John 2: Our Father’s House

Today’s reading is John 2.

Jesus demonstrated Himself to be the prophet superior to Moses, turning water into wine. What do we expect Him to do next? Surely, as Moses marched into Pharaoh’s house and demanded he let God’s people go, Jesus will march into Rome and demand Caesar let God’s people go. Or perhaps He will march into Jerusalem and demand all the Romans go. But He doesn’t. He does almost the exact opposite. Instead of chasing the Romans out of Jerusalem, He chases the Jews out of the temple.

Jesus was far more concerned about the children of God distorting, twisting, and perverting the house of God, than He was about the enemies of God’s people who oppress, enslave, and persecute them. If Jesus were to show up on earth today, where would He go? Do you think He’d march into Washington and drain the swamp? Or do you think He might march into the churches and purify the springs?

When the disciples considered Jesus cleansing the temple, they recalled Psalm 69:9:

For zeal for your house has consumed me… (ESV)

Whatever David was going through at the time, his detractors looked down on him for his work on the Lord’s house. They were apparently accusing him of theft (Psalm 69:4), likely in connection with the collection he was taking to prepare for the building of the temple. He was so intent on the Lord’s house, people around him thought he had crossed lines. When the early Christians read Psalm 69, they saw Jesus. Of course, they would. After all, Jesus saw Himself there. He’ll apply Psalm 69:4 to Himself. We’ll see that when we get to John 15.

Why tell this story? John writes to explain Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. What does this event have to do with the goal? Surely, one of the big reasons people continued to reject Jesus in John’s latter days was the crucifixion. If Jesus was the Messiah, why had He ended up on a cross? John is setting the stage. Jesus ended up on a cross because, like David, He was consumed with zeal for God’s house. His Father’s house. He is crucified because He dared stand up for God, for the Father. Why didn’t anyone else stand up in that way? Because they weren’t the Son. But a Son will defend His Father and will cleanse His Father’s house.

Of course, we should make application today. We do not worship in a Jerusalem temple. But we are part of the New Covenant temple. We are part of the house of our Father. We need to have zeal for our Father’s house. We need to have the kind of zeal Jesus did. We need to be ready to drive out those who will make our Father’s house a house of trade and especially those who will make it a den of thieves. We must drive out those who will twist, distort, pervert the purpose and work of Christ’s church. And as we do, some will think we have crossed lines. If we are children of the Father, we will also let zeal for God’s house consume us.

Tomorrow’s reading is John 2.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

How does John 2 prompt or improve your hope in God?

Psalm 76: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Today’s reading is Psalm 76.

Regrettably, we miss some of the imagery in our English translations. However, Psalm 76:2 presents an intriguing image.

His abode has been established in Salem,
his dwelling place in Zion (ESV).

The word translated “abode” can also be found in Jeremiah 25:38 which reads, “Like a lion he has left his lair.” “Lair” is our word. The different word translated “dwelling place” is also found in Psalm 104:21-22 which reads, “The young lions roar for their prey, seeking their food from God. When the sun rises, they steal away and lie down in their dens.” “Dens” is our word. Are you starting to see a picture? God is not just a presence in Salem and on Zion. He is a Lion in His lair, His den.

But tie this together with Psalm 76:4:

Glorious are you, more majestic
than the mountains full of prey (ESV).

Almost everyone commenting on this verse talks about how odd it is. Yet, know the word for “prey” is the same one up in Psalm 104:21-22. Though Jerusalem was surrounded by the Assyrian army, it was merely a mountain full of prey whose glory did not match the Lion who laired in Jerusalem.

In Judah, the LORD, the Lion, is known. Yes, also in Israel. However, can we help but remember what Jacob said about Judah in Genesis 49:9-10?

Judah is a lion’s cub;
From the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion
and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him;
and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples (ESV).

There’s “prey” again. And the word translated “rouse” translated the same word found in Psalm 76:9 when God “arose” to establish judgment. The God known in Judah is pictured precisely as the blessing and prophecy concerning Judah presents him. But notice the other part of that prophecy. The scepter, the kingship, shall not pass from Judah. The lion of Judah is the King.

Then the entire psalm ends by reminding the kings of the earth, they will be cut off unless they fear the LORD and bring gifts to Him. If that isn’t a call back to Psalm 2, I don’t know what is.

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him (ESV).

Who is this Lion and King of Judah? None other than Jesus. And in case you think I’m making things up, remember what the heavenly elder told John in Revelation 5:5:

Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals (ESV).

The Lord conquers. Jesus is the conquering Lion, King, Lord whose lair and den are Mt. Zion. He does conquer. No matter how great the horde multiplying against Him, they are nothing more than prey. His glory and might exceeds them all.

Let us make sure we Kiss the Son and take refuge in Him.

Praise the Lord!

Next week’s reading is Psalm 77.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

PATHS:
Discuss Today’s Meditation with Your Family

What do you want to share with others from Psalm 76?

The Blind and the Lame

Today’s reading is Matthew 21.

I don’t know how many times I’ve read this story about the cleansing of the temple. Maybe you are in the same boat as me. I know about the money-changers. I know about selling pigeons. I know about being a house of prayer versus being a den of robbers. I know about the chief priests and scribes ganging up on Jesus, demanding He rebuke those who are praising Him in the terms of Psalm 118.

But I guess I’ve read over one of the sentences in this account time and again without noticing it. After Jesus cleanses the temple here, He doesn’t just leave. Rather, He sets up shop for a little while, allowing the blind and the lame to come to Him for healing in the house of God, the house of prayer. You’ve probably noticed this before. I’ve completely read past it. Who knows, I may have commented on it in Bible classes without realizing its significance.

Go back to Isaiah 56:7 in which Isaiah proclaimed the temple was to be called a house of prayer. Now read vs. 8.

The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, “I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered.” (ESV)

Do you see what is happening? Jesus is converting the temple back into a house of prayer and is now gathering outcasts–the blind and the lame. But there is more to it than just gathering the blind and the lame. The prophecy pointed out there were yet others. Who might those others be? The rest of our chapter this week is going to tell us. But this is Jesus fulfilling prophecy and signifying there is about to be a change. As He is gathering these outcasts, He will gather the Gentiles. That bodes well for me and for you, if you are a Gentile like me. Jesus is gathering us now.

Praise the Lord! Hosanna!

Tomorrow’s reading is Matthew 21.

PODCAST!!!

Click here to take about 15 minutes to listen to the Text Talk conversation between Andrew Roberts and Edwin Crozier sparked by this post.

Discuss the Following Questions with Your Family

1. What are your initial reactions to the chapter and the written devo above?
2. Had you ever noticed and looked into the statement about Jesus healing the blind and the lame in the temple? What do you learn from it?
3. Are you excited to know Jesus gathers the outcasts?
4. What does calling the temple a house of prayer tell you about the church, God’s temple today?
5. What do you think we should pray for and about in light of this chapter and today’s post?