Do Garage Sales Make Jesus Angry?

40 Essays in Around 100 Words #32

I remember a conversation about a church sponsored garage sale (Kansas life) not being held in the church building because Jesus wouldn’t like that. Why did Jesus get angry at the moneylenders in the temple? I’ve heard different arguments, but most of them boil down to the fact that these tradesmen were making it more difficult for outsiders to come and worship. This was meant to be Holy space for those without Jewish heritage. They had forgotten the temple was supposed to be a light to the whole world, not just those who had the right bloodline.

Our garage sales usually featured more JC Penny's blouses than books

Weird Things Jesus Said About Himself

40 Essays in around 100 words #31

When Jesus claims to be “the resurrection and the life,” what on earth does He mean? I’m serious. I need answers. The Urdu Bible translates resurrection as qiyamit (day of judgment). Is Jesus the day of judgment? How can a person be a day? But then again He also called Himself the way, truth, and life. Also weird things for a person to be. Like He could have said, “I’m the judge on judgment day,” or “I am the way to the truth.” But it seems he didn’t. It’s cool. I accept that there’s very little I can explain about Him.

We've all had this feeling

Stupid Fig Tree

What does Jesus do on Monday of Holy Week? He gets mad at a fig tree. That unfortunate Palestinian fig tree had leaves but no figs, which is not how fig trees are supposed to work. The tree looked fruitful, but held no satisfaction. Jesus takes His anger at the tree and goes to the temple to throw out the money lenders (with a whip). And I just want to ask if we see any parallels with the leafy tree not bearing fruit, and the money lenders in the temple? Anything today that seems to relate? Anything that Jesus might want to curse in this Holy Week?

Too far?