Tag: zeal for Father’s house
Zeal for Father’s House
Scripture reading for October 25th: John 2
Key Scriptures: John 2:13-17 “The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make My Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.””
Jesus took His disciples to their first Passover together at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. As Jesus entered the temple, He found Jews there selling sheep and oxen and money-changers who would change the currency of those wanting to purchase sacrifices, all for a price. This angered Jesus, and he drove them all out with a whip fashioned from chords of rope. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and warned them not to make God’s house a house of trade. He was fulfilling what was written in the Old Testament Scriptures concerning the Messiah: “Zeal for Your House will consume Me.” (Psalm 69:9) He stated that the temple was “My Father’s House.” The Jewish temple leaders demanded a sign from Jesus of why He would do these things. Jesus prophesied to them about His death and resurrection.
John 2:18-21 “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.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body.”
Faith confession and prayer: Father, fill me with the same zeal as Your Son for Your house. I know that now I am Your house and my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and that Your people as they gather are Your temple. Let the message of Your life, death and resurrection bring resurrection life to those outside the family of God today.
John 2:22 “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.”
Zeal for God’s House!
Scripture reading for October 23rd: Ezekiel 4-6, Psalm 82, John 2
Key Scriptures: John 2:13-17 “The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And He poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And He told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make My Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume Me.””
Jesus had just come into His ministry and was visiting the temple during Passover. As He entered, He found money-changers and marketers selling temple sacrifices to visiting pilgrims. He made a whip of cords and drove out these merchandisers and demanded that they not profane His Father’s house. Jesus had a zealous passionate love for His Father and those coming to find Him in His house! We are now “His house!” Jesus is just as zealous now that His House not be defiled and be welcoming to the lost and those seeking Him.
Psalm 82:3-4 “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
Faith confession and prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your zeal for Your Father’s House. I have offered my body as Your House here on earth. Cleanse it as You see fit, in grace and mercy, not in Your anger. May I fulfill Your plans and purposes to reach the lost and hurting.
Ezekiel 5:13 “”Thus shall My anger spend itself, and I will vent My fury upon them and satisfy Myself. And they shall know that I am the Lord–that I have spoken in My jealousy–when I spend My fury upon them.””
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!
Signs of His Glory!
Scripture reading for May 2nd: John 2:1-25
Jesus Christ was a glorious man and the Son of God! His glory came from within, as He had nothing supernaturally special about His physical appearance. (Isaiah 53:2) This glory came from a life totally submitted to God and under control of the Holy Spirit. (John 5:30) This glory came as a result of purity in thought, word, and deed that no other human was capable of because of their sin nature. Jesus revealed His glory through His life of obedience to the Father and John the Apostle has written down some unique miracles and incidents that show this glory and prove Jesus was the Son of God and worthy to believe in.
The wedding at Cana in Galilee was graced by Jesus and His mother. At this wedding feast, they ran out of wine and Jesus’ mother came to Him and asked for help. Jesus at first was reluctant to get involved, but wanting to honor God by honoring His mother, He gave instructions to the servants to draw water in six stone jars of about thirty gallons each. They then took this water to the banquet host to sample. When he tasted it, he was amazed that this wine was the best of the banquet! “This, the first of His miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples put their faith in Him.” (John 2:11) This revelation of glory produced faith in His disciples.
The next sign of His glory wasn’t so exciting to the religious folks of His day. Jesus entered the temple courts and found men selling and trading and changing money. He made a whip and drove them out, overturning the tables of the money changers! Jesus reprimanded them, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16) His disciples remembered later that the Scriptures said that zeal for God’s house would consume the Messiah.
The religious leaders asked Jesus for a miraculous sign to give proof of His authority to drive the money changers from the temple. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” (John 2:18-23) This was to be the greatest sign of His glory given to the whole world! Jesus spoke of the resurrection of His body after three days in the grave! He arose!