John 2:12-25
Jesus Clears the Temple
12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"
17His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
18Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
20The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
Questions:
1. Why was Jesus so angry?
2. Why did the Jews demand a miraculous sign to prove His authority?
3. Jesus says,"Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." What does this mean to you now?
Do you have zeal for the things of God? Should you have more?
1 comment:
Q1. Jesus' anger was brought on by the misuse of the temple, the central gathering place for worship to God and fellowship among believers. It was being used instead as a marketplace for bartering.
Q2. The Jews requested proof of His authority, as to them He was a commoner, the son of a carpenter, who was challenging the status quo.
Q3. As indicated in the scripture, Jesus was referring to the temple of His body, the passage is therefore indicative of His death and glorious resurrection from the dead. This points to the good news where Jesus conquered death and has therefore given to us the promise of eternal life. As I reflect on this verse, I am reminded of my baptism, a public symbolism of the death of the old life and the beginning of a new life in Christ. The scripture is reminding us that death is not the end and that even though we may mourn on the death of a loved one, as believers we do not mourn without hope."For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (1 Thessalonians 4:16 NIV)
Yes, I am zealous for the things of God, but on a personal note, I have a wish to do more...to increase my involvement in ministry, to nurture my soul by fulfilling His mandate for my life. The Lord has revealed my ministerial gift to me, but I am not certain that I use it to the best of my ability.
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