[Note: This is a narrative sermon told from the perspective of, Yoseph, a seller of doves and pigeons at the Temple on the day that Jesus came and threw out the sellers and money changers. I put on a ‘costume’ as I changed into the character of Yoseph. The message begins with a brief opening introduction and prayer followed by the story as told by Yoseph.]
[Introduction:]
Today we meet Yoseph. He lived in the time of Jesus. Yoseph and his wife Miriam lived in Jerusalem, as had their families for many generations. Yoseph will tell us what he saw at the Temple on that day – a day like no other. But first, let’s pray.
[Narrative as told by Yoseph]
The day began like most any other. Before the sun was up – I heard my wife, Miriam, already working. She was preparing our morning meal. I got up and washed as had been my custom since childhood. I went out and up on the roof. The air was crisp – the sky clear. If you’ve been in Jersusalem during the month of Nisan – then you know this. What’s with me? I’m talking to Gentiles… Let me tell you about Nisan. It comes around in what for you westerners is the start of Spring – March and April. It was a lovely Spring day in Jerusalem!
Miriam and I - we are not wealthy by any means. But we are able to survive year after year. We’ve lived in this humble home for many years. It was my father’s house before. And I expect that my children will see many beautiful sunrises from my rooftop in the years to come.
Ahhh - but now isn’t the time to enjoy the day or to spend time in deep thought. I came up here to get the cages ready. Some of the doves and pigeons are still roosting. But some are already beginning to move. Their gentle cooing is almost mesmerizing. After breakfast I have to get my bird cages to the Temple.
Why, you ask? I mentioned the month of Nisan earlier. Nisan is a special month for us Jews. It is the month of our most important festival – Passover. It comes right in the middle of the month – on the fifteenth. And it lasts for a full seven days. People from all over the empire will be here – in Jerusalem, at the Temple – to celebrate this Passover. Most have come from far away and because of this – they haven’t brought their own sacrificial doves, pigeons, lambs or other animals. So they have to buy them. And I’ll be more than happy to sell.
More than that – these visitors will need to exchange their money. Why? I’m glad you asked. You see, Jews think it is sacrilege to have an image of a person on a coin - and these Roman coins have the emperor on them. These can’t be accepted as a Temple offering. So the moneychangers will exchange these foreign coins for shekels – coins that can be freely offered and exchanged here. But this doesn’t come cheap. For changing a Roman coin – a foreigner has to pay the “agio” – a surcharge that will cost half the value of the money. Some call this robbery – but to us it’s just business.
Passover is an important time for us. It will either make my year or break me. The same for all the other sellers and moneychangers. Maybe it’s like your Christmas season where many of your sellers say that a good season of sales makes their whole year. Or maybe like the Superbowl or like those Spring-break cities that I’ve heard so much about. Very profitable – no?
Anyway – selling and changing money at the Temple has been going on for years. I inherited the family business from my parents. Most of the people who work around the Temple – same thing. This is the way that we make a living. The priests and leaders in the temple know about it. What they know? - We pay a part of what we make to the Temple.
So after a morning meal with my wife – I took my birdcages to the temple. I set up as I had for so many years. You have to be there to understand what happens at the Temple. It’s part church, part market and part slaughterhouse. The noise and commotion is amazing. If I hadn’t been doing this all my life – it would be overwhelming.
Ah – but let me tell you about that day. The sales were brisk. The wealthy were buying oxen and sheep. The poor came to buy my doves and pigeons. The moneychangers were doing amazing business. Yes – it seemed as if it would be another good year.
And then – it happened. This seemingly madman came into the Temple grounds. He had the look of a Nazarene – long hair, unshaved beard. We all thought that He was a crazy. He made a whip out of cords and started overturning the tables of the moneychangers. I ran before He got to me. I heard Him say, “Get out of here with all these things. How dare you make my Father’s House into a market!”
Oy vey - it was a day like no other. Nobody had ever done anything like that before. A few tried to challenge Him. “By what authority do you act? What sign do you give us for doing this?” But He answered cryptically – “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” What was He talking about? It took more than a generation to build this place. And He promises rebuild in three days? He must be a madman. Nobody talks crazy talk like that.
But this was a day like no other. Because let me tell you, the amazing thing is that all of us obeyed - even the ones who protested. Why? Maybe it was our consciences. You see – I am a good Jew. I know that God wants worship in spirit and in truth. We knew that He was right. He was interested in just one thing – worship of the Father – worship that was untainted.
And somehow – I knew that He was a prophet. The appearance and manner of this – man - so fearless, so decided, so authoritative. And then we heard who He was – Yeshua – I think you call Him Jesus. There had been talk of a Nazarene named Yeshua. Even talk that He might be Messiah. Truth be told – we were afraid to challenge Him. There was something in his manner. We could not help but do what He said. He spoke with the authority of God.
He came that day to restore our worship. He wanted to honor the Father. It took Him coming to overturn our tables - throwing us out of the Temple; cleansing the Temple - to get me to understand. What I had been doing was not right. Oh – it wasn’t the selling of doves and pigeons that was wrong. It was the looking at the Temple as my place of business. It was the forgetting that it was the Father’s house of worship. He came to clean up our lives and our hearts so that we could worship in spirit and in truth.
What do you let come into the Father’s house that doesn’t belong here? Some come to fill their heads. Some come to rule. Some come to meet others. Some come to be in the company of others. Some come to find fault. Some come to complain. Oy vey – what’s it all coming to? This house – this Temple is about meeting the Father where He says that He’ll be found.
What does Yeshua need to clean up in your life, friend? What do you let come into your body - the temple that the Holy Spirit has made his dwelling? It is so easy to look at things; to say things; to think thoughts; to speak words that pollute the temple of your body.
Maybe a few tables need to be overturned here – no? Cleansing is needed to meet the Holy Father. This Yeshua – this Jesus – why, He understood this. He also understood that without his involvement we would never do it ourselves. We cling tightly to those things that hurt and harm our relationship with the Father. We cling tightly to death. We cling tightly to the things that hurt and harm and destroy. We don’t want to let go of them. He needs to come and turn our life inside out… like He did for me.
That’s why the story doesn’t end at the Temple. You see, the Temple leaders finally got their way two Passovers later – or so they thought. They instigated the crowds during Passover. On the day of that Yeshua celebrated the Seder with his followers, Thursday – Yeshua was arrested. By the next day He was crucified. Who would have known? That’s the day that He cleansed the Temple for everyone as He died on the Cross. He was the only sacrifice that could truly make amends for us all.
More than that - now we know what He meant by rebuilding the Temple in three days – He rose from the dead. He rebuilt the temple of his body. Those words He spoke to the people that challenged Him were so difficult to understand then. But they seem so clear now.
Faith in what Yeshua did saves. It offers forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. It changes lives – the way mine has been saved. That’s why your Temple – Our Redeemer Lutheran Church – strong name… reminds me of Yeshua - says that the most important thing is growing “disciples committed to making new disciples for Yeshua.” ( This is the mission statement of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.) Amen.
