In this scene, Jesus has just recently arrived at the Temple and has turned it upside down. In the paragraph preceding this one, Jesus establishes himself as the new sheriff in town when he turns over the tables of the money changers and creates a bit of chaos in the way he reminds people that the temple is a house of prayer. By praying for people and healing them, he has brought restoration. People's lives are being changed forever, there is a joyful spirit in the place. But some are not happy. When the chief priests and teachers of the law saw this, they were indignant. This is the very dynamic that ultimately leads to Jesus being crucified.
Isn't it odd that when we have no power, we seem to thumb our nose at authority and celebrate the good that transcends it, but when the power is in our hands, we'll do whatever we can to stop that which threatens our control, even if it's filled with promise and possibility? Consider the current patent-buying rush going on today. Money and power are falling over themselves to buy up patents to inventions that could make the world a better place, but threaten to kill existing cash cows. Power and control are sacred only when we have it and are afraid to lose it. Some tables just need to be overturned.
Readings: Exodus 12:14- 13:16; Matthew 20:29- 21:22; Psalm 25:16-22; Proverbs 6:12-15
