Walking in the Footsteps of a Zealous Jesus-8

God’s House and Prayer

Several weeks ago I began to urge us to see how Jesus walked and to walk the same way.

See how Jesus lived and live the same way.

1 John 2:3–6 (NASB95) By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him; 5 but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him: 6 the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 John 2:5b–6 (TPT) … We can be sure that we’ve truly come to live in intimacy with God, 6 not just by saying, “I am intimate with God,” but by walking in the footsteps of Jesus.

This morning I want to scare us silly!

Jesus is calling us to walk in a way that was not popular or politically correct in HIS day, let alone ours.

Jesus was a zealot.

He was radicalized.

Jesus was radical in His in Zeal for several things.

Over the coming weeks I want us to consider the radical zeal Jesus had:

for doing His Father’s will.

for seeing the lost brought to salvation.

But this morning I want us to look at a few passages that specifically, overtly focuses on the zeal of Jesus.

Zeal for God’s House

These passages focus on Jesus and what He did in the Temple.

John 2:13–22 (NASB95) The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 16 and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.” [Psalm 69:9] 18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority 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 took 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 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

CBL tells us-

Two cleansings of the temple are recorded. John’s Gospel records the one at the outset of Jesus’ ministry, and the Synoptics narrate the second cleansing during the Passion Week.

The “scourge,” which is not mentioned in the second cleansing, is indicative of Jesus’ holy zeal.

His quickly improvising it of small cords showed that His righteous anger was motivating Him to lose no time.

Jesus dealt with each class of intruders according to its nature.

He drove the oxen and sheep with the scourge.

He scattered the coins to show the money-changers that speculating in mammon was “out of order” in the house of God.

Our Lord cleansed His house physically as a symbol of spiritual purification.

“All” is a masculine word signifying those who sold as well as the animals they bought.

Jesus demonstrated God’s attitude toward those who hinder others from coming to and worshiping God in Spirit and in truth.

At the ministers’ breakfast Tuesday there was commentary on a recent episode in season 5 of The Chosen.

So, I sat down and watched it last night.

It does NOT exactly depict THIS cleansing in John 2.

It does include a whip (not an improvised whip of some cords of rope), but it happens during the week of Passion — so it is from the synoptics.

One minister said he didn’t care for it because it looked like Jesus was throwing a childish temper-tantrum.

Yet another said it was magnificent.

But, no matter how you visualize it, Jesus did cleansed the Temple — twice.

This first time, judging by the conversations and events immediately after —it appears that…

Jesus is not so much zealous for a building that will be destroyed just a few decades later…

But rather He is zealous for the principle behind the building.

People were not just disrespecting God’s House — they were disrespecting God.

He also planted the seed of a thought that would grow into faith.

As we just read in Vs.19-22 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It took 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 So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

In the synoptic Gospels (the first 3 books in the NT, Matthew, Mark and Luke) let’s look at the second time Jesus cleansed the Temple…

Start with ...

Mark 11:15–17 (NASB95)Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”

And then look at…

Matthew 21:12–14 (NASB95) And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” 14 And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

In the synoptic accounts we see a different emphasis.

These accounts seem to reveal Jesus’ disappointment that a place for prayer, a place for the disadvantaged, a place for the Gentiles was being co-opted for merchandizing and profit-making.

People desperate for God were being blocked from coming in to receive from Him.

In His words and through His actions, Jesus shows clearly.

That any place that purports to be a “House of God” needs to be a House of prayer for all nations.

He shows that people that we would call outcasts are to be invited in for the healing they desperately need.

Zeal Defined and Modeled

Let’s step back for a moment and think about the zeal of Jesus.

Our text in John quotes Psalm 69:9 that describes Jesus’ ministry:

Psalm 69:7–9 (NIV) For I endure scorn for Your sake, and shame covers my face. 8 I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; 9 for zeal for Your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult You fall on me.

According to Logos AI:

Jesus demonstrated zeal in His actions, particularly in cleansing the temple, which His disciples associated with the prophecy "Zeal for thy house has consumed me"

Zeal is defined as great energy, enthusiasm, or eagerness in pursuit of a cause or objective, often leading to action.

In the context of faith, zeal for God should be rooted in knowledge of God, as Paul notes in Romans 10:2, warning that zeal without proper understanding can be misguided.

