The Signs of Authority

John 2:13-25

Who’s in charge here?

No one likes being told what to do, myself included. I’m not proud of that, it’s just a fact.

A while back, my doctor told me I needed to cut back on caffeine, get more sleep, and start exercising regularly. And I did what anyone would do in that moment; I nodded thoughtfully, thanked him for his concern… and then drove home, poured another cup of coffee, stayed up too late, and planned to think about exercising. Maybe.

There’s something in us that resists authority, even when we know it’s good for us. Whether it’s the speed limit, the IRS, or a doctor who wants us to live a little longer, we push back. We like thinking we are in charge.

But in John’s Gospel, we meet someone who doesn’t ask for permission. Jesus enters the temple, flips the tables, and claims authority not just over religion, but over life itself, and even the human heart.

The question John puts before us isn’t “Who’s in charge here?” He answers that already. The question is: Will we recognize Jesus’ authority and submit to him in worship and faith?

Jesus Christ shows His absolute authority over how we worship, where we worship, and the heart of worship.

Jesus has authority over how we worship (vv. 13–17)

The Passover was the annual festival celebrating God’s deliverance.

God’s people came to Jerusalem to be renewed in covenant and make their offering. It was like Easter, Thanksgiving, and the 4th of July rolled into one.

There were legitimate needs:

Sacrifices: oxen, sheep, even birds for the poor.

Temple tax: half a shekel, but required Temple currency, so money changing was necessary.

But all this was set up in the temple courts

The courtyards surrounding the Temple complex were where the people gathered for prayer and teaching.

The sanctuary had become a marketplace.

Jesus made a whip and drives out the animals, overturns the tables, and commands them to leave.

He isn’t condemning sacrifice or exchange, but the placement of the activity. They had made the Father’s house a house of trade, crowding out true worship.

Jesus shows His authority over the practice of worship and His zeal for the glory of God. He calls us to worship in spirit and in truth.

Jesus has authority over where we worship (vv. 18–22)

The Jewish leaders demand a sign. They weren’t concerned when Jesus performed miracles or taught, but when He disrupted their practices and revenue, they questioned His authority.

Jesus responds: “Let’s talk about the true temple.”

“Destroy this temple.”

Jesus doesn’t say, ‘Destroy this building.’ He uses a word that meant the innermost sanctuary, the place where God met with His people.

“And in three days I will raise it up.”

It had taken 46 years to build up the temple as it was that day. Jesus said he’d rebuild it in 3 days - obviously referring not to the building, but to his own body. After he is killed, he would rise again.

When asked about His authority to cleanse the temple, Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He points forward to his victory over life, death, and sin, showing that because of his coming resurrection, He is what the Temple was meant to be, the meeting place between God and man.

The tabernacle in the wilderness, the temple built by Solomon, the rebuilt temple of Jesus’ day, each was designed by God as a shadow of something greater. They were pointing forward to the true temple, where God would dwell with his people, not in a building, but in a person. Jesus is that temple. He is God with us. And now, through his death and resurrection, he becomes the one and only place where we meet God.

Jesus is pointing to His death and resurrection as proof of his ultimate authority in relocating the meeting place of God with man.

Jesus has authority over the heart of worship (vv. 23–25)

Many believed because of the signs that they saw him doing.

There were many miracles that aren’t recorded. John tells that if all Jesus did was written down, the world itself could not contain the books (Jn 21:25).

Notice what John does say though, “They believed in Jesus but he didn’t believe in them.”

Jesus says he knows his sheep, and he gives himself to them. But not here. Their faith was superficial, resting only in what they saw, the miracles performed but not rooted in the truth of who He is.

It is entirely possible to be drawn to the works of Jesus and yet be far from the heart of Jesus. To admire him, but not trust him. To believe that he can help, but not bow to him as Lord.

Jesus knew it. He needed no one to bear witness about man. We need references, interviews, and time to tell if what a person says about themself is true. Jesus didn’t need a witness, he knew what was in them.

1 Kings 8:39 “Only God can know the heart of man.” In writing that Jesus himself knew what was in man, John is demonstrating his absolute authority as Lord.

Will you know Him as Lord? This is the call of the Gospel.

He is the Lord of Worship. Jesus cares about how His people worship.

Our worship reveals what we believe about God.

A church with empty ritual reflects belief in an absent God.

A church obsessed with entertainment reflects belief in a weak God and emotional manipulation.

A church that is always changing and is shaped by worldly trends worships the world, not God.

But:

A church that worships with reverent praise declares God’s worth.

A church that humbly leads its people in confession of sin shows belief in a holy and forgiving God.

A church whose worship is filled with prayer shows trust in a loving and powerful God.

A church that worships according to the revelation of Scripture shows its faith in His word.

Consistent, Biblical worship that does not follow the current fads shows a church values God’s regard more than worldly approval.

Jesus’ cleansing of the temple reminds us: true worship isn’t about crowds or collections but about the purity and truth of our hearts before God.

He is the true temple, the only mediator between God and man, the only way to the father.

Do not look anywhere else than to Christ. You don’t need a priest, an altar, a sacrifice, or a temple to meet with God. You need Jesus. All that’s required is that you come knowing your need. If you are weary, guilty, or lost, come to him. He is the way into the presence of the Father.

What a blessing to be invited to come to him because he cares and has brought salvation to all who believe in Him.

He knows your heart.

He isn’t looking for fans. He calls disciples. Are you trusting Him as Lord—or just as a helper in crisis?

He knows the difference. He doesn’t need a reference. He sees you fully and still invites you to come.

Jesus shows His authority over how we worship, where we worship, and the heart of worship.

But these are more than signs of power—they are invitations.

He invites you to worship the Father through Him.

He invites you to sincere, lasting faith.

He offers Himself - crucified, risen, reigning - as the only way to the Father.

Will you come to Him not just for what He can give, but for who He is?

Friend, don’t just admire Jesus. Follow Him.

Don’t just come to Him when life falls apart, come now, with your whole heart.

He already sees you. He already knows you. And still, He invites you.