Worship Call 0617 Who gave you the Right!

Robert, take the leap! John 11:40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee flames by jumping to the ground from the roof. His father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." But the boy was afraid -- he couldn't see his father -- all he could see was flame, smoke, and blackness. He was afraid. Still, his father kept yelling: "Jump son! I will catch you!" But the boy refused, crying, "Daddy, I can't see you!" His father replied, "It's ok son -- I can see you -- and that's all that matters!" Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of the fiery trials of life and all we can see is the smoke and the flames. But faith is knowing who will catch us when taking that leap. In Hebrew, the word 'truth' in this verse, is em-oo-nah, which is also translated as faith. God delights in responding to our faith. He wants us to jump into His arms --- especially when we can't see Him. George Mueller said, "Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends." Robert, let's practice some faith today. Our Father's arms are the biggest and strongest they come! Your family in the Lord with much agape love, George, Baht Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah Houston, Texas

And this is another fine day in the Lord

the emphasis of the record of the cleansing of the temples was not the mayhem that transpired by Jesus turning over the money changers tables and creating a stampede. it is with his words that follow which will be the most significant in the narrative.

Word Pictures in the New Testament (John 2:18)

John 2:18 What sign shewest thou unto us? (Τι σημειον δεικνυεις ἡμιν; [Ti sēmeion deiknueis hēmin?]). They may have heard of the “sign” at Cana or not, but they have rallied a bit on the outside of the temple area and demand proof for his Messianic assumption of authority over the temple worship. These traders had paid the Sadducees and Pharisees in the Sanhedrin for the concession as traffickers which they enjoyed. They were within their technical rights in this question.

A.T. Robinson

Jesus was just too much a man of a man to deal with. A Carpenters son, would be a muscle bound man. A Carpenter would not just deal with wood but would deal with Stone. hefting and heaving structures into place for much of His life. it was hard labor which built strong muscle. combined with that, the assurance of right and the confidence to take action against those who desecrated his Father’s house, none of the weak money grabbing spineless workers who cheated the people wanted to be the first one to dodge the whip that he flailed to subdue Jesus and beat him to a pulp. So they ran. leaving behind the spilt coins which the by standers quickly swept up and wondering livestock continued to scurry about. It was quite the event.

The money Changers and those who were selling birds and animals believed that they had every right to be there. they demanded to know who this man was and what gave him the right to do what he did in disrupting business. They went to the authorities. The Priests. Maybe they took their complaints all the way to Annas who himself had taken a hit financially that day and wanted some answers himself, as he often expected during the passover to take in a large sum of money. Not this day. And so Annas would be furious.

I can imagine Annas pacing back in forth in his quarters or office shouting in rage. Asking;

WHO IS THIS MAN!

and so his cronies would go to find out, or they knew already that they would have to have some answers prepared.

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 in our verse are the temple Authorities.

They were demanding to know, as were the merchant men, what right did this man have to do the things he did.

I am reminded of any leader bearing authority entrusted to Him that comes in and cleans up a mess in any organization. Especially a church body. a broken church or organization which people had gotten away with things for all too long. and then one comes in and begins to make changes. Changes that hurts the status quo. Oh, for so long they had gotten a way with so much and they had settled in to taking advantage of the norm until one day their world would be shaken up by a leader who is bent to make things right.

These people had no guts to confront the antagonist nor did they have any authority to do so. they would go to priests.

so the Leaders approached Jesus and demanded to see some credentials. (Signs)

John 2:19–21 (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.

Jesus did not give his accusers a straight answer. there was no need to do so.

By time we get to Matthew 13 we find that Jesus will speak to the crowds in Parables.

why

Because they were not trusting in Him. it would be wasting seed on none fertile rocks. Jesus would speak parables to the people and then to his disciples he would speak plainly to. but even then, I imagined that like with his disciples, some may have come to remember the parables and have a ah ha moment, as did those who observed and listened that day.

The Priest approached Jesus as if they were the one’s in charge, but the challenge to their authority was continuing as Jesus did not oblige himself to give them a direct answer to what they were looking for.

Point of Doctrine:

there was never a time that Jesus did not have full control of any given situation.

Jesus was and is always in control

Even today Jesus is in full control of the world situation as it is He who controls history

John 2:20 (NASB95) — 20 The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

The temple was a remolding project of Herod’s. King Herod had no religious interest for he was a Edomite. He was a great architect and builder. It was probably his way in seeking immortality as he would be remembered by these monuments. the Temple would be to assuage the hearts of the Jewish people who they themselves would know that the Herods were not the legitimate authority over the Jews.

It is laughable to say the least that while men and women (especially men; notice how cowardly little liberal men cower under the skirt strings of liberal women) think that they are the ultimate authority they always give away that they are but scared and insure little rats. Herod was no exception.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 2:20–21

2:20–21. Herod the Great decided to replace the temple of Zerubbabel because it was not of the same glory as that of Solomon’s (Hag. 2:3). Since work on Herod’s temple began in 20 or 19 B.C., 46 years bring the date to A.D. 27 or 28. The work on the whole temple complex continued until around A.D. 63. The statement of the Jews meant either that the sanctuary was completed in 46 years or else one phase had been completed. How then, the Jews asked, could He rebuild it in three days? That would be impossible! The Greek words for and You are emphatic, suggesting their contempt for Him. Of course by the temple Jesus meant His body which, after his death, would be resurrected in three days.

Three day building project would seem outrageous to all around Jesus, including his own disciples. But they had seen enough already, having seen Jesus turn the water into wine and to this point who knows how much more in the way of miracles and certainly teaching. and though they may have understood what it was that Jesus was getting at there was much they do already understand.

But Jesus did not have to show his credentials to these religious leaders.

John 2:21 (NASB95) — 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

the Resurrection will be the turning point of faith for many. as it would be that even a greater event was in the works. Maybe by some miracle this temple could be tore down and then in three days be rebuilt. Let’s just say in that Jesus used in Power in a way that it could happen. then this stone structure would then be declared Jesus’ temple. and all the people who visited would remember the great miracle and go on with their lives. they might even run Herod out of town and Make Jesus King.

the greater feat however, is that after being put to death, with death being the absolute finality of one’s life and being brought back to life without again seeing death will be something that will bring many to understanding and trusting in the one who has power over life and death.

the number one problem of the ages is death. You are going to die, what are you going to do about it.

Take the genealogy of Adam in Genesis 5 what is the predominate theme?

AND HE DIED!

Romans 5:12 (NASB95) — 12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

Physical death is the consequence of the fall while eternal or the second death is the Judgment.

If Jesus by his power rebuilt this stone structure would amaze people by his power to do so, but it would done nothing about the death problem, for they would all die amazed, before going to Hell.

the temple of his body however would demonstrate to all who would have a greater power over the grave. and therefore it would be the sign of his authority to be their savior.

1 Corinthians 1:22–31 (NASB95) — 22 For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; 27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, 28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, 29 so that no man may boast before God. 30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, 31 so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Matthew 12:39–40 (NASB95) — 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

the number three will ring all through the scriptures. From the three days that it took Abraham to get to the mountains to sacrifice his son and every where that it is mentioned in scripture it is to call attention to the sign that Jesus has the authority over death.

1 Corinthians 15:55–58 (NASB95) — 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

John 2:22 (NASB95) — 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.

Folks, things are not always clear at first.

some sadly will walk away from the truth with the excuse that they just don’t get it.

But God’s word does not go out void. Like Mary who treasured these things in her heart, they were their for a later date and when the time came there was the

OHHHH… now I get it!

and they would believe.

John 20:4–8 (NASB95) — 4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.