The apostle Paul himself exemplified this transformation,

His encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus gave him a knowledge that shifted him from being a zealous persecutor of the church to a zealous follower of Christ.

While zeal itself is morally neutral, its value depends on its application; it can lead to both positive and negative outcomes.

Jesus' zeal is described as righteous and consumed with enthusiasm for God's work, serving as a model for believers.

The New Testament portrays zeal as a characteristic attributed to Jesus, some of His disciples, and early Christian figures, emphasizing its importance in faith when properly directed.

Misdirected Zeal

Jon Courson’s Application Commentary:

REAL ZEAL A Topical Study of Luke 6:15

Yes, misdirected, incorrect zeal can cause problems.

One of Jesus’ own disciples knew the truth of that

As we scan Jesus’ group of “disciplined ones,” one of the men Jesus chose was Simon Zelotes, or Simon the Zealot

He was a radical choice, considering that the Zealots were a political party single-minded in their agenda to overthrow the Romans using whatever means necessary.

Determined to undermine the Romans at any cost, Zealots were known for carrying large, hooked knives under their garments to use on unsuspecting Romans every chance they had.

When Jesus called him, perhaps Simon thought, “Good move!

“Jesus can use a guy like me. I mean, if we’re going to see His new kingdom established, we’ve got to get rid of the Romans. And I’m the guy to do it. I’ll fit into His strategy perfectly.”

But when Jesus went on to choose Matthew, a tax collector who worked for the dreaded Romans, Simon had to learn to trust Jesus—the only One who could bring two people of such diverse political philosophies together in unity.

I believe Jesus still chooses people like Simon—people who will pay the price and expend the energy, people who will move with enthusiasm, people who are zealous.

On multiple occasions the Bible addresses the subject of zeal very directly.

Look with me at four examples of misdirected zeal seen in Scripture.

Examples relevant to today and our lives.

Business

First of all, if we look around our culture, we see people consumed with, zealous for getting their business set up or their finances in order.

But Haggai 1:6 tells of a period when the Jewish people were zealous to build bigger houses and driving faster chariots.

It was a point in their history when they were attempting to make great strides financially.

The Lord sent Haggai to talk to Jewish business people who were caught up in developing their companies.

“You’ve sown much,” he said. “You’ve worked hard, but you’ve reaped little. You drink much and you eat much, but you are not filled. And when you earn your wages, you put them into a pocket which has holes in it” (see 1:6).

Maybe we can relate to this.

We work hard, but you’re not reaping what you hoped you would?

You’re eating more, but you’re not as satisfied as you thought you’d be?

Haggai said the reason for this was because, although the people were building their houses and businesses zealously, the temple of the Lord lay in ruins needlessly.

He went on to say that if they would seek first the Kingdom, if they would get involved in the temple construction, the Lord would bless them abundantly.

Jesus said the same thing in Matthew 6:33 when He said, “Seek first the Kingdom and [God’s] righteousness and everything else will fall into place”

Politics

We not only see people in our society zealous about business, but those who are zealous about politics.

In the Old Testament, we find the story of another who was zealous politically…

After three years of famine in the land of Israel, in 2 Samuel 21:1, we read that David inquired of the Lord the reason.

And the Lord said, “It is for Saul and for his bloody house because he slew the Gibeonites” (see 2 Samuel 21:1).

Catch the scene:

Shortly after Joshua came into the Promised Land, he was duped into making a peace treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9).

But when Saul became king, he thought it politically wise to rid his kingdom of the Gibeonites.

And now, years later, God explained to David that there was a dryness in the land because in Saul’s political zeal.

Saul destroyed an entire group of people with whom he should have kept the treaty made by Joshua.

Politics over what was right.

We still see it, today!

People who think politicians are the Messiah, if only so-and-so gets elected!

Everything will be perfect.

A zeal for the wrong things — for politics.

This kind of zeal will definitely leave you feeling empty as most politicians will say whatever they need to say to get elected.

Fitness

A zeal for business or politics — and then you have a zeal for physical fitness.

In this coming year, as a nation, we will spend a collective $2.5 billion on health club fees alone.

Yet studies show that even if every disease were wiped out in our society, if heart problems were no longer an issue, and if there were no more pollutants in our air, the human body is so designed that the average person cannot live past eighty-five years of age.

Therefore fitness is a losing battle!

