April 8, 2010
John 2
Pastor Paul Turbedsky
“His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me’.” (John 2:17)
It is possible to get so jazzed about something that it gets your full attention, making you blind to the world around you. You’ll stop whatever you are doing and adjust your day to make it happen because it is so important that it seems to consume you.
My two-year-old grandson, Caeden, does that on Monday nights. His dad leads worship during Monday Night Church. During the band’s rehearsal, Caeden will put down his drink, stop eating a chicken nugget, drop a toy car and make his way to the stage to stand behind his Daddy and copy every move. It’s a precious sight to see a two-year-old move his feet just like his dad. He is so jazzed about seeing his dad, being with him and doing what he does that the rest of his world stops. He is in awe of his Daddy, consumed by being in his presence.
Jesus had the same passion to be in His Father’s house in Jerusalem (the temple), and went to extremes to make it known. The way that people had turned the temple into a market infuriated Jesus to the point that he turned over their tables and threw them out. His disciples remembered the words of the psalmist David, “zeal for your house consumes me.” At the time that the verse (Psalm 69:9) was written, people were getting too comfortable and complacent with their faith and rejecting David’s zeal for God’s temple and kingdom. Much the same was happening in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time. Jesus wanted to be with His Father in the temple, and nothing was going to stop him from doing so.
The next time that you stop the world around you to do that all-important thing or watch your favorite singer, sport or satire, I encourage you to check yourself with these questions:
- Do I get as jazzed to be with the Lord and walk out my faith?
- Am I willing to clean my “temple” to give the Father the honor that He is due?
- Am I consumed to be in the presence of the Lord?
My prayer is that you may have the zeal to be with Christ and be like Him with the same excitement that a two-year-old wants to be with - and be like - his Daddy.
Did you know that Pastor Paul’s hobbies are vegetable gardening and cooking?
