THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS
5 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 went out of the city. Mark 11:15-19
Jerusalem! It was early morning but Jesus and His men were already in the city. He headed straight for the temple. The disciples were apprehensive. They were familiar with that look, that gleam in His eye, that determined step. The Master was on a mission and they smelt trouble. He obviously knew exactly what He was going to do, but they had no part in it.
He strode into the outer court where He had observed the evidence of the sheep and cattle market and the money racketeering the day before. With swift action, He overturned the entire enterprise, sending birds, animals and money scattering in all directions. Outraged stall owners and bankers dived after their goods but to no avail. The whole place was in an uproar. Loosed from their prisons, terrified birds and animals flapped and fled to freedom. Coins littered the floor; upturned furniture blocked the path of the angry merchants. The noise and smell were overwhelming. Jesus stood back and watched while His disciples whispered among them, “Now He’s done it! Where will it all end?”
Jesus was a provocative figure. He was undaunted in His confrontation with lies, wrong and evil. He was not afraid to offend people to expose what was in their hearts. This was not an act of mindless rage or personal affront. He was ruthlessly exposing the selfish greed of opportunistic businessmen who saw an opportunity to exploit innocent worshippers to line their own pockets.
It was obvious that the religious leaders were in on the deal because they loudly protested Jesus’ action and planned to do away with Him because His ways and His words were too intrusive of their hypocritical religiosity for comfort. They were losing their grip on the people who were beginning to see through their sham.
Jesus was never afraid of the consequences of His words or actions because He stood for the truth which would always prevail. Not even the threat of death put Him off His avowed purpose of revealing the true nature of the Father.