It's A Clean Sweep When Jesus Clears The Temple

Luke 19:45-48 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. 46 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

47 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48 But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

Luke 20:1-8 One day as Jesus was teaching the people and preaching the Good News in the Temple, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. 2 They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

3 “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. 4 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”

5 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 6 But if we say it was merely human, the people will stone us because they are convinced John was a prophet.” 7 So they finally replied that they didn’t know.

8 And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Wasn't it bad enough that Jesus just rode into town on a donkey as the crowds declared that he is the Messiah? Jesus infuriated the religious leaders when he refused to tell the crowds that they were wrong about him and as if that wasn't bad enough he returns to the temple and upsets the establishment some more.

Instead of acting out against the Roman government in Jerusalem as you would expect the recently announced king of the Jews to do, Jesus entered the temple and dealt with the issues in God's house, the corruption there was more important and the political problems. Jesus cleaned house by throwing out the money changers and the people selling animals for the sacrifice, both services were necessary but they were being used for huge financial gain.

To Jesus the issue in Israel was not Roman occupation, the issue was Jewish religious corruption. The Lord is not concerned with the people's relationship to Rome, He's concerned with the people's relationship to God.

-John MacArthur

The Jews and proselytes to Judaism needed the money changers so they would have the proper currency for the temple and the people selling the animals made it easier to travel to the temple from far away without taking care of the animal sacrifice. Both of these business transactions were being made in the part of the temple where the Gentiles were allowed to go to pray.

I have to wonder what would happen if the people that Jesus threw out felt any guilt for their wrongs and they went to the religious leaders to offer a sacrifice for forgiveness, then what would the Pharisees do? Would they admit they were wrong and that they also needed to repent and offer a sacrifice? I doubt it.

Who gave Jesus his authority?

John 12:49-50 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

The religious leaders loved the authority that they had and they liked to think that they were a big deal but Jesus rejected their authority and did what he pleased. He overrode their decision to allow the animals and thieves into the temple courts. There's nothing more devastating and hard to swallow than being treated as if you don't matter when you think you really do.

Jesus was always known to speak with authority (Matthew 7:28-29) but the Pharisees hadn't figured it out yet, for the last three years he taught and performed miracles daily but they are so spiritually blind that they have to ask him where his authority is from. (Luke 2:45-47, 4:36)

We know by his teaching and his miracles that he is clearly the Son of God, Jesus didn't need to answer their question directly and get into a debate about his authority. His authority was proved everyday of his earthly ministry and we all know that actions speak louder than words.

The question that I have to answer is will I submit to Jesus authority in the way that I live my life? Will I seek to please myself and do whatever I need to do to have fun, make money and be popular? Will I allow Jesus to clean up my mind and purify my thoughts?

The Beginning Of A New Covenant

Luke 22:13-20 They went off to the city and found everything just as Jesus had said, and they prepared the Passover meal there.

14 When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.

15 Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. 16 For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

17 Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. 18 For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.”

19 He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.”

20 After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

Jesus gave his disciples very detailed instructions on where the Passover meal would be served, the instructions remind us of the instructions that he gave the disciples when he sent them to get the donkey that he would ride into Jerusalem. (Compare Luke 22:9-12 with Luke 19:30-34)

The details of these two passages help to remind us that God is in control of everything. The disciples found that all of the details were just as Jesus had said, even the man carrying the water pot, which would be a strange sight to see a man doing "woman's work."

It is now Thursday of Passion Week, the day that the Feast of Unleavened Bread, it is the day that the Passover Lambs are prepared and this evening the Passover meal would begin at sundown.

Jesus institutes a new memorial meal. Passover shouldn't be observed anymore, the memorial of the deliverance of God's chosen people from Egypt would be overshadowed by this new memorial meal that we call The Lord's Supper. (Exodus 12:1-20)

Hebrews 10:10-12 For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

The broken bread and the juice serve as a reminder of the sacrifice that Jesus made that made it possible to have a new relationship with God. Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins.

Our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, when he said "It is finished" he meant it, it was finished on the day of his death, it is still finished today and it will be finished for all of eternity.

Farewell To The Webbs

The great missionary Andrew Murray once said, “faith expects from God what is beyond all expectation.” I’m not sure I can say it any better when I consider this journey of church planting and the ministry and impact of Jim & Tami Webb. It seems like yesterday that a Pastor looked at Cissy and said these words. “You don’t really think people will leave and go with you to New Jersey?” These were powerful words that left my wife speechless. Here we were preparing to do something that for a number of reasons made no sense yet we knew God was asking us to follow Him in FAITH.

We had prayed and truly believed that not only was God calling us to trust Him and be willing to step out of the boat into the deep waters but that He would not let us take those steps alone.

We believed that God was going to send us others to take this journey with us. We truly believed that. Who it would be or how many was still a mystery but we did believe we would have others go with us. It was that faith that Murray spoke of that we had and were holding onto.

A faith that expected more from God and was willing to completely trust in Him no matter what anyone said.

A Faith that believed God was faithful to always do what He said and we believed that He said we would have help go with us.

Who would it be? Why would they go? What would be their expectations? These were just a few of the questions that ran through my mind as I prayed asking God to send us help.

Then I jokingly asked Tami Webb one day to go with us and she said confidently to talk to Jim. So, I did. I asked Jim to meet me and to be honest it was only the second time I had ever met him. We talked for a while and I tried to answer his questions as best I knew how and left it in God’s hands.

I must admit that I didn’t think it was going to become a reality. Tami was the longest tenured employee at Idlewild and her role and responsibilities were very significant. Why would she leave that and come with me. It wasn’t like we could offer anything that would entice her or provide for her anything like what she had there.

