"Apple Butter"- Lent 3B | John 2:13–25

Lent 3B | 2024.03.03

ENGAGE

FDA Purity Standards

Did you know that our government has a division that sets standards for our food products. The Food and Drug Administration, the FDA, set these rules and regulations to keep the production of the food and drink that we consume controlled and at acceptable standards.

Now, this is great right, we want to make sure we have good food to eat right?

There are over 10 pages of regulations for apple butter.

Everything from what the product can be made from, how a company has to label and package the product.

Part of this is the allowable standard for “ non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects”.

The allowable standard for apple butter, which I am never eating again, is 4 rodent hairs per 100 grams of apple butter.

They set this acceptable level because it is economically impractical to grow, harvest, or process raw products that are totally free of non-hazardous, naturally occurring, unavoidable defects.

TENSION

When it comes to our food and drinks, we want 100% purity - but we cannot realistically attain that, so we allow an acceptable level of impurities.

Why is it that when it comes to our lives and our behaviors, we as humans have set a margin of error, or an acceptable percentage of impurities that we will allow - BUT this is a standard that God, our Creator, never intended for us to have. His standard is and has always been perfect purity in our thoughts, actions, and the state of our hearts.

TRUTH

The truth is, if we really take a really close look at our Christian life and ourselves - including what we prioritize, what we value, we allow more impurities in our lives than what we even recognize or are aware of.

Often it takes someone looking in from the outside to point out our imperfections we have developed and help us to get rid of them and become pure and holy.

Today we are going to look at a time when Jesus did this, but as a symbolic statement, but also as a much needed purging of imperfections hindering the holiness of God’s people.

Turn with me to John, chapter 2.

While you are turning there I want to set our scene - Jesus and the Disciples have just come from the wedding at Cana - the miracle of Jesus turning water to wine, taking one thing and replacing it with a much better thing.

The group take a short trip to Capernaum, which was Jesus’s base of operations for his ministry, and they are heading to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover, one of the 3 feasts that are requirements for the Jewish people to travel to Jerusalem to observe.

While this is not the same Journey to Jerusalem that leads to the Cross, and to Easter, this is one of the times that Jesus tells his disciples, and others about what is coming. He lays it all out there - of course they don’t get it, and I cant really say I can blame them much.

We will pick up at John 2 verse 13.

John 2:13–14 ESV

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

During Passover, there would be an influx of people to Jerusalem, considering everyone who is following the Jewish faith is required to travel there during this time to worship and make sacrifices.

Part of that sacrifice process for travelers, is providing access to acceptable sacrifices near the temple so that they can bring money from home to Jerusalem and purchase their sacrifice there, rather than requiring them to bring the animal with them from home, which was often impractical or impossible.

So far in out readings, things are pretty normal- the only thing abnormal is that it says they were selling and exchanging money IN the temple itself.

Could you imagine the scene, the smells, the uncleanliness of the floors of the temple?

Lets read on to verse 15.

John 2:15–17 ESV

15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Jesus grabs some animal leashes and puts them together, I would imagine this was a quick action, not him sitting down and delicately braiding them into a pretty pattern.

He then proceeds to drive everyone out of the temple. All these people and animals out of the temple and into the courtyard outside the temple.

Jesus turns the tables on them, dumps out their profits, and as he is driving them out, he tells them to take all these “products” out of his Father’s house.

He tells them that the house of worship has become a house of trade - Eugene Peterson’s The Message, puts it this way:

John 2:16 MSG

16 He told the dove merchants, “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!”

Could you imagine showing up for church this morning and there would be hundreds if not thousands of cows, sheep, goats, pigeons, doves and other animals, as well as the people selling them, and the people at the money changing booths, they had literally taken God’s temple, the place where God meets with his people and turned it into a shopping mall, a place of buying and selling, of inflation, of extortion.

