[picapp align=”right” wrap=”true” link=”term=turning+tables&iid=3174285″ src=”c/3/b/e/Croupiers_Hone_Their_ca63.jpg?adImageId=9221870&imageId=3174285″ width=”234″ height=”156″ /]  There is a historical belief that our connection with God is inately religious as opposed to inherently relational.  In plain terms, God is accessed through a series of human acts (some very odd) performed in a particular sequence: religion defined.  Engaging God through organic and familiar practices (like talking) is relationship.  Theologians have argued the merits and disadvantages of both approaches since long before the birth of Christ.

Jesus weighed in on the conversation, although he is largely ignored.  According to John’s account of Jesus’ life, Jesus entered the core of Jewish religious practice and flipped it upside down.

“The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:13-17, ESV)

For those familiar with this story, ever wonder what exactly Jesus was so exercised about?  How could he cause such a disturbance?  For what purpose did he drive out the purveyors of accepted trades, the supporters of the status quo?  Most of what Jesus ended (for a brief time) specifically facilitated the continuation of the sacrificial system.  The sacrificial system God set up.

Could it be Jesus’ statement wasn’t focused on the activity of those he drove out?  Could it be the offense was not the selling of goods, it was the separation between God and those he invited into fellowship with him through the sacrifice?

My friends at Main Street will take a look at this idea this weekend.