Reflection on Chapter 14

What is so great about Jesus is that his message is so consistent. His constant sympathy for the poor is something that cannot be ignored. While the sinful world around him continues their evil ways, he continues to try his hardest to get his message across, any way that he can. He doesnt care how his own image will be percieved, but rather how the meak's image will ultimatly be percieved. Jesus' compassion is something we all can strive for. His message didnt die when he was crucified, nor did it begin when he was resurected. His basic message to love all people; not money, is very much alive today. It is our role now as Christian disciples to carry and live out his message to the best of our ability. Sometimes I think about why Jesus came when he did, but the more I think about it, the more I realize it was the perfect time. Even if it was two thousdand years ago, there are still millions of poor and unfortunate people living amongst all of humanity. There are still millions of people who hoard their money and give it more meaning than any individual in their life. This is terribly wrong, and it is up to us to truly interpret how Jesus would live his own life, and ultimatly want us to live ours. - Christopher Marcheschi

The Incident In the Temple

There is the common misconception that the incident in the temple actually took place the last week of Jesus' life. However, it actually took place on an earlier visit to Jerusalem. The so-called "cleansing" of the temple was not a coup or takeover of the temple as some authors believe, nor did it have anything to do with the sacrificial rites and ceremonies that took place in the temple. Jesus had no concern to gain power or purify rituals. His concern was the abuse of money and trade. Every male Jew was suppose to spend a certain proportion of his income in Jerusalem and most pilgrim Jews would have arrived with foreign currency. This is what Jesus saw in the temple, and this is what angered him so much. There were traders all over the place blatantly serving Mammon instead of God, with the permission, and possibility for profit. Jesus' compassion for the poor and oppressed overflowed once again into indignation and anger. According to John (2:15) Jesus used a whip. This is something I personally did not know, and find very interesting. It makes me wonder if there was any physical rioting in the courtyard there, and if any of the Roman guards took a position. Had there been such a raucous, certainly there would be some documentation in the Gospels, or simply in the history books.
There was no doubt that when Jesus was preaching in the temple, he spoke of the "kingdom" as the new kind of temple. His overwhelming influence on people was something that I am sure worried the authorities greatly. Suddenly, Jesus had become a figure of national importance, and he gained such stature by simple making his point in a few impacting situations.
Jesus would give instructions to his deciples about the "kingdom." Such as the structure, and God as the ruler. Jesus would have some kind of leadership role under God, and Twelve of his followers were expected to take the responsiblitiy to spread the good news throughout the lands and to help make the new and improved "kingdom" well known.
- Christopher Marcheschi

Lyrics: I'd Rather Have You

Of all the loves i've had in my life
I'd rather have you
Whatever they were, no matter how nice
They can't compare
Seeming wealth is nothing
I'd rather have you
Wealthy or not
We'll always have so much to share

Cause i know that i'll love you forever
You're mine
I wouldn't take riches for your love
There's nothin' in this world
I'd rather have than you
Just can't stay away
I love you
I love you
Even the sun is nothin' to me
I'd rather have you
The warmth that it gives soon would grow cold
If you were near

Earth, Wind & Fire - I'd Rather Have You

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3acl-aSHaIA