Mark 11:15 – 19
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples[e] went out of the city.
Something hit me today when reading this passage that I have never been aware of before. Maybe in the past when reading this passage, I have been caught up in the scene that is set – tables overturned, business halted, Jesus appearing to be far more assertive than on other occasions and chaos appearing to be in motion. However today I let that pass me by and I noticed instead the reaction of the chief priests and the teachers of the law. When confronted with Jesus stating God’s word out loud, they react by immediately trying to work out a way to shut down – actually to go as far as to put to death – the public declaration of God’s word, to look for a way to kill the person who is quite simply just stating aloud what the holy scriptures said. Isn’t this ironic? Remember the title of these people they are called the ‘teachers of the Law’.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, he found a world that was all topsy turvy the very people who were trained to speak and defend the Holy Scriptures are the ones that were wanting to shut it down. If he entered our world today or rather as he enters our world today what would he notice about the scene around him? Pause to consider whether as his followers we are reflective of our title as speakers of Christ’s teachings. How can we be that today? In God’s strength we can.
Emma-Jane McNicol – Creek Road
