he made a whip

The story of Jesus driving people out of the temple in John 2 is so counter the Jesus I grew up learning about. The one who used his hands to form the world now wielding a whip. Cracking it against the skin he created. It’s too much to think about.

The creator inflicting physical pain on the created.

And why? Look at how the passage is laid out. Jesus walks into the temple and finds people selling (1) oxen, (2) sheep and (3) pigeons. He also finds (4) money changers.

He then makes a whip and uses it to drive out the (1) oxen and (2) sheep. Then he turns over the tables of the (4) money changers.

One group he saves for last. One group he addresses verbally. One group he makes an example of.

And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” – John 2:16

Jesus saw men selling pigeons and he was livid.

And why?

The sacrificial system set up in Leviticus revolved around animal sacrifice. In an agrarian culture animals = money. But not everyone has money. Which means not everyone has animals. So God extended grace. A way that someone without money could access him.

But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. – Leviticus 5:7

Anyone can catch a pigeon. After all, who sends the pigeons?

God set up a redemptive system and provided everything people needed to live within it. So when Jesus saw people in the temple selling pigeons he exploded in fury. The religious leaders were essentially saying, “A pigeon you catch on your own isn’t enough. You have to buy Temple Pigeons.” The very way that God provided to help the oppressed was now a tool used to further their oppression.

One of the greatest prayers I can lift up is for anger toward the things that make God angry. Because I am designed to follow God’s heart and God’s anger always moves him into action.

—update—

I just finished reading Vince’s post on Jesus as a “tough, confrontational, revolutionary leader,” and I thought… yeah. Check it out here.