Musing – What is Jesus’ Church Supposed To Be? What Made Him Angry?

 Hebraic Musing – What is Jesus’ Church Supposed To Be?    What Made Him Angry?

We are taught that Jesus loves us, cares for us, and wants us to love our neighbor and then He died for our sins!  But then we read about His behavior in the temple, we wonder how that fits His image?  “Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.  And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Mark 11:15-17 NKJV   As a result, the scribes & priests wanted to kill Him.  And His own disciples were perplexed!  What triggered this remarkable display of Jesus’ emotions?  What was wrong?

Actually, this was not the first time Jesus got angry and had to cleanse the Temple.  In John 2:14-16 - “He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.  When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!’”

Why was Jesus so upset?  His house was being prostituted for purposes other than what was intended.*  Merchandizers were profiting from travelers coming to worship, selling at unconscionable profits, currency exchanging, religious commercialism, etc. and taking up space intended for all nationalities and races.

Application today?  “Jesus is not terribly impressed with religious commercialism. He is concerned not only with whether we’re doing God’s work, but also how and why we’re doing it.”*  How many are “going to church” to hear preaching, play or sing worshipfully, get fellowship, or other personal gratifications?  If you are singing in the choir, cleaning the church, serving meals, leading studies, serving communion, etc. that is good, but what’s the real reason you do these things?  It gets even more commercial if you “hire” an outside Christian group to perform!  Does the Bible ever say “My house shall be called a ‘house of preaching’”? Or fellowship? Or song?

Why did Jesus call the church to be a “House of Prayer”?  “Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” Isaiah 56:7   Also in Matt.21:13  &  Luke 19:36.

How did the church get started?  What were the disciples doing when Jesus launched His Church?  Jesus was gone!  They were abandoned, lost, desperate, confused, and seeking the LORD together.  “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.  And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together...”  They weren’t just saying prayers; they were praying!  They were not interested in the politics or social issues or recent news or risks of persecution.  They were searching, desperate and praying!

Points to ponder

If God birthed the church in a prayer meeting, what does that say to our churches today?
And prayer meetings today are almost extinct?     BTW – What is Prayer? 

Should we be praying that prayer will be added as a “Prayer Service” in our “House of Prayer”?

Is the rule against prayer in public schools a reason for not praying in church?

What would happen if Christians spent more time waiting on God than watching TV or sports?
How could God use that time to shape us, cleanse us, and work in our hearts?

What did the early church have that we do not have?

♫ Lord, I need You.   Oh, I need You.   Every hour, I need You.... ♫

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                                     November 15, 2022

Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”   Weekly “Hebraic Musings”    InsightsByYosef.blogspot.com

* Inspired by & excerpted from chapt.5 -“Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire” by Jim Cymbala, Brooklyn Tabernacle Pastor