As for Jim, I couldn’t say things that are important for a husband to know so that he can say to his wife in order to give her peace and security. Things like, “I have a couple jobs lined up for you to choose from for income.” Or, “I have a place for you to stay.” I couldn’t even tell him where we would put his stuff when he got there.

Yet, as Andrew Murray said – Faith is expecting from God what is beyond all expectation. I’m not sure that was the faith that Cissy and I had at the beginning of this journey but I can confidently say that Jim & Tami had it! It is that same faith that they demonstrate before us all everyday.

A faith that is marked by behaviors like service, dedication, selflessness, kindness, compassion, integrity, steadfastness, reliability, servant leadership, and steadiness.

Please read this next line slowly and even re-read it because I don’t want you to miss it. Jim and Tami didn’t leave Tampa to follow Buff & Cissy. They left Tampa in obedience to follow Jesus.

They sold their house, left their family, and jobs in FAITH to follow Jesus. We tend to read passages about following Jesus; the costs involved and think that doesn’t apply to me. Jim & Tami didn’t.

In fact they left to follow Jesus wanting and believing God had more for them. More for them to see, to do, but more importantly to be. I can confidently say they found it.

They, like us, have been stretched, challenged, broken, attacked; yet all of it was not only a blessing but the blessing. I think they could say that the blessing isn’t found in what they lost but is found in what they have gained. You see in God’s economy, profits and gains are always different than man’s economy.

I think of the apostle Paul’s word when he was describing his ministry…

”But as God’s ministers, we commend ourselves in everything…as grieving yet always rejoicing; as poor yet making many rich; as having nothing yet possessing everything.”

They have lost a lot by being here. They have stayed longer than anyone who has come to serve alongside us. The bond we have can never be broken as a result of this journey. We always knew it wouldn’t be forever here yet we never wanted to think about that.

We pledged to stay in the moments and see where and how God was working and stay faithful in joining Him in that work. I am not sure if I can or will ever be able to capture what Jim & Tami have and do mean to us.

How do I even attempt to share with you the impact or influence they have had on the ministry of Grace Falls Church? Not sure I can! But I do remember a quote I heard at the first SEND Conference I went to in preparation coming here to New Jersey.

David Platt said it and it is one that I have held onto as I have prayed and believed God has been at work here in New Jersey. David Platt said that a church should be known more by its SENDING capacity than its SEATING capacity. That resonated with me that day. I am looking at my notes today when I wrote that. I said right then and there on that day that I would not measure our success as church planters by how big our church got in numbers on a Sunday but by the people we disciple and send.

That is the work and command. We have done that…people like…

• Jim & Donna – Baptized here & moved to Fla • Eva – Saved & Baptized here & reconciled w/her family • Shelby – faithfully served & left to help church plant in Tampa • Ashley – Baptized here & now on Mission in St Pete • Joseph – Saved, Baptized & now on mission in St Pete • Chris & Gen – On Mission as IMB Missionaries in Niger • Rafaat & Hoda – On Mission in Fl

These are just a few of over 20 people that we have had the unique opportunity to invest and influence over the past couple years.

You see if all we do is truly about the Kingdom of God, and it is for His good and glory, we will not only be sending people constantly from our churches but we will be sending our best.

Today I believe we just did that. We are sending our best. May God bless Jim & Tami Webb as they go now on mission to plant the gospel and make disciples all for the glory of God. Thank you both for your example and your ministry! Galatians 6:9!

Praying? Don't Be Shy!

Nehemiah 1:3-7 They said to me, "Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire."

4 When I heard this, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven. 5 Then I said, "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps His covenant of unfailing love with those who love Him and obey His commands, 6 listen to my prayer!

Look down and see me praying night and day for Your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against You. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, decrees, and regulations that You gave us through Your servant Moses.

I have been in church all of my life and I have never seen anyone pray the way God's people did in the Bible. In the Bible there is a forceful passion without any messing around these people pray what they feel. It makes me wonder how we can see their prayers and the results that they achieved and yet we don't follow their example?

"Hey God, it's me again, I know you are busy and you have other more important things. I know you already know this but let me just ask this one thing if it's your will... Sorry to bother you."

That's not the kind of prayer that Nehemiah prayed! Nehemiah spoke to God with passion, he wasn't afraid to say "Listen to my prayer!" God wants to hear the emotion, he wants to hear how we really feel, he can handle it! Nehemiah wasn't being disrespectful, he showed that he revered God. He began by saying "O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God."

We don't dare pray with an exclamation mark! It seems too demanding and rude we come to God all shy and timid, afraid to make a request. We know that God knows everything and he has a plan and a purpose for everything so we think that maybe we shouldn't bother God with our little problem.

God's children should be able to talk to their heavenly Father boldly! I pray that you will speak to him freely and with passion.

The Gospel

A restless generation We're turning over every stone Hoping to find salvation In a world that's left us cold

Can we get back to the altar? Back to the arms of our first love There's only one way to the Father And He's calling out to us

To the captive, it looks like freedom To the orphan, it feels like home To the skeptic, it might sound crazy To believe in a God who loves

In a world, where our hearts are breaking And we're lost in the mess we've made Like a blinding light, in the dead of night It's the Gospel The Gospel that makes a way It's the Gospel that makes a way

It's the cure for our condition It's the good news for us all It's greater than religion It's the power of the Cross

The amazing news of the Gospel Is not that we can receive Jesus into our lives But that He's already received us Int His

In my own life, it means forgiveness When I know I deserved the fall It called me out of my darkness And carried me to the Cross

In a moment, my eyes were opened In that moment, my heart was changed Like a blinding light, in the dead of night It's the Gospel

1 Corinthians 15:21-23 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22  Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.