Rev Bill

I have posted my sermon from yesterday on my sermon blog. It’s the fourth in my Lenten series on “who do you say Jesus is”? — based on John 2:13-22 and entitled “Jesus Keeps Us Clean”.

Here’s a potion of it:

Imagine with me that you were a livestock dealer in the Temple on the day Jesus came in and – literally – cleaned house. Imagine that you had been a livestock dealer in the Temple all of your life, as had your father before you, and his before him, and his before him – your family had been livestock dealers in the Temple for hundreds of years. You would always get to the temple early to claim your spot. People would look for you there — they knew you and trusted that your cattle and sheep always met the requirements specified in the law for sacrifice.
But on that day when Jesus came in and “cleaned house”, you could only watch in dismay as your livestock scattered into the city.
Your business was ruined.
Why?
How had it happened?
Who was this crazy Galilean, anyway?
You look around and see one of the followers of that crazy Galilean — the one they called Thomas — sitting alone, and shaking his head dejectedly. You run over to him and say:
“Hey — you — don’t you realize what you people have cost me?”
“I know. I know.” said Thomas.
“I’ll send Judas over tomorrow to see if we can cover your losses.”
“What was this all about?” you demand.
“I don’t know” replied Thomas.
“Something set Him off — I’m not sure what. It’s just that He feels so deeply…”
“Yea, right. That’s obvious,” you reply. .
“He seemed to think I was committing a crime or something. Doesn’t He know how the temple operates? I provide a service for the people — I sell the animals they need to sacrifice. Without me, no one could sacrifice. And if they couldn’t sacrifice, they couldn’t obey God. It’s as simple as that. So, don’t I deserve to be paid for our services? Isn’t the workman worthy of his wages?”
“Sure you are.” replied Thomas.
“Don’t take it personally. I don’t think it was directed at you.”
“Then what was it all about? Is He an atheist or something? Doesn’t He understand the law — that sacrifice is what God commands?”
“Yes, yes, He knows that. And no, He’s not an atheist. Far from it. If anything, He believes too much.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Thomas pondered this a moment —
“I don’t know. It’s strange. It’s as if He wants people to have a right relationship with God — to live in a right relationship with God — to let the commandments change their lives. Maybe He’s telling us to get right with God.”
“Well — I don’t know — all I know is that He sure turned my life upside down.” you mumbles as you walk off.

You can read the sermon here.

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