Mark 11:15-17 “On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers."
This portion of Mark 11 is interesting in that it is a series of overlapping stories that are interwoven together and intersect with each other in their telling and fulfillment. In Mark 11:11 as Jesus arrived in Jerusalem the evening before He had stopped into the temple area to assess the situation there. He then made His journey to the place where He would stay but in the midst of all of this He had the brief encounter with the fig tree.
The story now rejoins His mission of confrontation with the environment that He has seen at the temple. Jesus’ heart is grieved by the conditions within the courts of God. Instead of Holy ground the house of God has become a marketplace. It is in this passage more than most others that the true passion of Christ for His Father and for the purpose of God can be seen. John chapter two relates this passion through the eyes of Jesus’ disciples as it says John 2:17 “His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me." The burning heart within Christ has gripped Him as He enters the Temple courts and begins to drive out those who are buying and selling and overturns the tables of the money changers.
Each of the Gospels presents a perspective of this dramatic act and many people believe that the account in John is actually a second time when He performed the same work. The Gospel of Mark is clear in its emphasis upon the House of Prayer! Jesus rebukes the people strongly for their abuse of this Holy setting. His words "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers” are full of prophetic implication as Jesus communicates the global intent of God and the reality that it is not just one nation but all nations that are the burning concern of the Father. With these same words Jesus also clearly emphasizes the purpose of the house of God. It is to be a place of prayer, a meeting place for God!
I believe that once again the zeal of God is coming to His house through the Spirit of burning. Isa 4:4-6 prophecies this intention in the heart of the Lord; “The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. 5 Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.” This prophetic glimpse of the destiny of the Body of Christ is clear. In the days that are ahead the Spirit of burning will bring forth within the church a glorious manifestation of the presence of Christ within a holy people. The result of this presence filled people who walk in the purity of God will be that the church becomes a shelter and a shade within every community and a place of refuge and a hiding place from the storms of life. Let the church come forth!
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