Have you ever felt so passionately about
something that you felt like you might suddenly burst into flame or explode? I
know I have. Most of the times I have felt this way, I have looked back on the
incident and felt that I should have remained calmer. Isn’t that the Christian
thing to do? Isn’t that what Jesus would do? Of, if there is a time and a place
for having this burning feeling, when is it? We will look at a moment when
Jesus felt and displayed burning anger, yet without sin.
It has been a while, so let’s review what we’ve
covered before.
In the prologue, that is the introduction, John
the author of this gospel told us about how God revealed himself in his Son,
the Word of God who was in the beginning, was intimate with God, and indeed was
God. He created all things. But when he came to his own people, they did not
receive him. But, some people, both Jews and Gentiles, did receive him and have
the right to become Children of God. One key verse I want you to recall is
verse 6 “For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.” John
1:16, NAS95.
We learned that it’s not really “grace upon
grace”, but “grace instead of grace”. The grace of the gospel replacing the
grace of the Old Testament. The Law was of grace because it pointed to Jesus.
But the gospel is the fulfillment of the Law in Jesus.
After the prologue, Jesus began to call
disciples to himself. He invited them to “come and see” and promised that they
will see signs. John uses the word sign and not miracle. This is because
the miracles recorded in John’s gospel are there so that we might believe and
have life. The first miracle was at wedding in Cana of Galilee where Jesus
turned water into wine. In this miracle, Jesus blesses the wedding guests with
the best wine they have ever tasted. But, it was for the disciple’s faith that
Jesus performed the sign. In fact, the other guests were unaware that a miracle
had taken place. But it was a sign for the disciples.
Let’s remember that John tells us why he records
Jesus’ signs at the end of his gospel:
“Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed
in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these
have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of
God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:30, 31, NAS95.
In the first part of John 2, Jesus turned water
into wine as his first sign. And, what was the result? Verse 11 tells us that
“This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His
glory, and His disciples believed in Him.” as we turn to the next episode in
chapter 2.
This next episode takes place in Herod’s Temple.
The Babylonians had destroyed the first temple, Solomon’s Temple. It was an
amazing building. Herod’s Temple, by comparison, was smaller and less glorious.
It was also incomplete at the time of Jesus’ ministry. It had been under
construction for nearly half of a century when our episode begins.
It’s important to recall what the purpose of the
temple was. The temple was not man’s idea. God gave orders to build the temple.
The temple was to represent God’s house, the place where God and man would
meet. Because man cannot meet God as unforgiven sinners the temple is also
where the sacrificial system was performed. So, the temple is the house of God
where sins are forgiven though the substitutional death of another. Keep that
in mind. It is also to be a house of prayer. The temple was divided into three
main sections, the Holy of Holies. Only the High Priest could enter here and
only on one day a year and only with the blood of atonement. Then, there was
the Holy Place where the Jewish worshipers could come. Finally, there was the
Court of the Gentiles. As the name suggests, this is the place where people
from the nations could come, learn about the God of Israel, and worship him.
And, Israel was to be a light to the nations so the Gentiles would hear of God
and be drawn to worship from the ends of the earth. It is in this third part of
the Temple that this incident takes place.
2.12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and
His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
After this…
It is my hope that as we look at the Word
together, that you will be better able to ask questions of the Word in your own
study. So, when we se the phrase, after this, we must ask “after what”?
Of course, this episode comes after Jesus manifested his glory to his disciples
by turning water into wine.
This phrase is often used to connect narrative
events in John. It doesn’t indicate how much time passes between incidents.
However the phrase “stayed a few days” indicates that what happens in verse 13
happens a few days after they arrived in Capernaum.
Capernaum…
Capernaum is the adopted home of Jesus during
his ministry. It appears that his family and his disciples moved there. It was
a town found on the northwest shore of the Lake of Galilee.
2.13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.
The Passover of the Jews was near…
John keeps careful track of the Jewish feasts
including at least three Passover feasts. The Passover was the most important
of the feasts in Jerusalem. It was a reminder that when it was time for God to
save them out of Egypt and the Angel of Death was sent to kill all of the
firstborn sons of Egypt, God passed over their houses which had the blood of a
lamb on the doorpost, sparing their firstborn sons.
It is important for us to remember as well since
it pointed to the Gospel; God saves us from his wrath because we have the blood
of his Son over the doorposts of our souls.
Jesus went up to Jerusalem…
Jerusalem was the central city for the Jews so
going there was considered going up.
2.14 And He found in the temple those who were selling
oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.
those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves…
It is not unusual that oxen, sheep, and doves
would be sold in Jerusalem. These were necessary animals for the sacrifices
required at the Feast. Some people had to come from very long journeys and
being able to purchase animals near the Temple would be a convenience.
the money changers seated at their tables…
In the same way, it is not difficult to
understand that there would be a money-changing service since they money people
used in everyday life would have been Roman money while the money for the
offerings and Temple tax needed to be given with the shekel.
