Jesus Goes Postal
Apr 7th, 2008 by John
picture from Google/images
What some consider to be Jesus’ most radical, violent action really wasn’t all that violent. After doing surveillance on the Temple the evening before (Mark 11:11), Jesus enters the Temple precincts the next day “locked and loaded” with his rich, prophetic heritage. As a one man army, he prophetically acts out and pronounces doom (’the end is near’) on the existing Temple religious business and leadership.
Did Jesus cleanse the Temple? I don’t think so. I don’t think he intended to stop the needed commerce in the Temple precincts. I don’t think he wanted the Gentiles to be able to get into their court which had been hijacked by Jewish buyers and sellers and money-changers. I don’t think he wanted to reclaim that Temple spot, that sacred geography as a house of prayer from its being reduced to ”a cave for terrorists” (’den of thieves’ is way too tame a phrase). Jesus wasn’t reclaiming the Temple for proper use; Jesus was announcing its end. He wasn’t cleansing; he was condemning.
Commericialization of the faith. The buyers and sellers. Did you know you can get Jesus figures playing soccer or golf or baseball or tennis? You can buy T-shirts (”I was predestined to be an Arminian”). You can buy a new niche Bible? The New International Bible for Post-Anorexic Recovery Group Members with 12 Steps notes in the Appendix (just kidding, but I venture to say that it’s not far off). Coffee mugs, Purpose-Driven keychains, Bible recipe health bars, ad naseum.
Exclusion in the Name of faith. The Temple in Jesus’ day maintained a rigid hierarchy of who was closest and farthest from God. God-seeking Gentiles? Hey, let’s build a flea market in their spot. Never mind there are all kinds of markets already available on the Mount of Olives. Competition is good. Who cares that the traditional laws forbid carrying your wallet into the Temple area? This is AD 33! Get with the times. Your wallet: don’t leave home without it. But, keep the women out. Keep the cripples out. Keep the Gentiles out. Keep the am ha’aretz out! We are Jewish, well-bodied, well-educated, righteous men. We’re in! By his unexpected drama, Jesus declared that the days of exclusion were over. Are Christian gays welcomed into our ’sacred space’?
On one occasion Jesus told a Samaritan woman that a time is coming and now is when all will not depend on a place and/or status to worship God. When the Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, I can hear God shouting, “Get me out of here! I am the God for all the nations. No exclusion from Me.”
“Say to this mountain [Mt Zion], ‘Be cast into the sea.’” In 70 AD Titus the Roman General laid waste Jerusalem. The Temple was destroyed and has not been built since. ‘Cast into the sea’ is a metaphor for “your time is up.”
A new, mobile Temple, on the 3rd day after being laid waste, walked around and spoke. He is not and never will be for sale. He joyfully welcomes all who come to him, especially sinners. His name is Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, Lord of all. Now that Temple is his second “body”–the church.
Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.
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John… I love your stuff. Love your blog. Great insight on the temple “cleansing.” This Jesus was a radical pastor… he understood the futility of religion… and the power of redemption. May we gain insight into the same. Thanks for your help in doing just that. Ken
Ken,
I am learning that if we get Jesus wrong, we get the faith wrong, the mission wrong, and the church wrong. USAmerican evangelicalism offers a pristine theological construct Jesus about as appealing as a flannel-graph cut-out.
“I can hear God shouting, “Get me out of here! ”
John, I love this picture. JJB
Jonas,
Thanks. We usually hear that the curtain was torn so that we can freely enter into the Holy of Holies (eg book of Hebrews) and I’m sure that is true, but I like to think of God feeling cramped, occasionally being parcelled out by the priests of Israel in Jesus’ day. “Get me outta here!” God declares.
John,
I think Jesus was upset about what they have done to the house of God. Giving God the left overs and not the best. The Jews did not respect it and appreciate it. I see hear that we need to give God our best and strive to treat his temple our lives holy and pleasing to God. God wants to be treated with respect because he is God so, we should hold his name in the highest respect. You don’t see that today, even with Christians. God doesn’t want our left overs. So let us strive to give him the best in giving to the Church, and as we live the Christian life. Looking for the opportunities to make a difference in the world. I like it too that we see his humanity. His emotions. It is wonderful that Jesus understands when we get upset and angry. I feel closer to Jesus because of the experiences of his humanity that he does understand what I am going through.
One of the best posts ever.
Thanks
[...] me during the night. I have to blog about them. The post is from John Frye and the title is “Jesus goes postal“. The four sentences? When the Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom, I can hear God [...]
Jesus went ballistic when I was last here … now he’s going postal
(What a wonderful expression, hehe 
Great post, I linked here too.
I totally agree with #6!
This is one of your best post ever!
Keep up the wonderful posts brother!
I pray you have a blessed day.
preacherman (#5 & #9),
Excellent thoughts. I agree that we need to explore Jesus’ humanity. I like waht you wrote: “I feel closer to Jesus because of the experiences of his humanity that he does understand what I am going through.” God bless you.
abmo (#6 & 7),
Thanks for the link over at Windblown Hope. I enjoyed exploring your site. Good stuff! I am glad you liked this post.
Peace.
John
Sue (#8),
Thanks for the link.
Funny. I first titled in “The Temple: Cleansed or Condemned?” Blah, blah, blah…then Jesus goes Ballistic…then Jesus goes Postal. Just messing around.
Amen, John, amen.
We seem to lack faith in God to do what only he can do in Jesus. And has done, and will do.
Ted,
Thank you, brother, for the encouraging comment.
John
[...] Very helpful. John Mark Hicks on "Divorced People–What Do They Feel?" John Frye has written a fine piece, "Jesus Goes Postal." Steve Addison on "The [...]
Some conversions today means that people buy a picture of Jesus and a Cross for the car. We do not buy Christianity or are we selling it.
http://www.matthewsblog.waynesborochurchofchrist.org
Matthew (#16),
Glad to hear it.
God bless you and your ministry.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
John
[...] Jesus goes postal. [...]
So, ponder this ,,,,its appears from what I’ve read that Jesus cleansed the temple not once but twice. John records his version of the clensing and appears this took place during the beganning of Jesus Galilean ministry. While Matthew, Mark and Luke describe him clensing the temple again and a bit more angrily. This is around the last week of his life and ministry. So, I mean he had already done this according to John once, and now 3 years later he is back in Jerusalem for his death, and has to do it again. I surmise he was a might ticked off and well should be he has been out to Bethsaida, and Tyre and Sideon and Caesarea Phillipi and still they peopel his people the Jewish people just don’t get the message. I am seeeing how he would be more frustrated and so upset he is four days from his death. Do you know Bert Gary’s book Jesus Unplugged. Jesus was probably the most radical person we could, would or should ever know. Praise this man from Galilee, I so can relate to him more when I see his humanity.
Tina