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If you were to conduct a quick survey of Churches today, you would quickly discover the existence of many and varied practices, all under the general heading of worshipping God, and of serving Him through various forms of ministry. Depending on where it is that you look there will be varying degrees of emphasis on certain forms of ministry.
In some places there are ministries of dance, others of song, and many that could otherwise be called entertainments. There are churches devoted to the unchurched, to young people, to certain racial groups, even to homosexual peoples. Some churches focus these days on helping the poor and disadvantaged in social ways, others on providing safe drug injecting rooms, others in support for single parents, and the lists go on and on.
But the question regarding all this is, what determines how we should minister, and what we should do? Is there some guide as to that which we should do?
In the minority today are Churches that are striving to return to Biblical foundations for Church ministry and worship - groups that are trying to get back to the simplicity and Biblicism of First Century Christianity. Are these groups just old Fuddy Duddies, who live in an age long gone by, who are no longer relevant, who need to catch up with the times?
I’m sure you have heard these sorts of things before, ‘if you want to get people in today you need to get fresh ideas, people just won’t come if you don’t get contemporary.’ So Churches have become very pragmatic, the end justifies whatever means one cares to adopt in order to get the masses into the Church.
What are we to do in this sort of religious climate that exists today - there is real pressure to conform to the pragmatism of our day, to align ourselves with these current lines of thought. What are we to do?
This passage will go a long way in helping us to get this issue solved in our own minds - the issue of what way ought we to do things in God’s Church.
#1. Jesus’ Commitment to Biblical worship
‘And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem (Jn 2:13)’
Today we celebrate the Lord’s Supper - we do this to remember the great deliverance that our Lord accomplished for His people, for those of us who are Christians, on that cross almost 2000 years ago.
Here in this passage we see Jesus going up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Passover, a time to remember the great deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage many centuries before. This Passover was celebrated annually on the anniversary of that great deliverance, that night when the angel of death passed over the homes of those who had believed in the promise of deliverance, and demonstrated that faith by placing the blood on the doorways as recorded in Exodus 12.
This particular occasion was probably about the year 28AD in early April. The Gospel According to John records for us the first occasion upon which the Lord drove the traders out of the temple precincts - with the other Gospels recording a similar event a couple of years later, in such passages as Matthew 21, Mark 11, and Luke 19.
‘And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables (Jn 2:14,15).’
As He arrived at the temple and He entered the courtyard within the temple area, what He found was basically a farmyard. There were oxen, sheep, and doves being sold to weary pilgrims who had come up to offer sacrifices at the temple. And there were moneychangers changing the coinage of foreign countries into the local coinage, so that these pilgrims could pay the temple tax in the right currency.
It has been suggested that what was going on was corrupt business transactions, a ripping off of the poor pilgrims who needed the service provided by these traders here - but there is nothing to suggest this in the passage. It seems that they were certainly eager to make a living and that by offering a service to those who had travelled a fair distance with what they needed at the temple, but not necessarily by corruption.
For many today that hold to the pragmatic assertion that the end justifies the means, this would be perfectly acceptable. There would be no problem with this situation at all. After all it certainly pleased the masses of people who had to travel such vast distances, and the temple services could be continued.
And this is exactly what we find today. Instead of being guided by God into the right practices, and methods of worship through His Word, many Churches are being led by the perceived needs or wants of the masses. In place of God’s right to dictate what we are to do, the masses are dictating the terms for the Church’s existence.
People want a place that’s exciting, therefore we will provide them with various forms of excitement, and so there is a constant clamour after the latest fads so that the people don’t become bored. Some places in America even provide theme parks. People want less preaching, so we will replace that with other things such as dramas, and singing, and laughing fits.
You see, people have been placed in the role that God alone has a right to assume - that of determining just what goes on in the Church.
Is this the right thing to do? What did Jesus think about the situation in His day - well to say He was less than pleased is an under statement. What would He do today?
Jesus found some reeds, probably part of the material found in this makeshift farmyard, and made a ‘whip of cords’, and proceeded to drive the oxen and sheep out of the temple courtyard, along with the owners and moneychangers. He turned the moneychanger’s tables over, and told the owners of the doves to take them out.
Why was he doing this? Was Christ caught up in the old way of doing things, an old Fuddy Duddy? Was He opposed to the new way of doing things because he was a traditionalist? Couldn’t Jesus see that this was bringing more people along to participate in the Passover celebration?
