15 When Jesus reached Jerusalem, he entered the temple courtyard. He began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. 16 He would not allow anyone to carry items for sale through the temple courtyard. 17 Then he taught them. He told them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11)
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard about this. They began looking for a way to kill Jesus. They were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples left the city.
For the Adults:
Can you imagine how Jesus felt about the temple? God gave the Jews the temple as a place for them to reconcile their relationship to him. It was a place where sins could be atoned, sacrifices and offerings made, and relationship with God could be strengthened through prayer; but God’s people found a way to make the worst of the best of what God had to offer. The temple became place vendors to made money and God’s people made minimal preparations for the sacrifice of worship.
We see at the end of Mark 11 (our passage from last Thursday) that Jesus went to the temple and looked around, but it was late so he and his disciples went to Bethany (Mark 11:12). Jesus knew about the problems in the temple and he came in the next day seemingly ready to make a scene! We often think of Jesus, as a kind and hospitable southern woman who speaks of love, kindness and turning the other cheek. But here we see him turning over tables and chairs with a righteous indignation. Because of man’s sinfulness, the temple system had been abused and broken. In fact, there is nothing that can be done about it - except for Jesus to make the final ultimate sacrifice to permanently forge a relationship between God and his people.
This story is another “Markan Sandwich.” While we are not reading the “bread” part of the passage that has to do with the fig tree (v. 12-14 and 20-26) with the kids today, Mark uses this literary technique to show that the temple, like the fig tree, was no longer producing the way it should, so it must die! This temple cleansing is not just about the commercialization of religion, but rather a completely broken sacrificial system that needed to be replaced once and for all by the Son of God himself!
Let us not abuse the relationship we have because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Let us not fall into the rut of the money changers profiting off of the religious system, or the lazy worshipers who refused to bring God their best to worship. Let us have the courage to stand up to righteous injustice and bring give our best to God in all we do…especially worship!
For the kids:
Enter:
What was the best part of your day?
What was the worst part of your day?
Did you see God at work in our lives today?
Hear:
Read the passage.
Pause:
Sit for a few moments…see if you can sit longer than yesterday!
Wonder:
What was interesting about this story?
How do you think the money changers and pigeon salesmen felt?
Why did Jesus overturn tables and chairs?
Were you surprised by what Jesus did?
Do you think you should overturn tables and chairs at church?
How was Jesus honoring God?
How can we honor God?
Bless:
Affirm what was discussed about the story.
Revisit the things the kids brought up during the “Enter” time.
Pray together:
Praise God, Give thanks, Pray for others, confess sins, Praise God!
Example:
Dear God, we praise you because you put the sun, the moon and the stars in the sky. We thank you Jesus who honored you with his whole life. Please heal those that are struggling through this virus and forgive us for the times that we’ve done wrong. Thank you for our family and this time together!
Amen!
Wrap up with this video.