13-14 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19-21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 22 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 23-25 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:13-25 English Standard Version

Twice we are told that the disciples 'remembered' something. In the incident of overturning the money changer’s tables they remembered a verse form Psalm 69:9 which spoke of King David's zeal for the Lord' house, and they saw how it applied just as much to Jesus. In the case of Jesus speaking of 'raising up the temple in three days' , it was a few years later after His resurrection that His words came back to their minds. The gospel accounts are in many ways a looking back with the wisdom of hindsight and seeing the significance of all Jesus said and did. So, looking at what Jesus did in the temple, was He an 'activist'?

The news these days is full of destructive protests by people calling themselves activists. They are inevitably linked to some political or ideological cause, usually something totally contrary to God's will. Some are now attacking Churches and counselling centres because they want abortions on demand to continue. In contrast, the zeal Jesus showed was for the glory of God, not people's selfish desires. What about Muslims? Aren't they zealous for what they believe is God's glory?

The big difference is that Jesus was not urging 'holy war' on anyone who disagreed with Him. He wasn't trying to set up a religion to dominate the world and crush all opposition. In fact, His actions were directed against religious people who had commercialized God's word. We see a lot of that in our generation. Following what Jesus did those same religious people demanded he do a miraculous sign to justify His actions. Jesus didn't give in to their self centred demands but pointed instead to the greatest sign of all which would happen in the near future. (vs 22)

People must not use this incident as an excuse to become activists for so called 'social causes' such as 'climate change' or LGBT agendas. The goal of Christian zeal should always be for the glory of God. We won't achieve that by rioting, but by righteous living, and by preaching the gospel. It was prophesied of the Messiah that “He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.” (Isaiah 42:2)

Christians must stand firm against the commercialization of the gospel which we see so much of in our generation. The large trade from religious items, and even popular books that say what readers want to hear, is something we should guard against. The apostle Paul warned of people who see 'godliness' as a means of gain! (1 Timothy 6:5) Can you see how what John tells us of Jesus in vs 23-25 is just as true for our generation?

Many people were impressed with Christ and with Christianity and joined the cause. But Jesus was not fooled by numbers and outward professions. He knew very well what the heart of man is like. For many people, following Jesus would only be to see what was in it for them. Many would use it for their greed just at the money changers were doing in the temple. May our zeal for the Lord be genuine - and may our activity and actions in the world always be righteous.