“Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.”
John 2:15 (NLT)
When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem for Passover, He found corruption in the very place meant for worship. The temple courts had become a marketplace, and people were being cheated in God’s name. In response, Jesus made a whip, drove out the animals, and overturned the tables. It wasn’t a loss of control—it was righteous anger motivated by love for His Father’s house.
If Jesus performed this act in many of our churches today, our culture might accuse Him of being divisive or unkind. But Jesus never sinned. He was a peacemaker, not a peacekeeper. True peace can’t exist where evil is allowed to stay. Sometimes confrontation is the most loving act we can offer, because it clears space for God to move again.
John’s Gospel records this cleansing early in Jesus’ ministry, while the other Gospels describe another near the end. That means Jesus did this twice—once to begin His work and once to complete it. Purity mattered that much to Him. In both moments, ministry followed: healing, teaching, praise, and salvation flowed because Jesus made room for it.
When we follow His example, peace is restored—not by avoiding conflict, but by removing what hinders God’s presence. That’s what peacemakers do—they make room for God to dwell again.