for. It is a house of prayer, holy, set apart for one purpose. It is not meant to be a den of thieves. My temple should be a house of prayer for all peoples and all nations, not only for myself. My life has a purpose and meaning in Christ. However from time, dust, dirt and rust builds up and Jesus comes and cleanses, refreshes and reminds us what we are, who we are and what our purpose is.

Vicious Cycle of Sin
Sometimes, as Christians we can get stuck. We get so stuck and even when we desire to come out of our tired, rusty, worn out, sinful and depressed condition we simply don’t have the power to do so. We try this method, that book, this sermon and that advice. It works for a week and then back to square one. Jesus is the only one who can come in and get you out of that mud, cleanse your temple and reinstate what that temple was designed for and saved for. Call out to Jesus, cry out to Him.

Conclusion
Let me ask you a question. What is the condition of your temple like? What junk, tables and trade is going on in your life? Have you asked Jesus before you stored up certain trash in your body and life? What have you been watching and listening to? Things which you never use to listen and watch before, why have you started again? Call to Jesus, He will come in and refresh you and remind you who is in control. Jesus doesn’t condemn you, He calls out to you in His grace, mercy and love desiring that you be saved and set apart for Him.

Recommended Sermon
I would highly recommend a sermon to you if you are struggling in your Christian walk. Pastor William Carrol of Times Square Church speaks a timely message for Christians on the topic of ‘What if I Fail in the Time of Trial?’

http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php?filter=y&media_type=WMV

Tags: Times Square Church, William Carrol

Category: Re: Jesus