They had taken a place of silent reflection, of meditation, of repentance and made it a place of transaction. Remember when you had to go INTO a bank, and talk to someone about putting money in or taking money out. There was a feeling connected to that, you felt the weight of having to take a thousand dollars out to buy new tires for your car, you felt the joy of being able to put a little bit extra into savings because you had a good year at the farm or work.

But then we got ATM’s, where we could easily swipe a card and get money. We got smartphones that allowed us to take a picture of a check and deposit it to our bank accounts. Banking became impersonal and purely transactional.

Now for banking, this is not a huge deal.

But when this happens to us in our relationship with God, that is a major breakdown in how we are to relate to our Creator.

In our case today, the merchants and money changers were taking advantage of the requirements to come to Jerusalem for Passover, and the requirements to sacrifice for their sins, to make a profit. They had allowed greed to move into the temple and impact worship of God.

So Jesus’ actions make more sense now, He is all about God’s house. In verse 17 the Disciples remembered Psalm 69 where David is talking about the desire to build a temple for God, and how it consumed his thoughts to make it happen. The same is true for Jesus. God’s house is essential to him, and the purity of God’s people’s worship of God is non-negotiable.

Do you have that same standard?

Lets go forward.

John 2:18–20 ESV

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

The fact that they are not outraged at this point tells me that they knew they were in the wrong. They don’t justify their actions, they don’t tell him he is wrong, they simply want proof that he can say this to them.

By calling it “my father’s house” he is claiming to be the Messiah, the one that they had all been waiting for to come. They didn’t want to take the word of a man who just went crazy with a whip in church when he claims to be the Messiah.

He gives them an answer to what sign they will provide, what proof does he have that he can do the things he has done today and they need to listen to him.

Instead of saying “because God said so” he tells them of what is coming. He gives them a taste of the future, so that when they get there, they will know.

Now they are thinking right now, so they think since they are standing in the temple area, that he is talking about that temple building, but of course we go on to learn that he is talking about himself, his death and resurrection.

John 2:21–22 ESV

21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

This is why we are looking at this text today.

We are continuing through Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem. Today’s events give us more insight into why he is going to Jerusalem.

In our gospel reading today, we see the error, the mistake, the faults, the imperfections and the downright sins that were allowed to creep into the temple.

Jesus comes into the temple, recognizes the sin and violently forces the impurities out of the temple.

APPLICATION

Now, hopefully we don't have to have some one come at us with a whip forcing us to take notice of our impurities and work to get them out of our own temples, our bodies - or even from the church body itself.

King David was a man after God’s heart. He had God’s ear, but he had David’s sinful nature.

David had learned what it was like to have his sin exposed and the imperfections worked out.

God had given his people a way out of their sin, a way to listen to him and obey, but they were not able to do that, so something had to be done.

David had come to realize that following God’s law, or God’s word- including worship of God and the sacrifice of animals, was the only way to remove one’s sins from their life and to keep it away from our hearts as the Lord requires.

Listen to how David describes it in Psalm 19:

Psalm 19:7–11 ESV

7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

The rules are there for a reason.

The FDA has acceptable limits for a reason. Even if we think they should be way tighter than they are - still never eating apple butter again.... the rules are still in place to protect us.

Psalm 19 also gives us some insight into how people relate to God- in that he starts out with creation itself showing the purity, the holiness, the glory of God.

Even without saying a word Creation shines forth to glorify its creator.

Look at verses 1-6.

Psalm 19:1–6 ESV

1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 2 Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, 5 which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 6 Its rising is from the end of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

So David lays out how we come to know God and his power and control over all of Creation - which gives us great insight into why we are able to trust in God’s law - we have the manual for how the world works.

Just like when you purchase something new, especially something with the word SMART in front of it - like a smart phone or smart tv. Often these things require us to use the manufacturer’s directions in order to get it working to its full potential.

Its the same thing with Creation, the same way with humanity, and the same thing with how we relate to our Creator.

We need God’s law, his commands, his guidance to function.

