Wednesday, December 13, 2006

The REAL War on Christmas


13Not long before the Jewish festival of Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14There he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves in the temple. He also saw moneychangers sitting at their tables.



15
So he took some rope and made a whip. Then he chased everyone out of the temple, together with their sheep and cattle. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and scattered their coins.

16Jesus said to the people who had been selling doves, "Get those doves out of here!

Don't make my Father's house a marketplace."



17The disciples then remembered that the Scriptures say, "My love for your house burns in me like a fire."

18The Jewish leaders asked Jesus, "What miracle [a] will you work to show us why you have done this?" 19"Destroy this temple," Jesus answered, "and in three days I will build it again!"

20The leaders replied, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?"

23In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw him work miracles. [b]

24
But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he would not let them have power over him.

25
No one had to tell him what people were like. He already knew.

-Gospel of John.

1 comment:

Robin Edgar said...

A lot of Christians who think of Jesus as some kind of ulta-pacifist are shocked to learn that he physically assaulted people with a whip. All things considered I expect that it was that physical assault in front of the Temple in Jerusalem that led to his arrest by what former UUA President John Buehrens calls "the secular authorities" and his subsequent crucifixion. Pontius Pilate was known to be quite ruthless and likely would have meted out harsh punishment for such an aggravated assault at a place of worship. . .