When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

-- John 2:13-22

Question
Does it trouble you to imagine Jesus angry and wielding a whip? Why or why not?
Are there current practices you think elicit Jesus’ wrath? Look through your bank statement. How does it reflect your Christian belief?

Prayer
Lord of all, no part of our lives is off-limits to you. You require us to be faithful in little and in much, with our money, our time, and our talents. If there are practices in which we engage that make you angry, send your Spirit so that we will see where we fall short and change our ways. Amen.