Read and reflect on the following article by Rev. Harrison Mungai Macharia
(Download this article as a PDF).

The Holiness of God

One of the most striking descriptions of God that we find in the Bible is that He is holy. When we hear the word holy, we might get the idea of moral purity or sinlessness and that is correct but the word means much more – it is means ‘separate’, ‘distinct’ or ‘unique’. This means that God is unlike any other person or being. When Moses met God in Exodus 3, He (God) introduced himself in a way that would seem rude if it came from a friend: “I Am Who I Am”. Yet it is indeed fitting coming from God to say that because there is no one like Him and there is no comparison to Him. It is no surprise therefore that the first four commandments echo this unique nature of God. That He alone is to be worshipped. That we should have no one else or anything else elevated to the same level with Him. That His name is to be honoured and His Sabbath day is to be set aside.

The Challenge of Idolatry

Unfortunately, our fallen human nature is the very opposite. Our most distinct quality is that we are sinful. The great French reformer John Calvin said that our hearts are like a factory that manufactures idols by the minute. Sin is idolatry. It involves putting things and people far above God and in direct rebellion to His Word. Sin is when we don’t think highly about God and instead put ourselves, our needs and cravings above Him. Therefore, God’s name is dishonoured not only when we use it in vain but also when we ignore it and live like God doesn’t exist. This is what was happening when Jesus appeared in the temple for Passover.

The sin in John 2 is not just that the Jews were using the temple like a market place but that God had stopped being at the heart of their lives. The temple had become like any other building in Israel and no longer a symbol of God’s dwelling among them. The Passover was no longer a pointer to God’s salvation in the past but merely a consumer holiday like what the Christmas season has become for many today. Although everything indicated that the people were religious, God was not really in the picture. It is not surprising then to see the reaction Jesus gets in this passage – the people did not immediately repent and turn away from their desecration of the temple, instead their leaders get angry asking who Jesus thinks he is to interfere with their business.

Hallowed Be Your Name

Is God’s name hallowed or held in high regard in our lives? What idols in our lives are stopping us from honouring God? Are we caught up in our businesses so much so that God has no place in our lives? Is it possible we just speak a lot about God and yet He is not really at the centre any more?

My prayer for you and I is that we would have a renewed zeal for God and that we would indeed hold His name in high regard for indeed that is what worship truly is. May God’s name be hallowed in our lives, in our homes and in our work. May the Lord help us so that we will not have the appearance of godliness without any power, but that we will experience the beauty and power of God’s holiness at work within us.

An Exercise for Your Heart

In our passage we learn that Jesus knows what is in each person’s heart (2:25). What is in your heart? Is there anything that needs to be cleaned out? If Jesus were to visit you what would He say? Reflect on these questions and invite God to clean out your heart.