April 15,2012
Lesson Focus:
Keep Jesus the
Focus of worship
Lesson Scripture:
John 2:13-22
INTRODUCTION. This week we begin the second unit of lessons entitled “The Word is Here and Now.” During this unit of study, we will look at three aspects of Jesus’ historical ministry with spiritual application for today.This week we focus on how Jesus cleansed the temple at Jerusalem.We will see that it is important to revere the house of God.
(vs. 13). Last week’s lesson ended with Jesus, his mother, brothers and His disciples leaving Cana of Galilee and going to Capernaum where they had a short stay. This week’s lesson text tells us why they weren’t there very long. John says in this verse “And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” It was time for the Passover, so Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to observe that feast. This verse also says “and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” The Scriptures always refer to going to Jerusalem as going “up.” Jerusalem was the home of the temple and sat on a hill. Regardless of which direction one was coming from, it was always said that people “went up to Jerusalem.” Jesus went to Jerusalem to observe the Passover as Jews faithful to God’s Word endeavored to do.
(vs. 14). Next John says “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” This was Jesus’ first Passover since He began His ministry and upon reaching the temple in Jerusalem He found that businesses had been set up in the temple court. Although John says that they were “in the temple” they were not inside the building, but in the outside courtyard known as the Court of the Gentiles. The areas closest to the temple were reserved for Jews to worship, but outside of those areas Gentiles were allowed. The temple court was considered part of the temple and was not for business. Jesus found people selling “oxen and sheep and doves.” Since many Jewish men had to travel great distances to get to Jerusalem, it was very difficult to bring the proper animals that were to be sacrificed during the Passover. So there was a need for a market where animals could be purchased to offer as sacrifices. Jesus also found “the changers of money sitting.” These were booths set up to exchange foreign money for currency that could be used for paying the temple taxes. Those who came from far-off places probably used Roman coins with Caesar’s image, which could not be accepted at the temple so it needed to be changed into Jewish currency.
(vs. 15). Infuriated by what He saw, Jesus took immediate action. John said “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables.” Jesus made a whip out of ropes, the meaning of “he had made a scourge of small cords.” Using the whip, Jesus drove out the animals and those who sold them. He also dumped the money changers’ money out on the floor and turned over their tables with everything that was on them. Jesus didn’t lose His temper (see Proverbs 29:22; Ecclesiastes 7:9; Ephesians 4:26). Yes, He was angry, but His anger was completely under control. There is a difference between uncontrolled rage and righteous indignation, yet both are called anger. We must be very careful how we use the powerful emotion of anger. It is right to be angry about injustice and sin. It is wrong to be angry over trivial.
(vs. 16). Jesus then “said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.” It appears that Jesus spoke directly to those selling the doves and commanded them to remove their goods and not turn His Father’s house into a “house of merchandise” or a marketplace. We can understand Jesus’ anger when we see how worship had been replaced with greed. Does that sound familiar to us today? The commercialism of these businesses had not only destroyed the possible atmosphere for worship for the Gentiles, but also turned the temple into a money-making operation. They had either forgotten or didn’t care that God’s house is a place of worship not a place for making a profit (see Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17). Our attitude toward the church is wrong if we see it as a place for personal contacts or business advantage. It would be wise for each of us to examine our own worship habits. Make sure you attend church to worship God.
(vs. 17) John now tells us that “his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” Jesus’ display of emotion had a positive effect on His disciples because they were reminded of an Old Testament Scripture, Psalm 69:9 that spoke of the Messiah: “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” This quotation was believed to refer to both the psalmist and the coming Messiah. Jesus used this scripture to show how His incredible zeal for God and for the purity of worship would endanger His life. This is what is meant by “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. "
(vs. 18). This verse says, “Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” The Jews referred to here were probably members of the Sanhedrin Council, the Jewish ruling body. The Jewish leaders were the ones who constantly opposed Jesus, not the people. These Jewish leaders quickly asked Jesus to show them a sign that would prove He had the authority to clear the temple. The Messiah would have that authority, so these leaders were really asking Jesus to prove that He was the Messiah, if He was.
(vs. 19). Here John writes, “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The proof that Jesus offered to show that He had the power and authority to cleanse the temple, was His coming death and resurrection. When Jesus spoke of destroying this temple, He was not talking about the actual building; He was talking about His own body. However, the Jews’ next response indicated that they didn’t understand what Jesus meant.
(vs. 20). This verse says “Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?” Undoubtedly the Jewish leaders took Jesus’ statement literally. Their argument was that since the current temple had been under construction for forty-six years, it was ridiculous for Jesus to think that He could rebuild it in just three days.
(vs. 21). Here John writes, “But he spake of the temple of his body.” What the Jewish leaders didn’t understand was that Jesus was not talking about rebuilding the literal temple building; He was talking about raising His own body. Jesus’ statement was a prediction about His resurrection.
(John 2:22). John concludes our lesson by saying “When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.” Even His disciples who spent their entire time with Jesus for over three years didn’t understand quickly some of the truths that Jesus taught them. It was not until after Jesus’ resurrection that the disciples understood “the word which Jesus had said” referring to destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days. At that time they remembered what Jesus said and it all made sense to them. The phrase “and they believed the scripture” means that after Jesus’ resurrection, His disciples believed and understood all the Old Testament Scriptures that referred to the Messiah’s death and resurrection.
Conclusion. Things are different today from Jesus’ day. We don’t have a centralized location like the temple for everyone to worship. However, there is a lack of reverential atmosphere for worship in some churches and that is sad. Some places of worship have become little more than places offering entertainment. We don’t need any further sign to validate Jesus’ claims about Himself. He has already overcome death. He has the power to cleanse the temple, and He offers to clean up our lives if we will turn to Him. The Bible tells us that the believer’s body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, the house of God (see I Corinthians 6:19). We are called to keep it clean and fit for a holy God. Remember, the world says it will believe if God will give it a sign, but God wants to see faith instead.
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