Zeal for the Father's House

Introduction

Last week we saw the beginning of Jesus’s public ministry.

At a wedding in Cana

Most likely for his friends and family

The end product being His disciples believing in Him fully and completely.

Again, as I remind you, it was John’s purpose as he wrote this book of the Bible.

John 20:30–31 “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.”

As we look at the next scene in Jesus’s ministry, we will find the same purpose.

We’ll see this in 4 points:

1. The Setting.

2. The Action.

3. The Response.

4. The Effect.

John 2:13-25.

1. The Setting (vv. 12-13).

We see that Jesus went down to Capernaum.

His disciples, most likely, the five that we saw in the last chapter, came with him.

His mother and brothers followed along with them.

Jesus had to go northeast to get to Capernaum, so why does it say He went down?

Usually when we say “go down” we’re going down to Kokomo or Indianapolis, and up to Michigan. (point to map). Because we sync our body compasses up with North, East, South, West, right? With the map.

The Jewish People, even to this day would sync themselves up with where Jerusalem was.

They pray facing the Temple, wherever they are in the world. Generally that means facing East.

The Book of Psalms is set up this way too! They have what are called “Psalms of Ascent”.

Psalm 120-134 are all Psalms of Ascent.

Verse 13 says that they are “going up” to Jerusalem. But they would have to go south to do that!

You know those Psalms of Ascent? Jesus and His disciples were probably singing them on their way.

Jesus was going to Jerusalem for Passover.

Jesus did this every year of His 30 year life at this point.

He perfectly followed the Law in the OT, even the Feasts.

Every Jewish person was required to go the Jerusalem for Passover.

The entire nation would be there. Not only that, but the Jews that had been scattered all over the world would be coming.

This would pack out every house. It would be like every house being and AirBnB.

2. The Action (vv. 14-17).

This is what we would call the cleansing of the Temple.

We see Jesus do this in the other Gospels.

The other Gospel writers put it at the end of his ministry. Here, it is only a few days after Jesus did His first miracle.

Matthew 21:12-13.

Mark 11:15-17.

Luke 19:45-46.

We can then assume that Jesus cleansed the Temple twice in His ministry.

With all the people travelling to Jerusalem for one of the most holy days of the year, what did Jesus find going on in the Temple?

People selling oxen, sheep, and doves.

Money changers sitting at tables.

a literal stock-market.

In the other Gospel accounts, Jesus says that they are making God’s Temple a robber’s den.

He also says that the Temple was to be a place for prayer for all nations.

Isaiah 56:7 “I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.””

The Temple had 5 court yards:

the innermost was the Holy of Holies.

the court of the priests.

the court of men.

the court of women.

the court of the Gentiles.

The Stock market was probably in the court of the gentiles, kicking them out.

Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations about the One True God, but at this time, they basically took the place where everyone who wasn’t Jewish was able to go and worship the True God, and made it a place of money exchange.

Jesus was angry with this.

He made of scourge or whip out of chords.

the very same thing he would be whipped with when he would be crucified.

He drove everyone and all the animals out.

Jesus claims to be deity.

“My Father’s House...”

Ps. 69:9.

Jesus was angry for the practice that had corrupted the place that His Father was to be worshipped.

3. The Response (vv. 18-22).

The Jews react to Christ’s cleansing the Temple by asking for a sign.

Only the Messiah in their eyes would be able to get away with this.

They knew that this seeming crazy man had to have some sort of God-given authority.

Even after all the signs that Jesus ends up doing, many still refuse to believe.

John 11:45-57.

They wanted to kill Lazarus too: John 12:9-11.

John 12:42-43.

What was Jesus’s sign?

Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in 3 days..

Jesus wasn’t talking about the building, but His own body.

This is significant:

He was showing that God was dwelling in human form. Here He was in front of them.

Jesus just forshadowed His death for the first time.

He never talks about his death without talking about his resurrection.

The Pharisees use the same statement against Him during His trial in front of Pilate, which shows they understood what He was saying.

Matthew 27:62–66 “The next day, which followed the preparation day, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that while this deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give orders that the tomb be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come, steal him, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” “You have a guard of soldiers,” Pilate told them. “Go and make it as secure as you know how.” They went and secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone and placing the guards.”

4. The Effect (vv. 23-25).

Notice, yet again what we see in verse 22. As we saw in verse 11 last week, the Disciples witnessed and believed.

It may be a bit difficult to understand, but the Greek word for “believe” in verse 23 and the word “entrust” in verse 24 is the same word (pisteuo).

They were believing in Jesus, but He wasn’t “believing” in them.

What does this mean?

Jesus knew the heart of all them.

They only had a superficial trust in Him because of the signs that He was doing

There are two types of faith:

First, the faith that will get you what you want. The faith that gets you money like the Pharisees, but you will lose it when the tough times come. Lip service.

Second, the faith in the Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ. Trusting in Him as your personal Lord and Savior, the one who would die and rise again on the 3rd day. Truly giving your life away.