Born 1939
Christ driving the money changers from the temple 1972
oil on hardboard 121 x 169.6cm
Victoria University of Wellington Art Collection
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One sunny morning everything was fine. The priests were in their garb and performing their duties, sacrifices were being offered, religious practises were being observed - everything was fine. The worship services at the Temple were continuing as they ALWAYS had ... everything was just fine ...
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Then suddenly this yahoo from Galilea shows up with his little band of followers and starts kicking over tables and picking up baskets of coins and tossing them in the air ... He kept shouting something about "My Father's house is not to be a den of thieves ..."
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The authorities rushed to stop him and mayhem ... there are rules to be followed, teachings to be observed ... They cackled amongst themselves - "Who is this whacko to think that he is right ??? We've been doing things this way for decades, we've been very happy with the way things are, how dare he show up and start telling us that 'This is NOT a healthy happy place'?"
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Yet Jesus and his merry little band continued ... he kicked over the tables and drove out the money changers who had gotten in the way of worshipping God, not through right sacrifice and proper offering, but through a faith of the heart and soul ... that day Jesus stood as a very outspoken, very outrageous and very vocal minority who was COMPLETELY opposed by the "Powers that Be" and by those, who vehemently maintained not just the status quo, but the delusion that "things are FINE" the way they are ...
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On the surface the worship at the temple was truly fine - it worked, everyone involved was happy. The Romans got their share, the priestly cast was supported and maintained, and the hangers on - "the money changers" to use Jesus' own terms, were making a comfortable living exchanging the provincial offerings for perfect untainted substitutes ... YET, this moment is foundational for the Christian Church. It marks the moment when Jesus stood up and said - "there is a different way to worship God."
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I doubt Jesus intended to start a new faith movement. I think his point was to say to the Temple Authorities that a lamb or kid carried from Galilea from the flocks the great God Yahweh had blessed a family with, is MORE than adequate for sacrifice at the temple. The devotion that saw them carry it carefully along during their pilgrimage more than makes up for some tiny "flaw" that rendered it unsuitable for sacrifice ...
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Jesus truly spoke as a lone voice in the wilderness challenging the perception that "everything is fine" ... he spoke out and spoke up from the fringes ... he faced condemnation and judgement, and I have no doubt that if he was among us today he would be told the exact same things I hear when I point out the folly that has been Minnedosa ...
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The people are happy.
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The worship is fine.
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The rules are being followed.
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Things are okay.
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No one is complaining.
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... and on and on it goes ...
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I don't have to wonder where the anonymous critics who offer their opinions here would be that day in the temple when Jesus showed up and started driving out the money changers ... they wouldn't be tossing the tables alongside the Master ... they would be hiding behind the flowing robes of the priests denouncing the foolishness of this Yahoo who won't see that "everything is fine ..."
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I think that realization alone is what saddens me the most ...The Church - the Body of Chirst, has become the VERY thing that Jesus fought against in his life and ministry ...
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