God’s Cleansing
If Jesus were to purify the temple of our lives, what tables would he overturn? What would Jesus “drive out” of our lives so that we would be purified?
At the cleansing of the temple, Jesus sought to purify his Father’s house of prayer. John’s gospel account tells us, “And making a whip of cords, Jesus drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.” (John 2:15, ESV).
The temple, the dwelling place of God, had become corrupted by greed and misuse. The religious leaders had allowed the sell of sacrifices, and the exchange of money for the temple tax at a profit, to overshadow God and the ability for all people to come and to worship and pray.
Jesus said, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” (John 2:16, ESV).
The Apostle Paul reminds followers of Jesus in Corinth that they are the temple of God. Paul says, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV).
The dwelling place of God must be a place of purity and reverence. Like Jesus cleansing the temple, there is sin and idols in our lives that must be driven out if God is to dwell within us, and if we are to be “a house of prayer.”
May we have Jesus cleanse the temple of our lives as he drives out our sin and idolatry, takes up residence in us, and restores us as his house of prayer.
A Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent:
“Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Book of Common Prayer, 2019).
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Christ Driving the Money Changers from the Temple (El Greco, Washington)