Paul the apostle specifically declared that bodily exercise profits but a little:

He said in 1 Timothy 4:8 (NLT) “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.”

Does this mean physical exercise is wrong?

Of course not.

We have a responsibility to make sure our bodies, the temples of the Spirit, can function.

But if you are known as a fitness fanatic, if physical exercise is what you think about and live for, your zeal is misdirected.

Business, politics, and fitness—these are all avenues of misguided zeal that abound in our culture.

But add to this list religious zeal, for such zeal is misdirected in the following ways…

Partial Zeal Matthew 23:23–24 (NASB95) “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Numbering six thousand, the Pharisees were so zealous in trying to keep even the most minute details and regulations of the law that they even tithed their grains of spices, all the while ignoring the weightier matters of righteousness, mercy, and love. And in so doing, they were in effect straining gnats out of their soup while swallowing camels.

We must be careful that WE do not have a partial zeal.

A zeal that lacks knowledge.

Romans 10:1–13 (NASB95) Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their [the Jews’] salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. 3 For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: “DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 But what does it say? “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

Boastful

Religious zeal tends to be boastful, prideful.

“Look at how holy I am!”

In 2 Kings 10:16 we read how Jehu told Jehonadab… Come with me, and see my zeal for the LORD. So he made him ride in his chariot.

As evidenced in 2 Kings 9–10, Jehu was not a godly king. Yet when asked if his heart was right, he didn’t hesitate to say, “Come and see my zeal for the Lord.”

Hurtful

We also see how religious zeal can cause great hurt.

The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul was absolutely convinced he was right in persecuting Christians—until one day, headed toward Damascus, a bright light knocked him to the ground, and he realized that, although his religious zeal was sincere, he was sincerely wrong.

So, too, regarding my political, sociological, or philosophical opinions, I might find down the road, like Paul, that although I was sincere, I was sincerely wrong in beating people up verbally or cornering them intellectually.

You will always know that zeal is a false religious zeal if it is partial, if it is boastful, or if it is hurtful. The only zeal God can use is the zeal seen in Jesus—not religious zeal, but righteous zeal.

When Jesus saw those who charged exorbitant rates to exchange currency or for the purchase of animals to sacrifice, Jesus drove them from the temple.

And His disciples remembered that it was written, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17).

Jesus was consumed with zeal, enthusiasm, energy for His Father’s house, His Father’s work, for the things of the Kingdom. If there’s no other reason why you and I should be zealous, let this be the first and foremost: The model and example of Jesus. Scripture tells us that the zeal modeled perfectly by Jesus consists of four elements. Let’s just look at one in closing…

Zeal for Prayer

Jesus was a zealous pray-er.

Consistently through the Gospels we see Jesus taking time to seek the Father — to commune with Him.

Prayer

Colossians 4:12 (NASB95) Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.

Epaphras was fervent, zealous in his prayer-life.

Epaphras was one who prayed not half-heartedly but zealously that people would do well in their walk with the Lord.

Why must WE pray zealously?

Why must we keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking (Matthew 7:7)?

Why does the Lord want us to come to Him continually?

After all, He knows what our need is.

Does He want us to grovel and beg?

No. The reason He asks us to keep coming, to keep seeking, and to keep beating the arrows is simply because He enjoys our company.

He enjoys hearing from us.

He enjoys spending time with us.

In this week of fasting and prayer may we zealously pray.

In this month of patriotism because of Independence day…

Let us be intercessors for this country.

I encourage us to use the Prayer Guide I handed out at the beginning of the month.

Each day pray one of the “D’s”

Today, pray for Discernment for us for the lost in a confusing, chaotic, deceptive world.

Monday pray for individuals and churches to Develop.

Tuesday, pray for religious freedom, the unborn, marriages and families, truth — to be Defended.

Wednesday, pray for God’s Word to be Declared.

Thursday, pray for, as the guide says — a culture of true Discipleship to the things of Jesus.

Friday, pray for people, leaders, churches, this Nation to be Dedicated to God.

And then on Saturday, look at the back of the Prayer Guide and pray for Chi Alpha and Youth Alive — school starts in a few days.

About What Are We Zealous?

As the Worship Team comes …

About what are we zealous?

In our texts Jesus demonstrated a zeal for God’s House, for making it a House of Prayer.

He zealously reached out to the hurting and the helpless.

May God redirect our zeal so that it aligns with Him and His will.