Text: John 2:13-25 (NKJV)
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
Devotional Thoughts and Commentary:
This narrative tells us of how Jesus went up to THE Temple in Jerusalem coinciding with the Passover festival of the Jews. This was their most sacred place in the sacred city of the Promised Land during probably the most sacred holiday. I think you get the point that the setting is quite serious for the Jews of Jesus's day.
Jesus, physically visiting the Temple that existed to worship Him, is appalled by what He saw there. Fulfilling prophecy from the Old Testament, the spiritual significance of the Temple had been cheapened as it essentially became the Israelite Wall Street. Sacrificing was somewhat inconvenient and expensive, so people would buy their animals to sacrifice on sight. The shrewd business, as eager to make an easy buck in that day as now, were selling animals that mostly didn't meet sacrificial requirements. Still, needing to sacrifice, many Jews bought what was easily available and went ahead with it.
Back to Jesus, He entered the Temple and was appalled. This sacred place so desecrated. Now in human form, He apparently weaved some reeds together to create a makeshift whip. His divine presence and indignation drive out the businessmen. What a story of mercy! Prior to taking human form, Jesus knew what was going on. Then, He easily could have tossed a chunk or two of fire and brimstone to clean the place out in dramatic fashion. Really, He still had that power. Yet, in His mercy AND holiness, He cleansed the Temple to fulfill prophecy in what should have been a learning point for the Jews present.
Following the clearing of the scene, the Temple keepers requested a sign. Essentially, "Show us you have the right to do what you just did." Remember again the scene we set from verse 13- this is sacred time on sacred ground. Jesus responded with a prophecy that His audience did not understand until years later. Jesus promised to destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days. The Jews scoffed at His reply since the Temple had been quite the undertaking in building. Jesus was, in fact, speaking about His human body, how that He would die, be buried, and rise from the dead 3 days later. So eager for a sign, the Jews again missed the sign He gave on this one, through His actions, presence, and prophecy.
John concluded the story with a transition. Basically, Jesus performed more signs, and people followed Him. Well, they didn't really believe in Him; rather, they were just there for the spectacle. Jesus, being God, knew that the people there weren't really trusting in Him.
Applications:
Don't read too much into this narrative for your applications. This is an historical account, not a metaphor. Well, there was a metaphor in it, but the story is not. The application was primarily for His direct audience.
The most significant application for us today is to truly believe in Jesus. That is not just during the good times (as was the case here to see the spectacles), but to follow Him wherever He leads.
I suppose that it would not also be untrue to the text to warn against crassness or deadness in religious exercise. The Jews there, in the business of their religion, became so caught in the business that they missed the spirit of what they believed. We need to guard against that in our churches that we do not become nothing more than another non-profit company.
Other Studies from John
13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?”
19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”
21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.
23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.
Devotional Thoughts and Commentary:
This narrative tells us of how Jesus went up to THE Temple in Jerusalem coinciding with the Passover festival of the Jews. This was their most sacred place in the sacred city of the Promised Land during probably the most sacred holiday. I think you get the point that the setting is quite serious for the Jews of Jesus's day.
Jesus, physically visiting the Temple that existed to worship Him, is appalled by what He saw there. Fulfilling prophecy from the Old Testament, the spiritual significance of the Temple had been cheapened as it essentially became the Israelite Wall Street. Sacrificing was somewhat inconvenient and expensive, so people would buy their animals to sacrifice on sight. The shrewd business, as eager to make an easy buck in that day as now, were selling animals that mostly didn't meet sacrificial requirements. Still, needing to sacrifice, many Jews bought what was easily available and went ahead with it.
Back to Jesus, He entered the Temple and was appalled. This sacred place so desecrated. Now in human form, He apparently weaved some reeds together to create a makeshift whip. His divine presence and indignation drive out the businessmen. What a story of mercy! Prior to taking human form, Jesus knew what was going on. Then, He easily could have tossed a chunk or two of fire and brimstone to clean the place out in dramatic fashion. Really, He still had that power. Yet, in His mercy AND holiness, He cleansed the Temple to fulfill prophecy in what should have been a learning point for the Jews present.
Following the clearing of the scene, the Temple keepers requested a sign. Essentially, "Show us you have the right to do what you just did." Remember again the scene we set from verse 13- this is sacred time on sacred ground. Jesus responded with a prophecy that His audience did not understand until years later. Jesus promised to destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days. The Jews scoffed at His reply since the Temple had been quite the undertaking in building. Jesus was, in fact, speaking about His human body, how that He would die, be buried, and rise from the dead 3 days later. So eager for a sign, the Jews again missed the sign He gave on this one, through His actions, presence, and prophecy.
John concluded the story with a transition. Basically, Jesus performed more signs, and people followed Him. Well, they didn't really believe in Him; rather, they were just there for the spectacle. Jesus, being God, knew that the people there weren't really trusting in Him.
Applications:
Don't read too much into this narrative for your applications. This is an historical account, not a metaphor. Well, there was a metaphor in it, but the story is not. The application was primarily for His direct audience.
The most significant application for us today is to truly believe in Jesus. That is not just during the good times (as was the case here to see the spectacles), but to follow Him wherever He leads.
I suppose that it would not also be untrue to the text to warn against crassness or deadness in religious exercise. The Jews there, in the business of their religion, became so caught in the business that they missed the spirit of what they believed. We need to guard against that in our churches that we do not become nothing more than another non-profit company.
Other Studies from John
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