Jesus did not just turn out scoffers who would hinder the faith of a distraught father seeking to heal his daughter.
He expelled anyone who treated His Father with utter contempt:
"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;" (Mark 11:15)
Jesus explains why, using the Word of God:
"And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.
"And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
"And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine." (Mark 11: 16-18)
The temple, which also represents our own bodies (cf ), is not a fit place for abuse or disrespect. We must honor every place where Christ dwells.
Disrespect for our Father not only comes from turning what is holy into something common -- like the Temple into a market place, but also when we seek to gain for ourselves through truck and barter instead of receiving all things from God the Father through Christ:
"Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." (John 15:16)
and
"He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
It is insulting and abusive to assume, by common-minded unbelief, that we must work for and strive for everything through our own efforts!
Perfect Love casts our fear, in which we cannot suffer within ourselves or others the uncouth crass mentality that we can and still must earn anything from God!
No comments:
Post a Comment