A recent Bible study on Jesus cleansing the temple (Mark 11: 15-17) prompted some thoughts. Here’s a little background for those not familiar with the story or the history. The temple was comprised of four courts. These were the Court of the Priests, the Court of Israel, the Court of the Women and the Court of the Gentiles. The court of the Gentiles was the outermost court and Gentiles were only allowed to go that far.
Jewish worship in that day involved animal sacrifice. Not surprisingly, vendors began selling appropriate animals near the temple. Money changers were on hand so people could exchange other currencies for the one needed to pay the temple tax. Evidently, the commerce eventually moved inside the temple itself, into the Court of the Gentiles.
Jesus was angry at the situation. He drove the people and animals out. John’s account of the story (John 2: 14-15) tells us that he used a homemade whip. He also knocked over the tables of the money changers.
Why was he so angry? His statement in Mark 11:17 gives us the answer. He said, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” He was angry about what the temple was (a place of people charging exorbitant prices and taking advantage of worshipers) and about what it wasn’t. It wasn’t a house of prayer for all nations, because the Gentiles were forced to worship in a marketplace.
The story raises many questions in my mind. Were there many Gentiles who worshipped Jehovah in those days? Did they keep coming and trying to participate, even after the court was repurposed? Or did they just give up?
How many of the Jewish worshippers realized there was a problem? Did they not see the issue, not care, or just not think there was anything they could do? Did they shut their eyes to the plight of their Gentile neighbors because of the convenience of having easy access to money changers and the ability to quickly purchase what they needed?
I feel the plight of the Gentile would-be worshippers deeply. Those of us with chemical illness know what it’s like to be shut out of worship. We know what it’s like when people in charge prioritize things other than the ability of everyone to access a worship space. We know what it’s like to be on the outside looking in, longing for what so many people take for granted.
I love Jesus’s passion for the issue. I love that he cared so much that he made a whip and used it. I love that he’s on the side of the marginalized, ignored, and shut out.
What’s the counterpart for today? There are so many temples that need to be cleansed of chemical barriers to worship. Lord, please open the eyes of people who can make the changes. Please help those who can freely worship in communal spaces care about those of us who can’t. Thank you for the reminder of how much you yourself feel our pain.