What’s Eating You?

“And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” —John 2:17

    I’m sure you’ve heard the expression, “What’s eating you?” Maybe you’ve asked it yourself.  The word “eat” suggests the consumption of something (Jer. 10:25).  If something is “eating” you, it is consuming your energy or your focus.  When something is “eating” you, it occupies all your attention—You can’t think of anything else. 

    When Jesus entered the Temple at Jerusalem, He was outraged by what He saw! The outer court was like a stinking filthy barnyard. Jesus proceeded to zealously “clean house” with great gusto!  He was absolutely consumed by restoring the true purpose of the Temple—Making it a house of prayer and worship. For the moment, Jesus could not think of anything else except removing anything, and anyone, that polluted His house!

    Jesus didn’t ask them to leave politely—“Excuse Me—But, would you mind taking your animals and business outside, please?”  Oh no!  Jesus was HOT! He was angry!  He literally “drove” them out with a whip!  He tossed tables…coins were flying everywhere.  Oxen were groaning…sheep were bleating…people were running for the nearest exit!

   The disciples never saw this side of Jesus before. Quite a difference from what they saw at the wedding at Cana just a few days earlier.  It reminded them of what David wrote in Psalm 69:9—“The zeal of thine house hath EATEN me up!”

    Galatians 4:13 says, “But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing.”  Let me ask you, do you ever get eaten up by a zeal for the things of God?  Are there times when you are so consumed by Bible study, prayer, witnessing, and serving God, that you can’t think of anything else?  If something is eating you, let it be a zeal for the things of God!