I love the way that Eugene Peterson put verses 7 through 9 of this psalm in the Message.

Psalm 19:7–9 MSG

7 The revelation of God is whole and pulls our lives together. The signposts of God are clear and point out the right road. 8 The life-maps of God are right, showing the way to joy. The directions of God are plain and easy on the eyes. 9 God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold, with a lifetime guarantee. The decisions of God are accurate down to the nth degree.

INSPIRATION/REFLECTION

N.T. Wright, a prominent theologian and New Testament scholar, proposes the concept of “signposts” as indicators inherent to humanity that point us toward deeper truths and provide glimpses of God’s presence in the world.

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He has laid out seven signposts God provides for us in his book - Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World:

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Justice: The innate human longing for fairness, equity, and righting wrongs. It reflects our awareness of a moral order beyond ourselves.

Spirituality: The universal quest for meaning, purpose, and connection to something greater. It transcends material existence.

Relationships: Our need for community, love, and belonging. Relationships reveal our interconnectedness and desire for communion.

Beauty: The appreciation of aesthetics, whether in nature, art, or music. Beauty points to a Creator who delights in creativity.

Freedom: The pursuit of autonomy and liberation from constraints. It reflects our longing for true freedom and redemption.

Truth: The search for understanding, knowledge, and coherence. Truth-seeking is a fundamental aspect of human curiosity.

Power: Our fascination with influence, control, and impact. Power can be used for good or ill, but it hints at a higher authority.

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These signposts, though often broken or distorted, provide glimpses of God’s design and purpose for humanity. They invite us to explore deeper questions and engage with the world in meaningful ways.

God’s Word, his laws, his commands, his revelation of Jesus and all Jesus did for us, these are the ultimate signposts, incapable of being broken. The are God’s accurate and pure user manual for living in His kingdom.

Just as God’s temple was meant to be pure and holy, set aside for the worship of God only, we are to have our lives set aside for Him - we cannot let greed or anything else become our motivation. We have to drive out all the idols in our lives. We have to use the instruction manual for living to confess our sin and be able to return to 100% purity through our relationship with Jesus.

ACTION/NEXT STEPS

We as humans tend to insist on domesticating God. We want to put him into our own ideas of how he should function and relate to us.

Just like last week’s look at Peter’s thoughts about Jesus death. Jesus had to rebuke him and set him straight.

This week Jesus rebukes and sets those who were defiling the temple straight on how we are to worship God and that the sacrificial system is coming to an end as they know it.

His body becomes the final sacrifice, the ultimate sacrifice that ends the need for animal sacrifice, which has always just been a shadow looking forward to its fullness in the death and resurrection of Christ.

The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2

Romans 12:1–2 ESV

1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We cannot allow ourselves to be influenced and then consumed by the world, having and acceptable amount of impurities like our apple butter. We must be 100% pure, and the only way we can do that is to sacrifice ourselves and life as living sacrifices for Jesus - the one who was the ultimate sacrifice for us.

Let Jesus come into us today and everyday - removing the impurities from our lives. The only way we can do that is to allow God’s word to fill us up, and allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us of any impurities and to have them burned away by Jesus’ refining fire.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

We come before you today, recognizing our need for purity and holiness in our lives.

Just as the FDA sets standards for our food, you have set a standard of perfect purity for us.

Help us to strive towards that standard, even when it seems impossible.

Forgive us for allowing impurities to creep into our hearts, minds, and actions.

Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we ask for your cleansing in our lives.

Help us to drive out any greed, idolatry, and other sin that hinders our worship of you.

Teach us to present ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to you.

Transform us by renewing our minds and hearts, and guide us on the path of righteousness and purity.

May we be like David, seeking your law and commands to keep us on the right path.

Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus, who cleanses us from all impurities and sets us free to live in purity and holiness.

May we continually seek your presence and guidance in our lives, striving to be 100% pure in our thoughts, actions, and hearts.

In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.