John 2:13-25

Cleansing the Temple

John 2:13–25 NASB95

13 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.” 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. 23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

The Passover/Temple

John 2:13–14 NASB95

13 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.

We understand that the passover is a feast, a religious ceremony that take place.

its to be a act of worship and reverence. with sacrifice and a feast.

The passover is explained in Exodus 12:26-27

Exodus 12:26–27 NASB95

26 “And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ 27 you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the Lord who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’ ” And the people bowed low and worshiped.

So this is a special event that took place

Jesus shows up to celebrate the passover to find people selling and and doing business

They were selling oxen,sheep and doves. All used for sacrificing

for the passover, people traveled a long way , they could not just bring oxen with them.

normally oxen and sheep were sold outside of the temple, (on the way)

but within the temple, a place of worship, booths ha been set up, also money changers were set up to help people with exchanging there currency.

so in the temple of God, we see business taking place.

Jesus reaction

John 2:15–16 (NASB95)

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.”

Jesus is clearly upset in what her found.

found (Greek) to come upon, or even to accidentally find.

Jesus is not only showing that there needs to be order,

but the fact that they are using the tools of sacrifice as a business . This is not good.

The Disciples

John 2:17 NASB95

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.”

The disciples saw this, they saw Jesus clearing out of the temple, which at this time could be filled with thousands of people.

***TEMPLE PHOTOS***

they remember Psalms 69:9

The Greek Word ZEAL - to have an intense positive interest

The Greek word for Consume- to eat up to devour.

Jesus’ intense positive interest in God’s house, eats/devours Him up

Jesus is no wimp. One man cleared out an entire enterprise.

So why did this happen? (Fallen World approach)

We are of sin, in sin we are greedy, looking for the best deal. (look at the use of Christian faith for profit)

Jesus reminds us our our sin and where our focus should be in. true Worship.

Also Jesus who is the ultimate sacrifice for all sin, shows that the oxen, sheep and doves that was being sold of sacrifice was not enough. Jesus is the one and only true sacrifice for sin.

Religious folks response

John 2:18 NASB95

18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”

The Jews wanted to see a show,

Jesus was messing with their money making, their business.

John 2:19–22 NASB95

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.

Notice:

The Jews ask for a sign, and show. “What sign…?”

Jesus gave them an answer. Something that is amazing, something that us impossible.

Jesus tells them to destroy him, and he will raise again.

Jesus death and resurrection is the sign!!!!!!

Look at the disciples, When Jesus rose from the dead, they remembered and believed.

aftermath

John 2:23 NASB95

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.

What signs did Jesus show?

could the clearing out of the temple, or the word of his water into wine story travel. Could that had lead to people believing?

and again the sign that we know of are the ones that are recorded. there could have been other signs that Jesus did what are not recorded.

after all

John 21:25 NASB95

25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.

John 2:24–25 NASB95

24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

Jesus knew that people wanted a show, not him, they wanted his signs.

Jesus is God, He knew the minds of men. One no had to tell him.

Jesus is a relationship God.

The Power of God

In Exodus the Jews were afraid to hear from God. The Thunder

Exodus 20:18–19 NASB95

18 All the people perceived the thunder and the lightning flashes and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood at a distance. 19 Then they said to Moses, “Speak to us yourself and we will listen; but let not God speak to us, or we will die.”

But Jesus is the one who comes in love and peace. He intercedes for us

Hebrews 7:25 NASB95

25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Jesus wants us. He wants a relationship with us. He is the one that can save us