Turning the Tables?

Was Jesus angry; was he fed up; was it just time to “turn the tables on them”? 

“In the last week of his ministry, Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.” Matthew 21:12

Why this week; Jesus had witnessed this injustice all of his life. Why now? Maybe he couldn’t stomach this scene any longer, did the injustice just become too much? Was he giving us something to remember, or a way to justify our own anger? Sure, God hates injustice but the message of this week was much more profound, long lasting, eternal, ….much more then just temporarily cleaning up the temple.

By the end of the week Jesus would deliver for all mankind, rich or poor, direct access to the Holy God. No more pigeons to sacrifice, no more knowing the right people, no more being from the right family. When Jesus saw the buying and selling, he saw a barrier to worship, no access for the poor the weary, the disconnected. When he heard the bartering and bickering, he heard the message you can’t enter to pray, you are not worthy.

With our eyes we see a righteous man turning the tables, but Jesus looked out to Sunday and saw redemption and access for all.

It was time!