"And the Word became flesh" and turned the world 'topsy-turvy!' Jesus' appearing in the world puts things in a state of confusion or disorder - or so it seems.
We each settle into our preferred ways of ordering our lives. Those involved in the worship of the temple had settled into their way of supporting the worship of God's people, the Jews. It had all become predictable - that is until he showed up. This is not gentle Jesus, meek and mild. This is zeal - righteous anger, creating confusion and disorder.
Can you imagine being in the narrow streets of Jerusalem, headed for the temple and seeing an animal stampede coming toward you as Jesus drove them out?
Did people rush to pick up the coins that flew everywhere when he overturned their tables - like the people recently on a freeway when money started coming down out of the sky? Most stuffed their pockets and took off. A few turned it in to the authorities, knowing it didn't belong to them.
The leaders in the temple that day focused on the right question following the chaos that Jesus created. The Message puts it this way - "What credentials can you present to justify this?" If we've been following John's train of thought, we know the answer! Jesus is God in the flesh - zealous to put things right, the way they should be.
If we take the Lenten season seriously, it is a time to intentionally invite Jesus to turn our lives 'topsy turvy.' It is that period of a few weeks when we are open to realize that our preferred way of ordering our lives may in fact be disorder from God's point of view. Christ has come to to restore our lives and put the world - his world, back in the right order - to bring order out of chaos.
If I believe that Jesus is who John's witness tells us he is, then I guess he has every right to turn your world and mine 'topsy turvy.'
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In reading the blog about topsy turvey, thought of the initial creation.
ReplyDelete"In the beginning the earth was a mass of chaos. Out of the dark waters of chaos God introduced light and a creation which reflected his beauty and nature.
An abundant garden, the kingdom of God intended. His goodness prevailed and everything was in it’s intended order fulfilling its planned purpose, we had fellowship with God.
The original topsy turvy resulted from our sin resulting in a disconnection with God. This abnormal disconnection has become the norm. The kingdom of the world has dulled us to the kingdom of God. So much so that the kingdom of God is not even desirable to us. We prefer and desire the things of this realm, placing our energies and efforts obtain them.
We again need divine intervention, to be turned topsy turvey. So that the rule and resign of Jesus and the Kingdom of God, are made right in our hearts and lives. We need our own personal cleansing of the temple. Reorienting us back to the kingdom of God. That we might walk with him daily, in the garden as intended.
May God perform it in each of us!