We might imagine those selling animals and
exchanging money were abusing their position, charging outrageous amounts. But,
nothing is said by Jesus or Johnin this chapter.
He found in the temple…
What outraged Jesus is the location of the
transactions! In the temple! This would have been the court of the Gentiles
where the uncircumcised from the nations could come and worship the one true
God in his temple. But, what would these Gentiles find when they came? A zoo!
Instead of the murmur of prayers, they would hear the lowing of oxen and sheep,
the sound of coins exchanging hands.
2.15-16 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of
the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the
money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the
doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place
of business.”
He made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of
the temple, with the sheep and the oxen…
This is not the image of Jesus we are used to.
We like to think of Jesus as gentle. And, indeed he was. But when his Father’s
glory is at stake, he becomes angry. Red, hot anger.
He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned
their tables…
He shows no respect for their property or
business.
Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house
a place of business.…
Jesus is angry. Not because their business
practices were unethical, but because they dared have any business other than
worship in his Father’s house. How dare they!
“1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and
he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly
come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight,
behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of
His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire
and like fullers’ soap. 3 “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and
He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that
they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” Malachi 3:1-3, NAS95.
2.17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR
HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”
His disciples remembered…
It’s not clear when the disciples remembered. It
may have been at the time or later. John often points out that the only
understood later.
ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME…
This is a quote from Psalm 69:9: “For zeal for
Your house has consumed me, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have
fallen on me.” However, Jesus uses the future tense found in the Septuagint,
the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible. Jesus’ zeal is clear.
2.18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your
authority for doing these things?”
The Jews then said to Him…
When John says “the Jews” he is usually
referring to the Jewish leaders, the priests, Levites, Pharisees and scribes.
What sign do You show us as your authority for doing
these things?…
There is no problem with the Temple leaders
wanting to know what authority Jesus had to do what he did. What he did was
bold. But, they are not as concerned about whether what he did was just or not.
What they failed to see is that Jesus’ act of purifying the Temple was itself a
sign.
2.19-21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build
this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of
the temple of His body.
Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it
up…
Jesus’ response is to give a challenge, which
they will not take up. But, certainly, if one can raise the Temple within three
days of its destruction, that would be a great sign. As we will see, Jesus was
referring primarily about the temple of his body. But, there is a double
meaning. It is the false religion of the Jewish leaders that will lead to the
destruction of the Temple in 70AD.
It took forty-six years to build this temple…
We know that Jesus was referring to his body
when he said this temple. But, the leaders think he is referring to the
building. This shows that their minds are on the material.
But He was speaking of the temple of His body…
John regularly explains what was misunderstood
by others. The temple is where God dwells and meets with man. Solomon’s and
Herod’s temples served to represent this truth. But the true temple of the
Father is the body of his Son, Jesus. Jesus’ body is the true center of all
true worship. Jesus’ body is where the atonement would take place. And Jesus’
body would rise from the dead three days after his death and burial. This is
the true sign, the sign of Jonah.
Earlier, in verse 17, John quoted Psalm 69,
which said that zeal for his Father’s house would consume him. We noted that
John uses the future tense here. What does the word “consume” mean? Being consumed refers to fire. But, Jesus’
zeal would consume him. And in his death for sinners this prophecy is fulfilled.
I mentioned earlier that there was a double
meaning about the temple. The double meaning is also true for resurrection of
the temple. By putting Jesus on the cross, the leaders ensured that the temple
building would be destroyed in judgment. But, the temple would be raised three
days later because Jesus is now the temple. Jesus is where God meets his
people. We worship in Spirit and truth.
2.22 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered
that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word, which Jesus
had spoken.
His disciples remembered that He said this…
Until Jesus’ resurrection, his disciples could
not understand the significance of what he said to the rulers. But, when Jesus
was raised from the dead and the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples, they
recognized that what Jesus said and what happened were the fulfillment of
Scripture and they believed.
The destruction of Jesus’ body and his following
resurrection is the sign Jesus promised. And, as we have seen before, this sign
leads to faith in Jesus’ disciples. Are you one of Jesus’ disciples?
If you are one of Jesus’ disciples, shouldn’t
you have the same zeal that Jesus’ has for his temple? When we gather together
on Sunday to worship as a body, are you just going through the motions? Or, do
you believe Jesus’ sign? But, worship is not something we simply do on Sunday.
We are called to worship in the temple of Jesus by faith every moment of our
lives. Are our lives marked by such zeal? If not, what step will you take to
follow Jesus?
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