A delightful book, telling part of Steven Oliver’s story, from growing up in Cape Town during the Apartheid era, to leading a truly inclusive Church in rural South Africa, before moving to Dubai.

Steven was one of the key apostolic leaders that God raised up, especially after the untimely death of Simon Pettit. The work of Newfrontiers in South Africa and into southern Africa, grew in a context of the Apartheid and post-Apartheid eras. The relationship between Church and State in SA had long been strong; some Christians actually argued that Apartheid reflected the hierarchy of peoples! Racial distrust was normal. Praise God that Churches grew which challenged that. The Dhilabeng Church, which Steven planted, started as multi-racial and included wealthy and very poor; this was not common at the time.

There are a number of remarkable incidents of answered prayers, miraculous healing, river water rising for outdoor baptisms.

But perhaps more important are the qualities that Steven and his team sought in their Church; qualities of love, of compassion, of generosity, of team work, inter-dependence, and more. This is key, as the apostle Paul sought to plant and support Churches manifesting godly values (2 Tim 3.10), not merely sound doctrine.

Having spent some time in Malawi, I briefly worked alongside Simon Pettit and Piet Dreyer, who are both mentioned in this book. I have also met Steven Oliver, who is a few months older than me. (I will not compare myself with him!)

John Fawcett was converted as a teenager under the ministry of George Whitefield. He became a Baptist pastor, serving in Halifax for over 50 years. The Foreword of the Klock & Klock edition of 1979 says that his concern was that ‘Christians everywhere develop a more intimate relationship with Christ.’

Fawcett’s book Christ Precious to those that believe is one of the few books that I read and re-read.

‘to you that believe, he is precious, or he is your honour. You account him your glory and your gain. He is not only precious to you, but preciousness itself. He is your jewel, your treasure; and should you be robbed of all besides, in him you are superlatively and everlastingly rich. By the faith which you have in his name, you are enabled to discern his excellency, who is fairer than the children of men, nay, the chiefest among ten thousands, and altogether lovely. As such you must account him precious, and bestow the choicest affections of your hearts upon him. If the question is proposed to you, “what is thy Beloved more than another beloved?” you will not be at a loss for an answer. He is precious in every view, and under every consideration. All that is in him, all that is done or spoken by him, and all that appertains to him is precious. Let us enumerate a few particulars, by way of illustration.’

This paragraph introduces 120 pages of different aspects of Jesus Christ that those who believe find precious. This is truly the heart of the book; and truly crucial to the Christian’s daily experience.

‘Come, blessed angel, raise my soul

To thy divine abode

Haste, for my spirit longs to see

My Saviour and My God.’

My starting point here is a livestock market, of which I have attended a few. But this one wass huge. The temple courts covered a huge area. This was Annas’ Bazaar, numerous stalls paying rent to the High Priest and his family. Money-changers, inspectors of animals for sacrifice, sellers of animals for sacrifice, sheep and oxen, and doves and pigeons for poorer people.

‘from Jewish writings we know that many improper transactions were carried on, to the taking undue advantage of the poor people who came to offer their sacrifices.’ (Alfred Edersheim)

Edersheim also comments that the historical evidence is quite disjointed. Even so the Jerusalem Talmud provides much material of the operation of the Temple-market, indicating that abusive practices had continued for some decades before this incident, and even re-commenced after Jesus’ Ascension into Heaven, only ceasing three years before the destruction of Jerusalem.

The historian Josephus describes Annas (son of Annas referred to here) was ‘a great hoarder up on money.’

The population of the city was swollen at Passover time, as many thousands of Jews, usually scattered across many nations, congregated to make their offerings. They would have arrived some days ahead of the Passover to prepare. The streets and especially the Temple area, would have been congested and noisy. Yet, Jesus’ strong words were heard above the noise. I imagine a sudden and powerful silence, with every mouth stilled.

Jesus’ anger here was not the sudden loss of temper; but carefully measured righteous reaction to deep wrong.  Wrongs with which He was familiar, having visited the Temple many times during His life. (The first half of John’s gospel is essentially a series of visits to Jerusalem and the Temple.) The market-place was no surprise to Him.

The gospel writers add details here (Luke has the smallest content.) See Mark 11.15 and Matthew 21.12.

Jesus drove out those who bought and sold. Their goods, sheep and oxen, were driven away.

Jesus overturned the tables of money changers.

Jesus overturned the seats of those who sold pigeons.

In John, Jesus simply spoke to those who sold doves; not turning over their tables; making a distinction with those who provided animals for the poor. (I am leaving aside the question whether John reports a previous incident, or whether he simply puts the same incident at the start of his gospel.)

Matthew adds the comment that the blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple and were healed. Jesus demonstrated what was supposed to happen there. Mark adds that he was teaching in the temple. Again, this was what was supposed to happen. Here again we see perfectly controlled anger. Jesus did not merely rail at wrong-doing, He demonstrated what He expected of those who followed Him.