Cleansing Our Temples

John 2:13–22 ESV

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 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. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 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.

Introduction

Context of the passage: Jesus' cleansing of the temple as a symbolic act.

Connection to Lent: A season for self-examination, repentance, and cleansing.

The Righteous Anger of Jesus

John 2:13–17 ESV

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 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. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Discuss the significance of Jesus driving out the money changers and animal sellers.

Reflect on what the temple meant in Jewish worship and its desecration.Application: Identifying modern-day "marketplaces" within our spiritual lives that need cleansing.

The Sign of Authority: Destroy This Temple

John 2:18–22 ESV

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

Jesus' response to the demand for a sign and the deeper meaning of His words.

The prediction of His death and resurrection as the ultimate cleansing and renewal.

Application: How the resurrection of Christ empowers us to cleanse our lives of sin.

Cleansing Our Temples

Personal reflection: What needs cleansing in our hearts and lives this Lenten season?

Practical steps for spiritual renewal: prayer, fasting, Scripture reading, and acts of service.

Encouragement to seek God's presence as we clean our spiritual "temples."

Conclusion

Recap the importance of Lent as a time for spiritual housecleaning.

Invitation to commit to a Lenten practice that facilitates inner cleansing

Closing prayer for God's guidance and strength in our journey of renewal.