Imagining Jesus

“The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:13-15).

When Jesus came to Jerusalem for the Passover, He “cleansed” the temple, driving out the money changers and those selling animals. His actions must have been quite a shock to those who were driven out that day, as well as to those who were there to witness the event. Of course, many today would also be shocked to read this in the Bible.

Many have an idea about Jesus – as well as God the Father – that they have in their minds. They imagine Jesus a certain way and are convinced that He is how they imagine Him, regardless of what the Bible says. To many, Jesus’ actions on this occasion would seem very “unChristlike” – driving out men and animals with a scourge of cords, pouring out coins on the ground, and overturning tables. Which is right – the Bible record or the imaginations of men?

Of course, whenever there is a contradiction between what God’s word says and what man says, we must believe the Bible. Paul wrote, “Let God be found true, though every man be found a liar” (Romans 3:4). We must believe God’s word over human imaginations. What John recorded about Jesus in the temple was accurate, even if many might have difficulty imagining it happening.

Notice a few other ways in which people imagine Jesus that are contrary to how He is depicted in Scripture:

Many believe that Jesus would never send anyone to hell. He certainly desires all to be saved (Luke 19:10; John 3:16), but He will not save unconditionally (Hebrews 5:9). Paul wrote, “The Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). Though many do not want to think about it, the Bible teaches that the Lord will send the unbelieving and disobedient into eternal punishment in hell.
Many think that Jesus ignores sin, accepting people as they are in their sin. Jesus invites all to come to Him: “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). However, in order to come to Jesus, we must turn away from our sins. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3, 5). He cannot have fellowship with those who “walk in the darkness” (1 John 1:6).
Many assume that Jesus will be pleased with anything that they do in His name. However, Jesus taught that there would be many who claimed to do things in His name who would be lost: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matthew 7:21-23). We need to do God’s will, not engage in lawlessness and act as though we are doing it for the Lord.

We must be careful that we see Jesus as He is revealed to us in the pages of God’s word. Salvation is only in Him (Acts 4:12). If we follow after “another Jesus” (2 Corinthians 11:4), we should not expect the real Jesus to save us.