Tag: John 2
The ultimate ‘sign’!
Scripture reading for April 8: John 2
“So the Jews said to Him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the Word that Jesus had spoken.” John 2:18-22
Jesus had just come into the temple during Passover week, and found traders and money changers at work selling sacrificial animals to those coming to the temple for that holy week. Jesus made a whip and drove out those selling sacrifices and the money changers. He declared that His Father’s House was not to be a house of trade, but a house of prayer. This prompted the religious leaders to ask Jesus for a ‘sign’ to justify His actions. Jesus made a startling statement that challenged their world view. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” caused great controversy. The Jews knew that it had taken forty-six years to rebuild the temple. They were thinking naturally and mocked Jesus’ declaration.
However, Jesus was not speaking about the building, but rather about His own body. Jesus knew what the Jews and Romans would soon do to Him. He knew the plan of His Father and was in full agreement with the Father to give His life. His ‘temple’ would be the ultimate intercession given on the altar of the cross for the sins of the world. Jesus knew that He would be vindicated and raised from the dead on the third day. He gave this prophetic sign at least a year in advance, and would not be fully understood by His disciples until after it had been fulfilled on resurrection morning! Jesus’ world view and this sign helped and is helping disciples to believe to eternal life!
Have you ever been told something about Jesus or life that did not make sense? Does this ‘sign’ given by Jesus to His people and disciples cause you to grow in faith? Are you sharing this ‘Gospel’ sign with those in your life needing an expanded world view of life?
Prayer: Father God, thank You that Your Son Jesus Christ used His body as Your temple and our perfect sacrifice. Thank You for the amazing ‘sign’ of the resurrection that helps us believe Jesus is God’s Son. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit to empower me to pray for the lost and share this ‘sign’ with them. Amen.
Zeal for His House!
Scripture reading for April 7th: John 2
Key scriptures for over-comers: John 2:14-17 “In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and over-turned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.”
At the beginning of His ministry, Jesus was angry at finding His Father’s house turned into a market! He quickly took cords and made a whip and drove the animals and money-changers from the temple. The disciples later remembered this event and the Scripture “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” They applied it to Jesus and his strong actions to cleanse Father’s House so that His people and the nations could be gathered there. Are we who follow our Lord as zealous for His house today?
Observations for over-comers: We listen to this story and ponder its application for us. Ask the Lord to give you new zeal and understanding of the purpose of His house. We are that ‘house’ today! “How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If you had responded to My rebuke, I would have poured out My heart to you and made My thoughts known to you.” (Proverbs 1:22-23)
Zeal for “Father’s house”!
Scripture reading for April 8th: John 2
Jesus revealed God’s heart of compassion for people through a series of miracles or signs. John’s first record of a miracle of Jesus was the turning of water into wine at a wedding feast. Jesus revealed His compassion for a young couple who had run out of wine. At Jesus’ word, the servants filled the jars with water and as they gave some to the master of the banquet, he was amazed at the quality. This sign displayed God’s glory and helped the disciples put faith in Him. (John 2:11)
Next, Jesus went to Jerusalem for the annual Passover feast. As He entered the temple, He found something that disturbed Him. “So He made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both the sheep and cattle; He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves He said, ‘Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:15-16) Jesus was concerned about “Father’s house”. He wanted people to come and truly connect with His Father, not be hindered by the merchandising of sacrifices and the commercialization of their temple visit. He began by exercising authority from His Father to remove the hindrances.
The disciples remembered this incident after Jesus’ resurrection. They associated it with Scripture concerning the Messiah: “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.” (John 2:17, Psalm 69:9) The religious leaders were furious, demanding a miraculous sign to prove Jesus’ authority to do this act of judgment! “Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” The Jews were thinking about the building, but Jesus was referring to His body as God’s temple! Later, this would help Jesus’ disciples and us to believe!