Consumed 3
Sunday night I wrapped up our “Consumed” series with a look at an interesting story found in John 2:12-22.
It is the story of Jesus’ cleansing the temple. You know, the story of Jesus throwing stuff around and screaming at people…I know you have heard this story, maybe you have even used it before as justification for your “righteous anger.”
At first glance it looks like Jesus gets ticked off at the money changers and sheep salesman in the temple. Probably that is what the disciples thought it looked like at the time too…but maybe there is a much deeper meaning and understanding of this event. What if it isn’t a rational for our “righteous anger” after all, but a picture of a very jealous God?
Here is how we broke it down on Sunday…
- vs. 17 – The disciples remember a Psalm (69:9) written about the coming Messiah that says “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Hebrew for zeal is pronounced Kaw-NAW…and is most often translated…jealous. “Jealousy for your house will consume me.”
- vs. 19 – “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” Jesus is operating under a fact that nobody else is aware of at the time. Only after the crucifixion and resurrection did the disciples put together that Jesus wasn’t talking about the physical temple, but that he was talking about his body…the dwelling place of God (1 Cor. 3:16).
- Do you see it? Jesus was acting out a vivid picture of God’s heart…God is jealous for us. He hates the stuff the clutters our dwelling places (lives) and he wants to clean house and make his presence the main priority of your life.
God has a jealousy issue. He is jealous of anything that distracts you from being completely consumed with Him. And he is willing to do something extreme to get your attention…