The answer to why He did this is in what He said to the various traders, "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise (Jn 2:16)!"
The Lord was not angry with people doing business, He was no old Fuddy Duddy, but He was concerned about true Biblical worship and practices.
These people had believed themselves above the Scriptures, and believed that they had more wisdom than God did. What a great idea to set up stalls right in the temple courtyard, what a wonderful way to make sure all those Jews from far away would come and join in the celebrations.
And you could imagine the various leaders of today’s Church there with them when they made this decision, to allow the traders into the temple precinct itself.
But though this sounded like a good idea, it was not a good idea, for it went against the very purpose of God for the temple. It was not to be house of merchandise, for it was His Father’s House. The temple was there for a particular purpose, and it was vital for Israel that it is used for that purpose alone - the worship of God.
In casting out the various traders, Jesus was seeking to restore the worship of God to its rightful place, defending the holiness of the temple. This place was to be a separate place; a place dedicated to the worship of God. It was indefensible to change the separateness of the temple, into a farmyard and business centre. In short, it was sin.
‘And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up (Jn 2:17)’
As to whether the disciples understood this at the time of this temple cleansing is unsure, but one thing is clear - the idea is that the Lord Jesus Christ was full of burning zeal for His Father’s House.
This quote comes from Psalm 69:9, a Messianic Psalm, yet originally true of David. He was so anxious to defend the Glory of God that he was quite prepared to suffer the consequences from the wicked for his zeal - all else played second fiddle to this over riding concern - and this is what you see in Jesus at this point.
He was concerned that what His Father had spelled out as the right behaviour for this place is followed out, and that mattered more than anything else did. More than making sure the maximum numbers came to celebrate the Passover - God’s honour is of supreme importance.
The temple is a shadow of the true Church; it points to the church as a type of that which was to come. So as the Temple was to be a place of separateness from the world, from everything else, so too the Church ought to be separate and consecrated to God.
Whatever turns us aside from God's purpose for the Church, as revealed in His Word is wickedness, and needs to be cast off.
So what if the masses don’t come when we worship the Lord in the way He has appointed - our chief concern is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, and we cannot do that if we are bowing down to the whims and fancies of the masses - for they are without the Lord, at enmity to Him, and will not do what He wants.
The principles that the Scriptures lay down are never outdated, they are always relevant, for they express to man and the Church, that which is God’s plan and purpose for His Church throughout the ages, and nothing that man says can change that. We are bound to the Biblical viewpoint, and we cannot, dare not, and will not do otherwise.
Let the world mock, let the Churches revile us, but as for us, 'The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.'
Do you see what this means for us? It means that when we wish to implement some new ministry, some new programme, the first thing we ought to do, is to go to the Word of God and to see if this is acceptable within the terms that God has laid down for His Church. We ought not to so twist and distort the Scriptures to make them accept our ideas, but rather place our ideas under the scriptures - if there be any doubts, it is the idea that must be put to one side.
What determines our evangelistic methods? Surely it must be the Scriptures. Of what value is much of today's practices in the area of evangelism - with all the famous people giving their testimonies and viewpoints, of what value is it to call people to put up their hands and make decisions for Jesus, of what value is it to sing songs over and over again until someone walks to the front?
What do the Scriptures say? ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Rom 1:16).’ ‘How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (Rom 10:14)’
All our efforts are vain, and wickedness, if we do not seek to conform ourselves to the God revealed way and methods of evangelism. And the same is true of every other area, whether it be doctrine, teaching, practice or purpose. If it be not according to God’s word, then it must be rejected as vain and wickedness.
#2. The Sign of Jesus’ Authority
Upon driving out the various traders from the temple precincts, the Jews came up to Jesus, ‘Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? (Jn 2:18)’
‘The Jews’ is a name given primarily to the enemies of Jesus in this Gospel, and in this case would refer to the same Jewish leaders who had sent the religious delegation to John the Baptist in John 1:19. Again they sought for some proof as to the authenticity of the one interrogated - this time Jesus.
Note that there is no protestation as to the righteousness of Jesus’ actions - He was right, and these Jews did not protest that. What they were concerned about was the authority behind this action; was it legitimate authority - was this man who dared to challenge the Jewish leaders on their home turf a prophet?
