Get To Know Bible Places: Mount Zion (Part Two)

New Testament Event

John 2:12-17

Our Lord was present on this mount throughout His earthly ministry. Jesus was the one responsible for two startling temple cleansings, with the second coming near the end of His earthly ministry, which is recorded in Matthew 21, Mark 11, and Luke 19. In the first cleansing, Jesus entered the Temple complex and noticed disturbing activities. He saw those who were merchants of oxen, sheep, doves, and also money changers. The entirety of the system was corrupt, for the worship at the temple had become more about a money-making scheme than it was about the worship of Jehovah God. The system was manipulated so that the worshipers were required to purchase the sacrifices from the merchants who pedaled them. Not only was the worshiper not allowed to bring their own sacrifice that was in line with the Mosaic Law, but they could not even purchase the sacrifices with their own everyday currency.  The reason for that being that the image of Caesar was imprinted on the denarius. Therefore, it was deemed a graven image and not proper to use for the purchase of sacrifices. So, there was a changer of money who would convert, “godless” currency to temple currency. Essentially the merchants were the only ones who could sell, and the money changers were the only way they could buy. The people were being taken advantage of, and what was more egregious was the fact that they were running this racket in the temple complex.

The Lord made a scourge of cords, could you imagine the scene of Jesus weaving this tool to be utilized in casting out the sheep and oxen? The zeal of the Lord here would cause the men to flee as well. The Lord poured out their money and threw over their tables. The Lord commanded them to get the doves out (you can't cast doves in cages out with a scourge). He charged them to not make His Father's house a house of merchandise. Interestingly enough is the fact that John uses the word emporiou (ἐμπορίου) where we get the English word emporium. This means a place of commerce, a market. Can you imagine the audacity to do that with the assembly of the saints? 

Some brethren lose their zeal over time, and their worship devolves into being just another box to check off before we get onto whatever else we have to do. That zeal for the Lord isn't lost overnight. It comes from a gradual lack of courage where we remove the things of God from their place as the top priorities in our lives. Brethren fall away and return to the world because their zeal is dwindled and those closest to them are short on the courage needed to speak to them about it, let alone to rebuke their apathy. The disciples remembered when they saw Jesus exhibit the fortitude to call attention and rebuke; the words of Ps. 69:9 are rendered here, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

John 2:18-20

The scene that Jesus walked into did not happen overnight, but rather it came as the people lacked the zeal and courage to live by the Word of God alone. In the Old Testament, they added idols, were punished, and turned back to God. Again, they added more idols, were punished, and turned back to God. It was a cycle of error and repentance and back to error. After captivity and in the intertestamental times, they added the traditions of men in place of idols, yet this time, they did not turn back to God. So, when Jesus vehemently disrupted everything, he pushed back against the system they had so carefully constructed to line their pockets. The Jews were not happy, and they demanded a sign. You know there is a similar thing that happens when the truth is preached on varying subjects. The doctrine of Christ is being challenged today. If you present the biblical teaching on the five acts of worship, marriage, divorce, remarriage, other moral standards, or even the exclusivity of the Lord’s church, some will not be content with a book, chapter, or verse on the subject, but will reference the latest esteemed theologian or man-made book about the subject. 

We, as members of the Lord’s body, must know how to answer.  How will we do that if we do not know where to find the answer? How can one be zealous and courageous about something with which we have only a passing familiarity? The word of Jehovah came through Hosea to Israel saying, 

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Because you have rejected knowledge,

I also will reject you from being priest for Me;

Because you have forgotten the law of your God,

I also will forget your children.

Hosea 4:6 

To give a proper answer, it takes courage to be zealous for the only relevant book on the subject. It takes courage to demand more than a diluted gospel. Those who are discontent with the Scripture will ask for signs. They will speak about anointing and how the Spirit told them to start their own church. They demand feelings over what the Word of God plainly teaches. Do not stop giving the sign-seekers Scripture. You will be surprised the ground you can gain with them. The Jews wanted a sign to be seen since He was upsetting their system. Jesus said this is the sign. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” It took courage and zeal for sound doctrine for Christ to say this, didn't it? Yet, they did not understand it. 

John 2:21-24

The disciples realized later that He spoke of his body. When Jesus came, the actions He took at the temple were misunderstood.  In fact, one of the accusations hurled against Him as He stood before the high priest after He was seized was the fact that He said He would tear down the temple and raise it again (cf. Mark 14:58). Even His disciples apparently did not have complete comprehension of the meaning of this until he was raised from the dead. What did that take? It took courage; it took zeal for the mission handed down to the Apostles to preach and teach the Gospel of Christ. This was the mission of the 12, this was the mission of the 1st-century church, and this was the mission of each current congregation of the Lord’s church when they started meeting. The mission remains the same. It takes courage to stay on message and to stay on mission.  (Beavers, 134-139)

Works Cited: 

Beavers, R.D. The Courage to be Holy, Ironworks, 2023.