Read John 2:12-25. Now re-read it and focus on what Jesus is do and the message that he is trying to send.
When Jesus arrived at the temple, he saw, according to verse 14, “those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money-changers.” Now what was going on in the temple wasn’t necessarily bad; the selling of the animals may have started off with the intention of supplying them to Passover guests, and a place to collect the temple tax. Why would Jesus drive them out? Somewhere along the way, the good service that the merchants may have intended to provide degenerated into a lucrative money making business; they abused the temple, and Jesus drives them out. Notice how everyone’s property is still intact—none of it is destroyed.
In verse 17, “His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The disciples are recalling, “For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me, ” Psalm 69:9. Jesus is the most zealous in the cause for God. How have you been zealous in your own life for God?
After Jesus cleanses the temple, the Jews sought justification for how Jesus, one man, had the power to drive out numerous merchants, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” (verse 18). Jesus answers with, “destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In the following verse; however, he is not literally talking about the temple, he is talking about his body. One man raising up a temple that took from 20 B.C. to 64 A.D. to finish, is a ridiculous task, though God could accomplish it. However, the disciples are quick to assume that Jesus is talking about it literally and they ignore the spiritual and true meaning of what Jesus is saying.
The Jews believed that Jesus had no authority to take temple-abuse matters into his own hands, unless he is the Messiah. Now we, and they probably knew as well that Jesus is the Messiah, but they still sought verification, and needed more than faith alone to believe. Jesus indicates that his resurrection though will be the sign that will justify that Jesus is the Messiah. Many individuals believed in Jesus when he performed miracles, but didn’t believe in him with their faith. Reflect in your life when you doubt God, and remember that God wants us to place our full trust in him—we shouldn’t be looking for miracles to verify that God is sovereign.
Jesus cleansing the temple teaches something about the standard of holiness that he wants us to have. Think about how you have failed to meet the standards of holiness that God wants us to have for our temple, our body and life; pray with God about what God has placed on your heart through this passage.
Leave a comment with prayers you have, key verses, or key ideas you want to remember.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment