Sermon Central
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Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 2 Series
Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Oct 5, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: As Jesus confronted the "false religious" on-goings in the Temple, we must ask if we are willing to confront sin, cast it out, and live a life devoted to Him? Or, will we allow our own desires and emotions to lead us?
John, Part 9
Series: Jesus’s First Public Events, Part 2
John 2:12-22
- Welcome to Seasons – intro – we are so glad you’re here today; dismiss children
-- Continuing series; REM: John less focused on chronology; purpose (redeem)
- Read John 2:12-22 / Pray
Point 1 – Confronting Sin (specifically, in God’s House)
- Set the stage: Stretch: How many times did Jesus clear the temple? Twice!
- There are differences in the 2 events; OBVIOUS: They are 3 years apart!
? In the 1st event, temple officials confronted Jesus immediately (v18)
? In 2nd, chief priests and scribes confronted Him the next day (Matt 21:23)
? In 1st, He calls it “My Father’s house”
? In 2nd, Jesus refers to it as “My temple”
? He also is shown to make a whip out of cords in the 1st event only
- SEE: The people and the livestock were driven out with a whip (v15)
? To those selling doves He spoke to them (whip would kill doves) (v16a)
? REM: Dove is a representative of the Holy Spirit; subtle nod here to imp.
? See the directness of his words: “Get these things OUT …” (v16b)
- Preach: What we do in the church (temple) matters; God is paying attention!
-- Look at the seriousness of Jesus about it: “… stop turning my Father’s house”
-- Get this: What they were doing was ruining the sanctity of God’s house
--- Church is not about you! Sometimes, often, we make it that way
--- “My Church” “I think” “I want” “I need” “Pastor, you should …”
- CHALL: Do we come here for our own fluffiness or to be serious about God?
? If you want to serve in the church to boost yourself up…
? If you want to be on a platform to feed your ego…
? If you come to be told how awesome we all are… this is not the church!
-- I’m not here for popularity: If Jesus confronts sin; if we live for Him; then
--- Unpopular today: Pastors worried about attendance vs. souls in Heaven
--- Woe to the Believer who has a “people-pleaser” leading them!
- TR: Let’s look at their response and tell me if this sounds familiar to today
Point 2 – False Religionists Always Respond with Arguments
- CHALL: When confronted with sin, how do you respond? Try to justify?
--- “I think God would be ok if …”
--- “God loves me and He made me this way so it’s ok …”
- Need us to not miss how quickly the disciples pick up on Jesus’s response
-- v17 nod to prophecy: Jesus quotes a passioned plea by David: Psalm 69:9
-- SEE: The “religious” totally miss it (why); They are self-absorbed and sin led!
-- Much of that same spirit exists today: people believing they know best!
--- Excuses to live unholy invade our space daily; we must lookout for them!
- SEE: They tempt Jesus, ask Him to “prove” that He is genuine article (v18)
? They asked for a sign: Greek word: sémeion; means sign or miracle
? RE: They’ve heard of Him: must remember he was baptized by John
? KNOW: Their outrage is based on their “control" being threatened
--- Power = Control; Religion (I want) vs. Relationship (Lord, what do You want)
- Why? He has charged them with dishonoring God; to a Jew this is blasphemy!
? But what is the reality of what is happening? Sin is rampant in the church!
? REAL: Sometimes you have to cut out the cancer to begin the healing
? RE: During the Passover celebration: God’s people were being fleeced!
? EX: People would bring a sacrifice, be inspected, then refused (have to buy)
? The only way to correct this is through a swift rebuke; drive out the sin!
- Preach: Look at what they are doing: they’ve turned Temple into a swap meet!
? Why? Because they do not know God’s Word (which gives life purpose)
? These were too busy not obeying God’s commands (obedience to Him only)
? And they were not willing to change their ways b/c it suited their selfishness
? This is why we need to know what God’s word says; read it for yourselves!
- The first sign of a church in trouble is one that serves itself and NOT Christ!
-- Once a church is on that road, it’s in dire need of a stern rebuke (Laodicea)
--- See Revelation 3:15-17; It is all about “I” … they’ve lost focus of Jesus!
- Want an affirming church? Want a feel-good church? Need ego fed/stroked?
-- There are several right here in this city – but as for us: We will serve the Lord
