“Margins”Matthew 21:12-17

May 18, 2014

Marginalization: • Demoting persons to the fringes, to

place out of the mainstream; to make seem unimportant.

• Produces subsets of people based on status or other imposed perimeters.

• Knowingly or unknowingly creates visible or invisible margins limiting the value and friendship of others thus compromising a Jesus witness.

Court of the Gentiles

No Gentile or unpurified Jew had access beyond the soreg (wall)

Consider how:1. The passion of Jesus railed against the marginalization unfolding in His

very own house. (v-12)

2. Instead of overturning Rome, Jesus overturned tables and seats in the temple. (v. 12)

3. The “blind and lame” immediately entered when space was created. (v-14)

4. Jesus radically transformed the temple space to God’s original intent…even the kids took note. (v. 14-15)

5. Jesus was not just friendly to the margins, He became a friend of the margins. (v-15)

6. Even with fresh awareness, marginalization defaults are hard to overcome, especially by the religiously established. (v. 15-16)

WMC Mission Statement: Worshipping and walking together as a community of believers to strengthen our faith in Jesus Christ.

Mission 2014: #3. A Genuine Invitation: In 2014, we believe that God calls us to “worship and walk together as a community of believers” who represent a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and who offer a genuine invitation to others to faith in Jesus Christ. In 2014, God continues to call us to open our hearts and lives to new friends.