John chapter 2 verses 13-16
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my father’s house into a market!”
Matthew chapter 21 verses 12-13
Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
Today’s reading in John describes an incident that happened at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He had just performed His first miracle at a wedding in Cana, then went to Jerusalem just before Passover. The second reading from Matthew is almost identical, yet it describes an incident three years after the one described in John. It takes place just before Jesus’ final Passover.
What struck me here was that nothing seemed to have changed between the two incidents. Those involved had paid no heed to what Jesus had said the first time. Things carried on as they had done before. There may have been some impact immediately after, but clearly no long-lasting effect. How sad! Yet I wonder how we react after we have been impacted by a word from the Lord. Does it have a short-term effect because we have been in a good meeting? Does God have to come again at another time and speak to us about the same matter? Or do we take to heart what we have heard and change our behaviour or actions?
Dear Lord,
I confess that You have had to come and speak to me more than once about a matter and its surely due to Your grace that You have done so. Help me to act in obedience to Your word when You speak so that You don’t have to speak to me yet again about the same issue. 1 ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.