Mark 11:15-18 NIV

“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, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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.’” 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.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭11‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In an instant, Jesus’ peaceful donkey-ride into Jerusalem turned into chaos. What did He think He would was doing? He was supposed to be leading a celebration, claiming the title of “King of the Jews”, and setting up His rule of righteousness and peace over His people but, instead, He was literally setting the cat among the pigeons. 

A one-man show! His disciples were aghast! They could not believe what they were seeing…sheep and goats running wild, birds flapping and flying in glee, men diving after coins rolling everywhere, chairs and tables tossed about like matchboxes…and Jesus was acting like He was having fun!

Except He wasn’t! He was angry, livid in fact, shouting as He sent animals, birds and furniture flying, and men scattering, “Get out of here! This is a ‘house of prayer’. How dare you turn it into a market, you bunch of thieves!”

What was Jesus’ case…this “gentle Jesus, meek and mild”? Has he suddenly morphed into a revolutionary? Yes, in a sense He had but no, not in the sense we humans think! 

From His earliest years, Jesus had always been “about His Father”. He was indifferent to people’s opinions. He had a one-track mind. No one was going to trample on His Father’s honour, not even the highest authority in the land, without His reaction. 

It was quite clear that these people who were bargaining and bartering right in the temple courts were there by permission. The religious authorities were in cahoots with them, obviously getting their cut of the profits. Jesus was not fooled by their so-called “service” to the people…declaring the sacrificial beast “imperfect”, confiscating it to sell to the  next worshipper…guess what, yes, the very animal previously confiscated and declared “unfit” for sacrifice! It was a clever, money-making racket…carried out in the only part of the temple where Gentiles were permitted to come and pray, and Jesus saw through it. 

Do you suppose, for a moment, that the religious hierarchy would let this challenge to their authority pass without reacting? Would they perhaps ignore this terrible exposure, embarrassment, humiliation…let it pass without reaction? Not a bit of it! They were nailed and Jesus must pay! 

“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.”

Knowing full well that His action would have drastic consequences, Jesus did what He had to do! This was no act of uncontrolled rage. Jesus’ anger was righteous and justified. His Father’s “house”, intended to be the place where Gentiles could also connect with God through sacrifice and prayer, had been degraded into a shop run by crooks. 

And so, the die was cast. Jesus must die, and He knew it! Once again, He was working in tandem with the Father’s plan and timetable, not a random act of emotion but a calculated  response to evil that would trigger the countdown to the cross. 

Passover, in a few days time. was the moment when history, prophecy, time, and eternity would meet at 3 pm, when the Passover lamb and Jesus would die in perfect synchrony to take away the sin of the world.