Jesus Clears the Temple: A Devotion for Men
Mark 11:15-19- "Jesus Clears the Temple"
There is a semi-inappropriate television show on FX called “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. The show is the story of four friends who own a bar on South Street in Philly. The content of the sitcom has led one individual I know to label the show as an “inappropriate version of Seinfeld”. Regardless of the crass nature of the show there is one line that really stands out. When one of the characters goes to the gym and describes the “look” he is going for he states, “I’m going for the Jesus look. Have you seen his abs? That guy was ripped!”.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot think of an occasion where I heard Jesus described as ripped before. Close your eyes and picture Jesus. What do you see? I imagine many of us see a portrait of Jesus’ face complete with blond hair, blue eyes, and soft features. Isn’t that how we see Jesus depicted most regularly? We see him with a heavenly glow around his head, children and the lame around his body, and a calm and embracing look on his face. We see a gentle Jesus.
Jesus, however, is not always as we depict him. He was a man who stood up to those in authority and constantly put himself in harm’s way for the sake of others. He was a man who upon seeing people acting inappropriately in the temple flipped out. He did not gently call a meeting to order and hear everyone’s opinions and reasons for their behavior, but rather overturned their tables and benches and put an immediate ban on their business.
Jesus was tolerant of a lot of things. He ate with tax collectors and sinners and he stood up for prostitutes, but when it came to injustice and spiritual malpractice he took action.
We’re Christ’s body in this world. That being said there are times where we are going to have to comfort the afflicted and embrace the isolated. There are also going to be times where we are going to have to man-up, just like our Lord, and stand up the injustices in this world.
Lord, grant me the wisdom to see where your world falls short and the courage to stand up and be your voice in those places. Amen.
There is a semi-inappropriate television show on FX called “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia”. The show is the story of four friends who own a bar on South Street in Philly. The content of the sitcom has led one individual I know to label the show as an “inappropriate version of Seinfeld”. Regardless of the crass nature of the show there is one line that really stands out. When one of the characters goes to the gym and describes the “look” he is going for he states, “I’m going for the Jesus look. Have you seen his abs? That guy was ripped!”.
I don’t know about you, but I cannot think of an occasion where I heard Jesus described as ripped before. Close your eyes and picture Jesus. What do you see? I imagine many of us see a portrait of Jesus’ face complete with blond hair, blue eyes, and soft features. Isn’t that how we see Jesus depicted most regularly? We see him with a heavenly glow around his head, children and the lame around his body, and a calm and embracing look on his face. We see a gentle Jesus.
Jesus, however, is not always as we depict him. He was a man who stood up to those in authority and constantly put himself in harm’s way for the sake of others. He was a man who upon seeing people acting inappropriately in the temple flipped out. He did not gently call a meeting to order and hear everyone’s opinions and reasons for their behavior, but rather overturned their tables and benches and put an immediate ban on their business.
Jesus was tolerant of a lot of things. He ate with tax collectors and sinners and he stood up for prostitutes, but when it came to injustice and spiritual malpractice he took action.
We’re Christ’s body in this world. That being said there are times where we are going to have to comfort the afflicted and embrace the isolated. There are also going to be times where we are going to have to man-up, just like our Lord, and stand up the injustices in this world.
Lord, grant me the wisdom to see where your world falls short and the courage to stand up and be your voice in those places. Amen.
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