Passover was only a few days away, so Jesus went with his Apostles to Jerusalem to be there for the holy day. When he reached the temple he did not find people praying quietly and reverently. Instead he found what looked like a market square. Vendors were selling oxen, sheep and doves. Money-changers were exchanging coins and currency from other areas to Jewish money.
Jesus was furious. He gathered some tough cords together and tied them into a whip. He drove everyone out of the temple and scattered the livestock. He threw the coin boxes of the money changers onto the ground and knocked their tables over. To the men selling doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”
The Apostles who watched Jesus in his wrath could not help but think of the words written in one of the Psalms, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews asked Jesus, “What sign can you show us for doing this?”
Jesus replied simply, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years,” they said as they challenged Jesus, “and you will raise it up in three days?” But Jesus was not referring to a physical building. He was referring to the temple that was his body.
The Apostles did not realize the importance of what Jesus had said or done until after Jesus had risen from the dead. Then they remembered the day in the temple, and they believed in the Scripture and the words of Jesus. Jesus remained in Jerusalem for the Passover feast. While he was there, he performed signs and wonders, and many people came to believe in him. Still Jesus was very careful, because he knew the people could not be trusted. (by Joe Sarnicola)
Joyful Papist 