Cleansing The Temple Series

Cleansing the Temple

John 2:12-25

Introduction

- The gospel of John screams of the faith that we should have in Christ

-- It is the clearest example of living life FOR the one who redeemed you and I

- If we can learn to love others like Jesus’ … we can bring them TO Him

-- Re: We won’t bring a friend to something we do not like

-- John demonstrates and challenges us to love people like Christ did

- Today, we will look at last three of 6 “M’s” that happen in John 2

-- Wed we talked about Jesus' mother, His method, and His first miracle

-- Today we will discuss Him at the market, His meanings, and know His motive

- Read John 2:12-25 / Pray

∆ Point 1 – Jesus at the Market

- After the wedding in Cana, Jesus and his disciples traveled to Capernaum

-- Capernaum is at the very Northern tip of the Sea of Galilee in Israel

- Jesus then traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover (a frequent occurrence)

-- Traveling to Jerusalem would’ve been an event, a huge opportunity to “get out”

-- Consider: Living in a tiny town, and now you are going to NYC

- And what He finds, is probably the most disturbing part of our story

-- In Jerusalem, in the House of David, the Temple of the Lord – it’s horrible

- Re: Passover is to celebrate surviving the Angel of Death in Egypt

-- It was held in the first month of the sacred year or 7th month of civil year

- All of the merchandise in v14 would’ve been brought for sacrificial purposes

-- People would travel for great distances and not be able to purchase offerings

-- Re: This is not like packing the minivan for a two hour drive …

- So, upon arrival to the temple, they would need animals to sacrifice

-- The problem here occurs at the beginning of v14 … “in the temple courts”

- This is the place where Gentiles could pray; a place of honor and respect

-- However, they are unable to do that because of the massive flea market

-- But the merchants have come for one reason: To make money, not honor God

- While we may not respond the same way – we still have the same issues today

-- APP: Consider these things and look at modern day church:

• Has the church become a merchandise center?

• Is the ministry more concerned with money than the lost/needy?

• Are the people are more focused on being seen than bringing others in?

- Naturally, we might be startled to see Jesus fashion a whip

-- I’m sure the disciples were in awe watching this happen before their eyes

- So for us, one of the main questions we must ask here is: Why?

-- Why would Jesus respond in a way that seems outside His scope of peace?

-- Why would His response to a “normal occurrence” be so dramatic/drastic?

- APP: Often times, it takes a cleansing to put things back in order

-- The bible is consistent of its representation of God’s house and of prayer

-- These are two highly respected and treasured areas in God’s eyes

- And here, many had come to just “be part of the scene” and go home

-- I pray that we do not attend church just to be seen and then head out

-- APP: In this place, we have a real chance to be made different; new before Him

-- IMP: However, in order to be changed we have to repent of our sin

- These merchants had one desire: to make some money and improve wallet

-- Jesus has come to restore the temple, and the creation, to the Father above

- TRANS: So now we get to the heart of their conversation at the market

∆ Point 2 – Jesus’s Meaning

- In v17 we actually see a requote of Psalm 69:9

-- David’s cry is that having a zeal for God’s house must (will) consume him

-- APP: This zeal will be all that he desires and all that he wants (to honor God)

- Israel always had zeal with their knowledge; now it’s time for action

-- APP: Now they need to put action to their words (head knowledge vs. action)

- The Jews always asked Jesus for proof, signs of his authority (v18)

-- Re: They do this with everyone; even JTB was asked for proof

- So in response, Jesus gives them a foreshadowing of His death (v19)

-- However, they totally missed this prophetic statement: focused here only

- Re: the temple was started by Herod in 20BC (v20)

-- This conversation with Jesus is happening somewhere around 26AD