JOHN 2:12-25

PASSOVER: A Jewish festival in remembrance of their coming out of Egypt (Exodus 12), each year most devoted Jews went to Jerusalem to celebrate, a weeklong festival. Most Jews travelling from long distances stay back for fifty days to celebrate Feast of Weeks (Pentecost). Pentecost was celebrated because it was believed that on that day God gave them the Jewish Law

Q. What made Jesus Angry?

– Merchants? – Moneychangers? – Cattle, Sheep, Doves?

– According to OT Law, those who are coming outside of the Jerusalem, they need to buy their animal/bird for sacrifice from the city. During 1st Century, each region of Roman Empire had its own currency; Jerusalem Temple also had its own currency. So the Moneychangers were required to exchange the currency that visitors can pay temple tax.

– “In the temple courts…”

– Jerusalem temple, during Jesus’ time, was divided into 5 parts:

First – Most Holy Place

Second – Holy Place

Third – Court of Israel (Men)

Fourth – Court of Women

Fifth – Court of Gentiles

– Jerusalem Temple, in Jesus’ Time, was divided on the basis of gender & caste/religion

– Gentiles cannot enter into the Jewish Area, or the penalty was the death

– “In the temple courts…” was actually a area dedicated to the Gentiles

– Jesus was angry because of the business that was going on under the eye of the High Priest inside the temple (Mat. 21:13; Jer. 7:8-11) & that also in the area where Gentiles use to come & worship (1 Kings 8:41-43; Isaiah 56:6-7)

– Vs. 16 & 17 – ‘my father’s house’; ‘zeal for your house’

Application: Do you witness any such thing in today’s churches? How do you feel?

Q. After seeing this, what was Jesus’ action? What does it suggest?

- Vs. 15, 16 “made a wipe”

- His anger was against the wrong that was going on there

- in his anger, he was not hurting people, after explaining the truth, he is taking action against their wrongs & giving them a chance to think over & change their action

(They failed cf. Mark 11:15-17, second time Jesus cleansed the Temple)

Application: Eph. 4:26

Q. Why Jews demanded of him a miraculous signs?

- Mark 8:11-13; 1 Cor. 1:22 Jews always asked for sign (…but believed God very less after seeing the sign)

- They show an image of a King in Jesus

All good kings of Judah, for whom Bible testify that they followed the ways of David; first thing they did was ‘cleansing of the Temple’

- Jesus was calming to be the Messiah (cf. Malachi 3:1-4)

Messiah will also come & cleanse the temple

Q. What sign Jesus offered in reply? What significance that signs has?

- Vs. 19 “destroy the temple…I’ll make it in three days”

- Vs. 20 says that Jews didn’t understand what Jesus’ meant.

- rebuilding of Jerusalem Temple started in 20 B.C. under the guidance & order of King Herod the Great, construction got over in A.D. 64

- It was 46th year of rebuilding the Temple, when Jesus raised this issue

- (later Jews used Jesus’ statement to accuse him of opposing the Law of Moses & the Jewish Religion cf. Mark 14:57-59)

- Even Jesus’ disciples couldn’t understand this at that moment

- BUT, What Jesus meant was his own body; His Death & Bodily Resurrection after three days

- Only sign Jesus agreed to give was His Resurrection (cf. Matt. 12:39-40 – sign of Jonah)

- His Resurrection would be the final proof that He is the Messiah, Son of God

- Vs. 22 – Significance of Resurrection: opened the eyes of the disciples to perceive the Truths

(cf. Mark 8:31; 9:31; John 12:16)

- Jesus himself said in John 14:26, “Holy Spirit will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

Application: All Biblical Truths are understandable when it is seen in the light of Jesus’ Resurrection

Q. Why Jesus didn’t entrusted himself to those who believed after seeing miraculous sign? What is the implication of Jesus knowing the heart of each man?

- FAITH:

> Cursory faith - based on miracle

> Shallow faith - in demand of needs-fulfillment

> Deep faith - experiencing the love of God in Christ Jesus

> True faith - not dependent of circumstances & not demand returns, TRUST

- Vs. 25 Jesus being God himself, knows our hearts >> 1 Kings 8:39; example of Nathanael – Jn. 1:47

Application: what does our personal response know that Jesus knows our heart?

- He knows our heart - so he is perfectly suited to be the doctor of our soul – John 4:29

- So he is perfectly suited to be our Judge – John 5:22

- Ankit Harry

UESI-Ahmedabad (INDIA)