Breaking the Word

 Then Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.'" And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words  (Lk 19:45-48)

 

 

Temple was the focal point for the people of Israel. It was the national identity and ideology. It was the sign and symbol of God’s unshakable promise that he would be with them and keep the safe. This promise of God had to be met with faith and obedience of the people. In short it was a symbol of covenant relationship. When people reject this presence and promise the they would face judgement and punishment.

 

But Jesus witnesses a commercialized temple. His action is a prophetic warning. Because the temple has become a hide-out for brigands, and brigands are running the show. Jesus is not so much angry with the traders, though they do make extra money in their business, rather Jesus is angry with the priests and the structure that make the commercialization of the temple possible. And his is one of the main reason on which the priest accuse Jesus for death.

 

The ruling group, both clerical and lay, see an immediate reason in his action in e temple, to put Jesus to death. Jesus’ reaction is in coincidence with his own preaching. This is how God’s plan of salvation is achieved. Jesus entered temple as true God finally returned  to Zion. 

  As he drew near, he saw the city and wept over it, saying, "If this day you only knew what makes for peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."  (Lk 19:41-44)

 

 

Jesus wept over the city. His journey to Jerusalem was long and with a lot of preparation. He had gathered a great crowd of followers. He had done such an amount of preparation for this journey but at the end of the journey he weeps. It should have been a glorious and a joyous arrival.

 

Weeping and tears seem to be the core of his mission in Jerusalem. As a leader and as a messiah he should have avoided this. Right from the beginning and all through his journey he was preparing for peace and God’s grace. Like Galileans the inhabitants of Judea and Jerusalem did not heed his call. (Unless you repent you will all likewise perish Lk 13: 3,5).

 

The destruction and the lose are due to the negligence of the people. In fact they are the outcome of their not heeding to his call. The arrival of the enemy and his evil activities are consequences. Jesus does not gloat over the consequences he feels sorry for the people and feels one with them in their suffering and weeps for their resistance to good.