OUR PASSIONATE LORD
John 2:13-22, 24-25; 12:37 1 Cor. 1:18-25 Mark 3:5 Rev. 6:15-17 Ps 69
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is Book 3 of “The Chronicles of Narnia”. At the end of this wonderful story, C. S. Lewis describes an encounter between the two human heroes Edmund and Lucy, with Aslan (the lion which represents Jesus Christ). C. S. Lewis writes:
“At the end of the world, where the Narnian sky meets the earth, Edmund and Lucy climbed out of the Dawn Treader and began to wade southward along the beach. But between them and the foot of the sky there was something so white on the green grass . . . they could hardly look at it. They came on and saw that it was a Lamb. ‘Come and have breakfast,’ said the Lamb ….”
“Then they noticed, for the first time, that there was a fire lit on the grass and fish roasting on it. They sat down and ate the fish … and it was delicious.”
"Please, Lamb," said Lucy, "is this the way to Aslan’s country?"
"Not for you," said the Lamb. "For you the door into Aslan’s country is from your own world."
"What?!" said Edmund. "Is there a way to Aslan’s country from our world?”
"There is a way into MY country from all the worlds," said the Lamb; but as he spoke his snowy white flushed into tawny gold, and his size changed, and he was Aslan himself, towering above them and scattering light from his mane.”
C. S. Lewis skillfully uses two biblical images for God’s Messiah – a lamb and a lion. The lamb is easier to love. The lamb is gentle, meek and mild. It takes away the sin of the world. The lamb hosts the marriage supper at the last day, and it lights the city of God – eliminating the need for the sun and moon.
The Lion, on the other hand, is ferocious. Of the 150 times that the Bible uses “lion”, or “lioness,” none refer to a gentle or friendly relationship. The purpose of lions, in Scripture, seems to be for eating people and other animals. But in Jesus Christ, both fittingly come together.
PLEASE READ JOHN 2:13-22. The contrast between lamb and lion is evident when we compare the first part of John 2 with the latter. In verses 1-10, we see Jesus at a wedding. Weddings are joyous because marriage offers the potential and promise of happiness. Wine, too, makes the heart glad – and so wine came to symbolize the happiness of marriage. But at the wedding, they ran out of wine. So Jesus turned water into wine. This was Jesus’ first miracle, and it demonstrated that He is the answer to sorrow.
This is a living parable. Every human relationship (even the best marriage) has empty days and dry hearts. Only God can create overflowing and eternal joy. Jesus is telling the world that He is it – the Lamb of God in human flesh, come to remove the sorrow of sin and restore the world to perfect happiness.
Now contrast this with what happened when Jesus and his disciples left the wedding celebration. After the wedding, Jesus entered the Temple and confronted the religious hucksters of his day. In that instant, the Lamb became the Lion, and his passion was evident in his anger and his actions. We’re also confronted with a “Jesus” different than many expect. What we see in John 2 is not the lamb, and He’s not a tame lion which so many expect.
Jesus is zealous to redeem His people – to take hearts and souls distracted from the glory of God and to restore them to God. He does this so the work of God can be evident in our lives. This morning I want you to consider Three Effects of Jesus’ Zeal for His Father’s Glory. Because of Jesus’ passion for God’s glory, the first effect is,
1st: Do not try to domesticate Christ. Some years ago, at one of our church dinners, we had tables displaying various items for sale in the Fellowship Hall. One of our dinner guests took me aside and asked if we weren’t buying and selling like the priests Jesus drove out of the Temple. It was a thoughtful question, but it was also a misapplication of John 2. Let’s consider the scene.
It’s estimated that, in Jesus’ day, as many as two million people journeyed to Jerusalem during Passover. The result was a carnival atmosphere with trinkets, and food, and imported finery. It was a huge bazaar, and it meant big business. Each adult Hebrew who came at Passover needed two things: money for the temple tax and animals to sacrifice. So in the midst of these Holy Days, two groups of businessmen set up their tables inside the Temple: sellers of animals, and money-changers. They sought to exploit the occasion for their own gain.
Thousands of animals were needed, but each had to be “without blemish.” That phrase appears 55 times in the Bible. God’s plan and purpose was for the sacrificial system to prepare us for the one who would make the greatest sacrifice … the one without blemish or sin; whose death would save the world. But as always, Satan seeks to corrupt God’s designs.
Suppose you brought your own animal to sacrifice at the Temple. Then the sellers of sacrificial animals make no money – unless, of course, your animal is declared to have a defect. Then your sacrifice isn’t acceptable, and you must buy one from the priests who, of course, have animals “without defect.” For every unscrupulous priest, a dozen “approved” sellers could be found who would certify their sheep as perfect – at an inflated price of course. Consequently, most people wouldn’t even bother bringing their own animals since certified sellers – endorsed by the inspectors – were in abundance. It was a made-to-order opportunity for extortion, payoffs, bribes, and corruption.