These men had numbers on their side, and for some length of time this practice of trading within the confines of the temple had been going on unchallenged. After all, the pilgrims benefited, and they obviously liked the convenience.
What an argument for continuing a practice! It is the same idea as we have today; what the majority wants the majority gets, we have to be right because we have the numbers behind us.
And this is the driving force behind so much of the errors and unbiblical practices that go on in the Church today. The truth is swamped by the hordes of ungodly, and unbelieving professors of Christianity, and substituted by a system that is devoid of power, non-confrontational to the one sitting in the pew, and soul damning in its consequence. Today’s Church is getting what it has gone after, a religious experience without God in the picture.
There seems to be so little concern for what the Bible says these days - its now a question of how can we get the maximum numbers in, keep them here, keep them happy and so on. Concern for the glory of God is at an all time low - concern for the personal holiness of those in the pews is of little interest, as long as they are there; even being sure of a person’s salvation is of little concern, as long as they come, continue to give and to profess.
And in large part this was exactly the situation that existed in the Jewish establishment of Jesus’ day.
These Jews sought a sign - how blind they were.
What had just occurred in the temple courtyard? One man had just driven countless animals and men from the vicinity of the temple, in full hearing and view of the Roman Legion stationed next door. Not one person dared stop Him; not one was able to resist the authority demonstrated by Jesus. Surely this in itself constituted a sign. Who has authority like this man - surely there was no need for more proof?
‘and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness (Malachi 3:1-3)."’
‘For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up (Psalm 69:9)’
Surely this very act of cleansing the temple was in fulfilment of the Scriptures that these men professed to believe as applicable to the Messiah - surely the Messiah has come to the temple!
‘Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body (Jn 2:19-21).’
By what authority had Jesus cleansed the temple? Surely it was by the authority of God Himself - and this is the point of the prophetic utterance of Jesus concerning His own death and resurrection. The greatest possible sign of His being the Messiah, of His being God and armed with this authority, was to exercise authority over death and the grave. There could be no greater sign then this!
You Jews destroy this temple of my Body, the dwelling place of God among men on earth, and I by the authority and power that I possess will raise Myself up again after three days. If there could be any doubt you would think that this would be the cruncher!
But of course the Jewish leaders were in darkness, and those who are dead in trespasses and sins cannot see the truth, for they have no light in them - so these men completely misinterpreted what Jesus said to them.
From what they heard and understood of Jesus’ reply, they found it completely impossible and implausible that this temple in Jerusalem, that had so far taken 46 years to build could be rebuilt in three days, ‘and you will rebuild it in three days?’ This is the language of contempt.
And what about the disciples? Well they did believe that Jesus was the Messiah, we have seen that - but even they did not know what exactly Jesus was talking about, not until after Jesus had risen from the dead. ‘When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said (Jn 2:22).’
They had not easily forgotten this saying of Jesus, for the Holy Spirit had brought it back to them after Jesus’ resurrection as John 14:26 indicates, ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’
But it was not until after the resurrection that they understood this saying of Jesus, not until the Holy Spirit had taught it to them. Before this the saying confused them. It was after the resurrection then that they began to really grasp the Scriptures, and how Jesus had come in fulfilment of them in every way. Yes they had already got a glimpse, but there was so much more they were to learn.
And this of course is the same for us, that is, that until the Holy Spirit teaches us the meaning of Scripture we will not get a hold of it for ourselves. We need to be more in reliance on the Spirit of God in our Bible Studies, Sermon preparation and hearing, Bible reading, and book reading. It is foolishness to think that we can work it all out ourselves ‘because they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).’
Is it because of this that so many churches are going astray in their service and worship of the Lord? Is it because they are trying to do things without God’s aid, without God’s enablement?
God’s way is the only way to serve and worship the Lord. It is the only way to seek out the meaning of Scripture and to actually understand it and practice it aright.
Let me impress this upon you, be sure to seek Him out in prayer, and rely upon Him when you approach Him in worship, and when you approach His Word. If not do not, do not expect to understand and do things God’s way - a falling away into error and wrong practices will await you if you do not do so.
Don’t kid yourself, God’s way is the only way for service and worship - there are fearful consequences for those who will not serve God aright, according to the ways He has set out.
Remember the examples of the past, for they were written for our learning. Remember what happened to Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6; remember what happened to Israel in the Old Testament and how God cut them off for their continued disobedience and wrong practices.
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10/10/2006
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