Devotion for March 27, 2012

[Arendt Rebecca]

E-Devotions

The Temple Courts When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  John 2:13-14 It was a great event to go to Jerusalem to celebrate one of the feasts.  We get a picture of how crowded and exciting it must have been when Mary and Joseph lose their son Jesus in the crowd for a couple of days.  These verses, also in the book of Luke, give us the picture that families often traveled on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem together.  It would make the trip more enjoyable and safer for all.  Now as an adult, Jesus takes that trip to Jerusalem with his disciples. We see things quite differently as adults than when we were children.  As children we see the hustle and bustle of a large city, now swelled even larger by the tens of thousands of visiting pilgrims, as a thing of wonder and excitement.  The stalls and market noises must have been quite a shock to those arriving from sleepy little villages.  Joseph would have probably purchased the animal in the temple courts that would be used for sacrifice.  But now, Jesus sees all that is around him very differently.  Only the shekel is acceptable currency in the temple.  Money changers are providing a service by exchanging the coins of other nations to shekels for the people, but they are taking unfair advantage.  The same is true for those who sell animals to be used for sacrifice.  They know pilgrims cannot easily bring a sheep many miles, so they provide one—but at exorbitant prices.  What started as a service has become a thing of greed.  Now these services have become businesses that sit on the temple door step. Is it wrong to sell things in church?  I believe it can be a wonderful service to people, until marketing supersedes worship.       To order, please send $14.95 (plus 2.95 S&H) Click the "Buy Now" button to purchase using Paypal or send a check to: Russell Eggert Ministries 6 Marsham Drive Marlton, NJ 08053 (Please include shipping address) Copyright 2011 Russell Eggert Ministries

Change your subscription
Unsubscribe

Powered by Joobi