Special money – clean money – was also needed. The annual temple tax, which every male 20 and older had to pay, required Jewish currency, not dirty and defiled foreign money! Fortunately for you, moneychangers would convert (at a profit), your filthy money into acceptable coins. It was “religion defrauding God’s people in the name of worship.”
Like a lion protecting his pride, Jesus condemned them for making God’s temple into “a den of robbers.” He made a whip and drove them out of the temple. There’s Three certainties about Jesus in the Temple:
First, Jesus can be Angry. Most contemporary views of Christ would never put the words “angry” and “Jesus” together. I know one minister who has even argued that Jesus only drove animals out of the temple. He would never disrespect people. But the fact is that Jesus is fully capable of anger.
In Mark 3:5, Jesus stared at the crowd “with anger.” And in Revelation 6:15, we read of the effect of the final judgment on those who oppose the will of God and Christ: “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones – and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks – saying, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the – wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?’” We are only trying to domesticate God when we refuse to believe in the anger of his Son. But also notice what causes his anger.
2nd: Jesus is Passionate. Those who only read the Bible looking for a savior from their sins, find a Jesus who’s like the Lamb – warm and accepting, kind and merciful. But here He’s different. Why? Because his anger is directed at those who would keep His children from finding salvation in God’s grace alone. Now, the third certainty about Jesus is this;
3rd: Jesus is Powerful. Jesus is merciful, but He also demands a response, and in His day, that made Him very unpopular – especially with the established priesthood. Even today, He doesn’t just present ideas. He also expects change, and He has the power to effect change – whatever change is necessary to bring glory to His Father. Don’t try to domesticate Jesus. His passion for His Father leaves no place for that. Another “effect of Jesus’ zeal” is,
2. We must believe the Scripture and worship Him. Jesus’ anger toward the priests may seem elusive at best. Why didn’t he simply turn a few priests into frogs, or make them as blind as they acted, or rain down fire from heaven? Well, here’s a few truths about God’s miracles that may help us understand.
First, Jesus’ miracles always revealed God’s glory. The priests asked for a sign, but Jesus wasn’t putting on a circus. He wasn’t interested in performing for their pleasure. Even the crowds didn’t understand the real Kingdom of God. They wanted another Davidic King to make them a great nation. But that was the wrong goal – Jesus is not a trained seal!
Second, miracles stir up the crowds. In John 6, we’re told that Jesus realized that, after the crowds saw the miracles, they were about to seize him and make Him their king. So Jesus “withdrew again to the mountains.” They wanted “Jesus at the Temple” – not “Jesus on the cross.” But the fact is – they are one-in-the-same. And Jesus still says, “Then come, follow me.”
The third truth about God’s miracles is – even Jesus’ miracles won’t convert the hard-hearted. It’s popular to believe that “seeing is believing” and that seeing a good miracle will produce faith. But that’s just not always the case. John 12:37 reminds us: “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him.” The fact is that it really does take a miracle to bring us to follow Christ; but the real miracle … is our changed heart.
Fourth, Jesus’ miracles call for faith in and through God’s Word. Signs and wonders are exciting – no one disagrees. And the faith of many can be strengthened by witnessing miracles. But in time, the faith produced by such miracles often dissipates like smoke if it’s not grounded by faith in God’s Word.
The fifth truth about God’s miracles is – Jesus’ greatest miracle was His promise fulfilled. “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The people asked for a miracle, and Jesus delivered the greatest proof of God’s love – “the sign of Jonah.” Jesus completed the greatest miracle by dying, and after three days, rising again so that we will believe the Word and worship the Lamb who is the Lion.
Now the third “effect of Jesus’ zeal” was,
3. It revealed our need for God to cleanse and heal our own divided hearts. John 2:24 says, “But Jesus did not entrust Himself to them … for He knew what was in them.” Jesus fully understood how far He could trust those who were following Him; some would stay, but many would fall away.
Are we really so different today when we ask for proof of what God promises? After all, how much more proof does God really have to give before you’ll believe what He’s already done – what His Word has already told you?
Jesus Christ died for us as the Lamb of God, and He has risen that we might believe in, “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah who has triumphed.” The zeal and passion of Jesus for His Father – and His love for us – have triumphed over the darkness. Now it’s up to us to open the shades that cover our eyes and our hearts and let in God’s light. It’s time to feel the passion of our Lord.
PLEASE JOIN WITH ME IN PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, You are the Lamb who brings us divine light, forgiveness and salvation. You are the Lion who guards Your glory that it will always over-come the darkness in this world. Grant us the eyes to see Your purpose in our lives; and the courage and conviction to make it our own. In Jesus’ holy name we pray. Amen.
