Michael Shepherd is an adjunct professor of intercultural studies and political science at Hope International University and a teaching elder at First Christian Church in Fullerton. Before his current role as a stay-at-home-dad, he worked in nonprofit leadership and community organizing for housing solutions in Orange County, CA.
Text
John 2:13-22
2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2:14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables.
2:15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
2:16 He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"
2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
2:18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?"
2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
2:20 The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"
2:21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Quotes:
“The way we understand Jesus at one point in our life may not be what we need to continue growing in faith and we have to look to others to learn.”
“We do not have to go far off or change ourselves to encounter his spirit, but that he shows up to our spaces--incarnates--to transform them by his justice and liberating love. And when we follow after justice and liberating love, we will find Jesus there. Perhaps surprisingly.”
“Something that I am learning now is that my faith is not just about self-denial, but discovery and delight as well. It is pushing me further into vulnerability but also bringing back some foundational stories of how Jesus shows God’s extravagant love to all people, which includes me too.”
