Spring Cleaning…
John 2:13-19
It seems a little strange to me but, it appears to be something that many people have built into their DNA. Mostly women… When the first flowers start to bud out many households enter into spring cleaning mode.
Personally, I and many, if not most, men don’t really understand this sudden urge to that a perfectly beautiful day or weekend and spend it messing up the house so that “we” can clean it up.
This messing up normally exposes places that no one ever looks in or under to see if there is any dirt there…..Of course there is dirt there…
I am just confused of why we suddenly need to do something about it….What is it hurting…?
How is a dust bunny ever going to evolve into a dust elephant if we disturb the natural process?
I was reading through articles on Spring cleaning and ran across information prepared for husbands to help them to understand the language used in spring cleaning.
Let me share some of the definitions of the tools used for cleaning that were prepared the writer for her husband:
• Broom (brum) - a long handled brush used for sweeping (also doubles as a mode of transportation for your mother)
• Vacuum (vak’ u em) - much like the leaf blower except it sucks in, instead of blowing out. Don’t let this alarm you. It isn’t broken and doesn’t need more torque, speed, RAM or whatever it is you did to the dishwasher last year.
• Dust pan (DUH) - Contrary to popular belief, this is where you sweep the dirt, not under the hallway area rug.
• Dust Cloth (dust kloth) - A cloth designated for removing tiny particles of dirt from every flat surface of the house. Hint: look for your old "lucky shirt".
• Mop - (mop) a bundle of coarse yarn, rags or cloth fastened at the end of a stick. You’ll remember this as your dance partner at the New Year’s Eve party last year.
• Toilet Brush (toi’ lit brush) - Used for scrubbing the inside of the toilet bowl. I don’t care what this looks like, you may NOT use my shower luffa again!
• Oven Cleaner (uv’ en Klen’ er) - No, not the teenager. This is an actually product that you buy, spray in the oven and wipe out two hours later. You won’t need your welder’s mask for this task, but if it makes you feel like the job is more dangerous, go ahead.
• Sponge (spunj) - used to gently wash away food particles from dinnerware. It won’t be necessary to use your 300psi Power wash set. That was given to you in hopes of cleaning the EXTERIOR of the house (hint hint).
It may not have hit your home yet but as a public service I am giving the men a heads up that the season is here. You might as well be prepared for it.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not against having a clean home or even cleaning, it is just the idea of all that work.
-- Our scripture today is on the subject of a particular Spring cleaning.
This one was performed by Jesus. According to John this event occurs in the very early days of Jesus’ teaching ministry. So, I guess in a way Spring Cleaning is Biblical.
Jesus had turned water into wine at the wedding feast in Cana. Jesus and his new disciples go to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. The Passover celebration is an annual event that remembers when the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. It’s name comes from the act of protection where each Jewish household were instructed to place the blood of a lamb on the door post of their home and the spirit of God which brought death the first born of all the people and animals would “pass over.” This spared the lives and motivated Pharaoh to expel the Israelites.
The Passover was traditionally the largest feast which drew families from the far reaches of Israel and form people form other countries to Jerusalem.
The historians and scholars estimate that in Jesus’ day as many as 100,000 to 250,000 people traveled to Jerusalem for that week of celebration. Jerusalem’s normal population was estimated at 80,000 people. That is a massive growth of worshipers.
The worshipers that came to Jerusalem were expected to bring an offering of thanks to God for the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egypt. It is just a little bit like how we celebrate the 4th of July.
You were to bring a lamb that you and the family would eat that night to the Temple and it would be killed and an offering made to God. You took the meat home or back you where you were staying and made it the main part of your meal.
Let me read part of our scripture again, When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
Jesus goes Up to Jerusalem – it is on a mountain top.
He and thousands of others go to the temple and when he arrives he finds a quick mart of sorts in side the entrance to the temple grounds. There is a market setup right there so that people can get the things they need for this thanks giving offering and feast.
In theory a family would bring their offering from home. But what would happen if you traveled one or several days or perhaps even longer and when you presented your offering the priest found something wrong, some blemish or imperfection…or what if your animal got hurt or sick on the way. Your offering in the temple had to be perfect.
