"Conflicts and Confrontations"...Jesus never had any...or did He? Part 1

On a lovely spring day, the city of Jerusalem was rockin'...it was one of the busiest times of the year...it was the time when the Passover Celebration was about to begin. People were everywhere, old friends reuniting, others discussing the latest news and fashions of the day, old men talkin' politics, old women talkin' about their husbands (lol), and the stores were bustling with sales from their merchandise and trinkets. It was a happy time, and everyone was put into the remembrance of being free...from centuries ago...when their ancestors had been delivered from the fierce hand of the ancient Egyptians...and guess who else was there?...Jesus had come ...oh yea!

 The Temple in Jerusalem was the central focus of this main event. It was the definite "headliner", and everyone of the Jewish faith were about to participate in the festivities...including...Jesus!...and then....things got a little crazy.....

Jesus enters the outer courts of the Temple,,,the Great Temple of the God of Israel, started by King King David and completed by his son Solomon... on this festive spring day. People from all over the land had made their pilgrimage to Jerusalem, often singing hymns and Psalms along the way. It was a time when people were to arrive with hearts of gratefulness, both for their delivery from Egypt in centuries past, and for the things the Lord God were doing in their own lives.
 First to greet Him were the money changers, which in itself was not a problem. The money changers duties are even spelled out in Old Testament Law... yet...the money changers were doing it differently...than originally described in Exodus 30.
 Actually, the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke describe the scenario that happened toward the end of His earthly ministry. It is thought this happened the day after Palm Sunday, on a Monday, 3 days before The Passover began, and only 4 days from Christ Jesus crucifixion. The Gospel of John also describes Jesus "cleansing" the Temple, yet this was another time...at the beginning of His ministry. So, Jesus "cleansed" the Temple...twice (at least...who knows...maybe He did this more often than the Scriptures describe)!

 On this occasion, it got a "little tense" you might say. As Jesus approached the money changer's table, He wasn't impressed as to what was going on. First, the money changers were set up in various places throughout the outer courts of this great Temple. Along with the money changers there were animals to be sold as a sacrifice for the sins of the people throughout the land of Israel. The outer courts of the Temple was busy...and crowded...and very noisy this time of year. This didn't go over good with Jesus as He entered the Temple area.
 Jesus, as was His habit, had encouraged others to come to the Temple, to pray, to seek guidance, and to be healed. It would seem He was excited as well over the festive celebration that was about to commence....that is until He reached the outer courts of the Temple where all the commotion was going on. Why?

 In Jerusalem, the Temple was divided into different areas...which for simplification purposes were the "outer courts" and the "main sanctuary". If you happen to be a Gentile ( non-Jewish from birth), you could only go as far as the outer courts to worship this Great God of Israel. 
 Yet, as Jesus entered the outer courts, because of all the selling going on...animals for sacrifice along with other merchandise, and the money changers set up throughout the Outer Court area, there was no room for Gentiles to pray...or seek this Great God...whom Jesus Himself had total adoration for. This didn't "fly well" with...in fact not at all.
 The other problem were the money changers themselves...a nasty business..especially during celebrations such as these. I have to do a little background check to understand what was going on. There seemed to be a number of issues:
 1. The Money Changers: first, it was perfectly fine these "guys" were there...it was established so in the Old Testament Law in Exodus 30: 11-16. The "Temple Tax" as it was referred to was a part of the sacrifice people gave as they entered the Temple to worship. The money was used to help maintain the upkeep of the Temple itself and for its employees...in this case the Levitical priesthood who led the people in worship, praise, and services to honor the God of Israel.
 Yet, as time had passed through the centuries in celebrations such as this...greed had become a dominant force in obtaining this "Temple Tax".
 By order of the high priest of the Jewish Temple, the annual charge was 1/2 shekel to enter the Temple. I have read where in today's standard it could be approximately $5.00 in American dollars. This tax could only be charged to anyone 20 years of age or older, yet everyone...rich or poor would pay this amount. 
 The other requirement was it could only be paid by a certain type of money. In other words, the money changers were more like money exchangers, much like when we visit another country and use the type of money that particular country was using. Ok...so far so good. During the time when Jesus came to the Temple, the only type of money accepted at the Temple was Tyrian (money made in the city of Thyratira (Asia Minor) because they had discovered how to separate and purify silver and gold better than anyone else. As a result, the content of silver in each coin was of a higher percentage than coins from elsewhere. Still...so far so good.
 Now, here is where the greed came in. First, the high priest of the Temple and leaders of the Levitical priesthood began to get a "personal cut" for themselves from the Temple Tax. So, in order for the money changers and priesthood would make some "bucks out of the deal"...they began to charge the people for exchanging money...so they could proceed into the Temple and join in the services and celebration. This got outlandish...some historians write they were charging people as much as 20 times the amount needed to have the proper coinage, and it appeared the main targets were the poor, which often included widows and women in general. 
  So, what was originally intended for providing money to maintain and help in services rendered, became a game of greed...and the people suffered for it. Imagine going to a fair or concert, and the entry fee had originally been $5, yet in order to get a pass to actually enter the fair or concert...it might cost you $100.

2. The other problem were the animals that were available to be purchased as a sacrifice...identifying sin in people's lives and offering sacrifices for their sins against this Great God of Israel. The key word to having an animal for sacrifice was "blemished"...or in this scenario..."unblemished". The only type of animals a person could use for sacrifice as an acknowledgment of sin in their lives were...unblemished animals. And guess who had all controls in making that decision...only the high priests and leaders of the Temple.
  By this time when Jesus arrived, about the only animals that would "pass inspection" as an unblemished animal that would honor God...were animals available for sale...from the priesthood in charge of the Temple. And because the leaders in the Temple got a "cut" from the sale of these animals...to say they were rather "pricey" was an understatement. Again, these animals purchased at the Temple could be as much as 20 times higher...than if you brought it from home.

 So, what exactly was an unblemished animal vs. a blemished one? I will have to have a "part 2"!