Each of the gospel writers orders the events of Jesus’ ministry to highlight something about what God was doing in Jesus. The fact that John places the ‘cleansing of the temple’ up front is very significant for what he wants to say about the way the Kingdom works. When Jesus comes to us, he brings joy (as was signified by the miracle of the water and the wine). But the one who brings joy also comes with the whip of cleansing, seeking to drive out of our lives all that grieves God. This is not an act of condemnation but an act of deliverance. The temple was to be the portal of God’s blessing to Israel, but this portal had been clogged up as it were with other agendas that were at odds with God’s will. God wants you to flow with him as his love and blessing flows through you. You are called to be a portal of God’s love and blessing, but this cannot happen so long as your heart is clogged up with selfish, prideful and fear-driven agendas. We must open our hearts to the Spirit of Christ so that he may enter and drive out the agendas that block our interaction with God. Let him do this because it will relieve you of what contaminates and chokes your life. It will be a joyous relief and release to you. Jesus is the great temple builder, rebuilding the lives of his people to be portals of heaven on earth. Before he builds up what is good, he must tear down what is bad and dig a deep foundation.
Open your heart to the searchlight of God’s Spirit today.
Read John 2:12-25