The priests were going to inspect it like you might see at the national dog show, shape, color, age, health but it went eve farther. They were looking for flaws like two hairs coming out of the same follicle.
This is an important sacrifice and it was important that the offering not offend God. So this kind of diligence was necessary.
I wonder how many home raised sheep made it through the process? Can you imagine that you would have made the trip and then suddenly be unable to participate in the celebration.
It is thought that over the years that people found it more convenient to sell some livestock or produce at home and simply bring the money to buy a proper animal once they arrived. Shops all over Jerusalem were thought to have been a place where this kind of purchase could be made. The local farmers and herdsmen had a big boost in sales every year during Passover.
However, it is thought that what Jesus saw when the entered the temple that day was more of a franchise situation setup by the priest. It was a market of special vendors that had an inside track on providing a guaranteed acceptable animal.
So you had a market place atmosphere. People making deals, and like convenience stores of today…the was just a “little markup.”
Some believe that the prices were similar to Price increases around the Olympics or when Fuel cost shot to $4 after the hurricane….Supply and demand…Do you want to be allowed to offer a proper sacrifice acceptable to the priest …. well you have got to pay the price. This fine animal was raided by a local Levite that not only raided and cared for the animal correctly he was also perfect under the law personally.
When you get to the inspection station just tell the priest my name and you can go straight to the sacrifice area.
-- There is also a mention of Money changers in our reading.
SLIDE MONEY
The people that came to worship also came to pay the temple tax. The Bible documents that there was an obligation the support the temple of ½ shekel per year for each male over 18 years of age.
People that made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem were entrusted with money from people back home to bring that tax on behalf of the men that were unable to go.
There was a special problem in paying the tax….the Temple had is own official coins. They would not accept coins issued by the Roman government or foreign coins because the coins had images of people and animals stamped on them and were considered to blasphemous or be an idol.
SLIDE – Temple ½ Shekel
So the Money changers provided a valuable service to the pilgrims by offering an exchange. They would allow you to change your dirty, idolatrous money for the pure temple coins… The Temple was the only source for the special coins it makes one ask how did the money changers get a hold of them…?
There of course was a “service fee” for this transaction. Again it is thought that the fees were outrageous because of the exclusive relationship.
Let’s read how Jesus responds to what He finds:
So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, 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! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!"
-- So what is Jesus angry about?
Is He upset about animals being on the temple grounds? No that happens all the time.
Is he upset at price gouging? He done not say that and it seems to be much simpler.
He is upset that the priest the leaders of the people have setup or at least allowed a market to be operated inside the Temple of God? That seems likely and he does talk about it being made a market.
But, this use of this part of the temple is nothing new…It might be more crowded than at other times of the year but, this kind of activity is more normal than unusual.
So, what is the real problem here?
He does not disapprove of a market in general but, he does disapprove of what is happening in “His Father’s House.”
Let’s look at a drawing of the Temple courts:
SLIDE Temple
The temple was a big block or prime real-estate. It sat at the top of the city and covered just over 34 acres. 14 of those acres were called the “Court of the gentiles.” The general area outside these little walls were the market areas.
Why would the Jewish temple have an area specifically set aside for Gentiles..foreigners…non-blood line Jews?
Way back in the beginning of the Bible In genesis 12 you can read about God choosing Abraham and promising to make him – his descendants a great nation….As a great nation God was planning to bless all people. This plan for the Jewish people to benefit all nations appears in the old and new testaments.
The Israelites, the Hebrews, the Jews were a part of God’s plan to bless this world for God form the very beginning of God’s plan.
However, it seems that some where along the line the Jews lost track of what God had explained was their mission. Instead of being open and welcoming they made allowance for the obligation that they found in scripture. But the looked down on the outsiders.
It seems that they took ownership of God’s house and decided that they got to make all the rules.
At some point perhaps in the distant past the Priesthood decided that it was Ok to ignore how the gentiles might have felt about how their sanctuary was being used.
They had no direct access to the actual center of worship in the actual center area. They at best could only over hear the prayers and the choirs.
Slide – Warning:
"No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade (Bal – uh – strade) and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows."
