TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus in the book of John

90% of John’s gospel is unique in comparison to the other three gospels. All 4-gospels, however, target the controversial or antagonistic teachings of Jesus. Teaching that angered the Religious Leaders of His day. John 2, is just such a place. This is probably the middle or later third of Jesus ministry. In John 2, Jesus is preparing for the Passover, a Jewish Sabbath Day -- 13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
John 2:13-16 (NIV) 

I know there have been numerous explanations for why Jesus would carry on like he did.  I've read several myself, all of which have a reasonable explanation.  The one that really seems to hit home for me, however, targets the issue of complacency.  


Thomas Edison stated - "We shall have no better conditions in the future if we are satisfied with all those which we have at present."  I think Jesus was angry because He saw complacency creep into temple worship.  On one of the holiest days of the Jewish Sabbath celebrations, He witnessed how complacency had infected temple worship, both in the leaders and in the worshipers.  Don't misunderstand, however, complacency begins from the top-down.  Jesus was sending a message to the Religious Leaders of the day by pointing a finger at their lack of leadership and the complacency of their hearts by letting His Father's house become a place that was "man-centered" instead of "God-centered."  


The same can be true and seen in the church today when we see God more in our buildings than our hearts; more in our personal needs than our spiritual giftedness and how that gift centers on engaging our neighbor and not our personal desires.  


I remember a pastor I worked under telling his congregation once, "for those of you that are believers, God bless you, because we are going to spend eternity together in heaven.  In the mean time, please allow me to spend time with those that are lost instead of visiting you in your homes."  


Tough statement to make to your church family, I know, but it attacked the heart of what could have led to complacency within the church he served.  Don't get me wrong, we need to care for one another, but complacency will always center on self if we are not careful in reminding ourselves of our mission and target, and how we get there.


Randy