THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

The feast of the Passover was nigh at hand,
Many would be expected, in Jerusalem, to attend.
The Temple would be filled by a great throng,
Many would also bring their children along.

The Temple was so crowded one could hardly each other hear,
The din that people created as they greeted each other with cheer.
The festive spirit among the people was good and strong
They would remember God’s goodness with many a song.

Jesus with His disciples had come for the Passover too,
They would be surprised at what next He would do.
They watched Him silently as He made a strong whip of cords,
What would their Master do as He looked at the flock?

He walked to the merchants and spoke firmly to them,
Why had they made the Temple into an evil thieves’ den?
The Temple, from of old, was to be a very Holy Place,
It was at the Temple that people were to find God’s grace.

The Temple had to be cleansed by God’s authority,
The merchants had affronted Him with their impurity.
Jesus dared to face them armed with only a whip of cords,
He would not allow them to shame the name of God.

The leaders of the Temple challenged Jesus with one accord,
They had never been more angry with the Lord.
They demanded to know the source of His authority.
How dared He cleanse the temple with such audacity?

Jesus stared at them and then proclaimed,
“Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up again.”
The people listened to these amazing words of grace,
But how could this Man raise the Temple in just three days?

Jesus was prophesying of His inevitable death,
He knew the leaders would plot with great stealth.
He was not afraid of the suffering that He would endure,
His sole desire was to do the Father’s good pleasure.
John 2:13-25