The stones with this warning were placed on the short wall that divided the courtyard. It was in three languages. The embankment means the stairs that lead to the next courtyard – the balustrade is the columned area.
- When Jesus entered the temple that day is was probably not the first time he had witnessed the convenience store set up to “help” the worshipers.
-- It was probably not the first time that He has heard the haggling and sales pitches being shouted and promises of value and acceptability being made to shoppers.
-- It was not the first time he witnessed people being over charged for an animal or a bird or even in the conversion of cash.
However, it was the first time since He has started his teaching tour that He entered the house of God with His full understanding of his mission and authority to bring Justice and relationship to all people.
SLIDE JESUS Clearing Temple
When I read these stories of Jesus, I get a visual image of what is happening. I can see the story in the theater of my mind.
I can Imagine Jesus looking around, and getting a stern look on his face. Maybe for a few minutes he is looking around as he moves toward the actual Holy of Holies and perhaps moves through Gentile worshipers staining the hear what is going on inside the next courtyard.
He may have moved up the embankment and looked back over the crowds. He realizes that these people have come to worship the God of the Jews can barely hear the trumpets used in worship much less the words and singing.
Turning around toward the market He picks up pieces of trash ropes from tying cages or lead ropes for animals and brides them together and moves back toward the sounds and smells of a livestock sale shouting and spooking the animals and people.
-- Jesus starts his spring cleaning.
He disrupts the business as usual that is interfering with the worship of the Gentiles. The worship of the people that are their because of desire to be in God’s house instead of being there out of pure obligation.
Here is an important point.
Jesus is not cleaning up….he is clearing out!
He is clearing out the animals and the improper practices so make room or create an atmosphere for these gentiles to move closer to worship God.
-- Another interesting point that I hope you will consider. When Jesus starts this scene he was questioned by some Jews….(perhaps the merchants were not Jews) to give a sign as to his authority.
He is not arrested by the temple Guard or the Romans. He is not challenged by the temple leadership. Jesus is acting to make the situation right. Jesus was clearing out the things that never should have been allowed within the temple grounds in the first place.
- So, here we are talking about a place and a form of worship that has not existed since 70 years after Jesus’ Death. Stuff that happened about 2000 years ago.
As Gentile believers we never expect to be called to worship in a central temple. We gather in church building, schools and homes all around the Globe….
We believe that there is not need for a central temple because God is everywhere. The church building will be generally empty when we leave here today because the building is a place where the church gathers and is not the church itself.
So our church, or First Baptist or St Peters’ in Rome are no longer consider to be the house of God.
Our understanding is that the actual temple of God is something that mysteriously exist within theses fragile, imperfect, temporary bodies. When a person comes to a personal belief in God and Jesus and scripture God starts to live in us. God empowers His very Spirit to live with us and to influence us.
I whish I could explain how but I an only tell you that it is simply something that you end up know is true, that is a feeling that comes with time as you grow as a Christian.
-- But here is the thing you need to prayerfully consider, For most of us we have a combination of restrictions or obstacles that are both internal and external.
The biggest problem we all experiences is that we are unable to get away for the distractions and noise on our own.
Lent is a season of reflection for us to identify and seek changes in our lives. I will suggest that all of us need help in clearing out most of the situations in our life and I want to remind you that Jesus wants to do some Spring Cleaning….Spring clearing out.
What objects, restrictions, desires, noise do you have that interfere with your worship? With you ability to grow and approach God. Folks everyone of us has a set of things that we try to deal with in our Christian walk. Some we have learned, some are based on mistakes and guilt, or hatred or fear.
Most of us have trouble dealing with these distractions and we have been unsuccessful or unable or unwilling to make a change.
He wants to simplify your understanding of what it takes to move closer to God. He wants to remove the distractions and the restrictions…..
Most of us only carve out one or only a few hours a week to attempt to grow in our relationship with God.
All the rest of the time we are some place in the noise and smells of the market place.
We live in a country that is only happy if every thing is done for our convenience and we don’t worry about the cost to ourselves and our families. We make choices that please us more than are good for us with no consideration of how it impacts God’s offer of something eternal.
