Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:17 (NKJV)
One of the greatest tricks of the enemy is to lull you into a state of apathy.
Apathy, or indifference, is dangerous. When a couple goes for counselling, anger is actually a good sign. It means they still care about the relationship—and those strong emotions can be redirected in a healthy way. But if they are long past caring, there is very little anyone can do for their marriage.
When it comes to the things of God, the Bible describes indifference as “leaving your first love” (Revelation 2:4). Revelation 3:15–16 (NKJV) paints an even more vivid picture: “Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”
What’s the solution? We need to develop and guard our passion for God’s Kingdom.
Today’s verse says zeal for God’s house had eaten Jesus up. Zeal is an interesting word. In Greek, zēlos means “excitement of mind, fervour of spirit and a fierce indignation.” It describes someone who is embracing, pursuing or defending something. Sometimes the word is even translated in a negative sense as “jealousy.”
In other words, Jesus was completely consumed by a passion and enthusiasm for the church. After all, the church is the one thing He said He was building (Matthew 16:18), and we know He wasn’t talking about a physical structure. The church is you and me! (See 1 Corinthians 3:9.)You and I need to develop this same zeal. Let’s get back to our first love. As followers of Christ and members of His body, the church, let’s set our hearts on the priorities of Jesus.