Introduction

Dear beloved, there is a warmth in our gathering today, isn't there? A sense of unity, a shared understanding that we are all here to partake in the divine banquet of God's word, to be nourished and filled, to be challenged and changed. It is in this spirit of shared anticipation that we approach the message for today.

We turn our hearts and minds to the Gospel according to John, specifically the second chapter, verses 13 through 22. Allow me to read this passage to you: "When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts, he found people 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 courts, both 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! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' The Jews then responded to him, 'What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' They replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken."

Christ's Commanding Authority

In the passage we read, we see Jesus entering the temple courts. He doesn't just walk in quietly, he makes his presence known. He sees the selling of cattle, sheep, and doves, and the exchanging of money, and he doesn't stand for it. He takes action. He makes a whip out of cords and drives out the animals. He scatters the coins of the money changers and overturns their tables. He tells those selling doves to get out, to stop turning his Father’s house into a market. This is Jesus asserting his authority. He's not asking for permission, he's not negotiating. He's commanding.

Now, let's think about this. The temple was a place of worship, a place to connect with God. But it had been turned into a marketplace. The focus had shifted from God to profit. And Jesus, seeing this, steps in. He doesn't just voice his disapproval, he takes action. He disrupts the status quo. He challenges the system. And in doing so, he shows us his authority. Not just his authority over the temple, but his authority over all things.

Firstly, Jesus has authority. He has the right to command, to direct, to control. And he exercises this authority in the temple. He doesn't just suggest changes, he enforces them. He doesn't just voice his disapproval, he takes action. He doesn't just challenge the system, he overturns it. This is Jesus in action. This is Jesus exercising his authority.

But this authority is also about care. It's about love. Jesus doesn't just have the right to command, he has the responsibility to care. He sees the corruption in the temple, the focus on profit over worship, and he steps in. He takes action. He disrupts the status quo. He challenges the system. And in doing so, he shows us his love. His love for his Father, his love for his Father’s house, his love for us.

Secondly, Jesus' authority is rooted in love. It's not about power, it's about care. It's not about control, it's about compassion. Jesus exercises his authority not to dominate, but to serve. Not to oppress, but to liberate. Not to condemn, but to save.

Now, let's think about this. Jesus' authority is not just about what he does, it's about who he is. He is the Son of God. He is the Word made flesh. He is the one who was, who is, and who is to come. His authority is not derived from any human institution, it's derived from his divine nature. It's not based on any earthly power, it's based on his heavenly position. It's not dependent on any worldly approval, it's dependent on his eternal identity.

This is the third thing we need to understand. Jesus' authority is inherent. It's not given, it's not earned, it's not acquired. It's inherent. It's part of who he is. It's part of his divine nature. It's part of his eternal identity.

Finally, Jesus' authority is not just for his time, it's for all time. It's not just for the temple, it's for all places. It's not just for the Jews, it's for all people. Jesus exercises his authority in the temple, but his authority extends beyond the temple. It extends to all places, to all times, to all people.

Challenging Church Systems

In the tumult of the temple, we see a vivid illustration of the need to challenge our church systems ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO