Sermon Tone Analysis

Gentle Jesus

Think about the word gentle, that in Greek can be transliterated as meek, what do you think of?

The bible has lot’s to say on meekness, so I think we should start there.

Oxford dictionary: Quiet, gentle, easily imposed on, submissive (patient, longsuffering, forbearing, resigned, gentle, shy).

Maybe you heard a common childhood prayer “Gentle Jesus meek and mild look upon this little child.”

When you think of a lamb, a lamb is meek, you feel no threat by a lamb do you?

(Transition) There are many verses in the bible that speak of people being meek, mild, gentle.

And may we consider some before we get to our passage tonight?

Some biblical uses ( Num12:3, Gal5:23; Col3:12, Tit3:1-2; Mt11:29)

Jesus tells us that He is meek (gentle)

God says Moses is

It is part of the fruit of the Spirit

And as Christians we are called to be:

Just one more

Jesus persona was one of gentleness, meekness, peaceable that even parents felt comfortable to bring children to Him

Jesus had already been identified as the “Lamb of God”

Jesus had already called the first disciples

Jesus had already been invited, attended and quietly did a sign at a wedding

Tonight, in keeping to the commands heads to Jerusalem as required for the Passover, and His meekness, gentleness turns to righteous indignation.

Interesting fact you see here in John it is in the beginning of the gospel, but in the Mark, it is at the end of his ministry.

Here is a call for repentance, in Mark it is a passing of judgment.

So there were two cleansings that happened.

(Transition) So, here is what is planned for tonight.

Glean from the scripture (keep in context)

The Discovery (2:12-14)

The Disgust (2:15-16)

The Disciples response (2:17)

Gleaning from the scripture

There are three times a year that Jewish men had to go to Jerusalem for worship (Deu16:16) that is for Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.

Jesus is working his way there after leaving Cana.

Bonus question to start with, when did Jesus go to Capernum?

Who went with Jesus to Capernum (v.12)?

This is the first proof given that Jesus had brothers, contrary to those who say different

What did Jesus discover (find) when He entered the temple (v.14)?

Sellers of oxen, sheep, doves and money changers

What did Jesus do (vv.15-16)?

Mr meek and mild, gentle Jesus made a scourge (whip) of cords and drove “them” out.

Side note, there was no injury to any animals in the cleaning of the temple, in case you are a P.E.T.A person.

How did this impact the disciples (v.17)?

They remember what the scripture said “zeal for your house will consume me.” (comes from Ps69:9)

In this passage we start to see the zeal that Jesus had for God, and next week we will continue on with it, but today it starts with the cleansing of the temple.

The Discovery

Jesus deliberately violated the man-made traditions of man while obeying the statutes of the law.

It was by that, that Jesus comes to Jerusalem and discovers what is going on in the temple.

Lucrative business, may have started with right intentions

Problem: It was being done in the court of the Gentiles, the place of worship for non-Jews.

It was impacting the ability to worship.

A place where the Jews could be preaching the God of Israel they were turning a profit.

Can the church do this today, if so, how?

In His meekness, which I like the definition “power under control” Jesus lets out His zeal for His Father’s house.

He declares war against the hypocritical religious leaders.

i mentioned earlier that Jesus cleansed the temple x2, the other is found in (Mt21)

(Insert Two Cleansing of the Temple PowerPoint here)

The condition of the temple is reflective of the spiritual condition of the nation.

It had become a religion that was dull, routing and presided over by worldly minded men” (Wiersbe) These wordly men whose desire was no longer to worship but to profit and to exercise authority to do it.

Now, let’s bring this forward to today’s world.

Do you think that there are things that you would find in the place of assembly that should not be there?

Have you attended, know of a church where it is about networking not worshipping

Where is about convenience vs. consecration?

The Lords temple today is the people, they are the church, and we must be careful lest we defile it as well.

Consider

(Transition) It had gotten bad, and now the righteous indignation is displayed by Jesus

Disgust of Jesus

Jesus did not plan to discover what He discovered but was not surprised by it, but now He,gentle, meek and mild must do something.I would imagine the hope, the desire due to the state of the people was to bring them to repentance.

By the words of Jesus you know where His zeal is and why the righteous indignation is being displayed.

What is the reason Jesus indignation is displayed (v.16)?

It was to be a place of prayer and it was becoming a place for profit (again consider Mt21:13)

Expand

It was a place of hindering instead of a place of helping.

Expand

Now, think about today what could happen in a place of assembly, building, that would make it a place for profit, or hindrance vs prayer and help?

God had called, set aside, ordained those who were to preach, and they were to be supported (1Cor9:14) but the Lord is angered as should we when it turns to a way to get rich.

(Transition) The reason for the indignation goes hand in hand because of His zeal for the Fathers house.

Disciples response

The disciples knew scripture, they knew history, they would have known what was said was previously said and recorded.

Disciples remembered (Ps69:9)

A Psalm of David in the midst of turmoil.

And the turmoil was because of his love for God

And the focus as used in our passage

Other examples

we should have some time so we can look up these passages together

Peter remembered (Mt26:75)

mt26:75 “75 And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

And he went out and wept bitterly.”

When Jesus was glorified “they” remembered (Jn12:16)

Jn12:16 “16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.”

After the resurrection they remembered (Jn2:22)

The disciples remembered the prophesy about zeal for the Father’s house, Jesus great zeal moved him into action.

Today, the church is the Father’s house (1Tim3:15)

As the Father’s house are we fulfilling its intended purpose and making the Fathers will known (Eph3:10-11)?

Jesus had righteous indignation and went into action, now we may not be able to make a whip of cords.

But if we have a zeal for the Lord’s house, we will not rest silent when others pervert its purpose

(Prayer) (Exit)