First cleansing of the Temple (Jn 2:13-25)
Early in Jesus’ ministry, just after His first miracle turning water into wine, He went to the temple because it was almost time for the Jewish Passover. “In the temple courts He found men 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 area, 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! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!’”
In response to His actions:
His disciples remember what is written (Ps 69:9) about the Messiah: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The Jewish leaders in the temple recognize a threat to their institutional interests/authority and demand, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answers, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
The Jews reply, "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. Jesus knew what they were really doing and how they would use His statement three years later to kill Him. He was addressing the leadership failure that placed the interests of their institution/temple before God’s interests for the people.
Second cleansing of the Temple (Mt 21:9-17; Mk 11:4-26; Lk 19:37-47)
During the last week of His earthly ministry Jesus entered the Jerusalem on a colt with the people shouting “Hosanna” – Hebrew expression for “Save!” – and praising God for the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
When He entered the temple area, He again drove out the profiteers and merchants quoting the Prophet Isaiah (Isa 56:7) saying, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” and adding the same warning the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 7:11) gave Israel, that you continue to make the temple ‘a den of robbers.’”
In response to His actions: The people in pain, blind and lame came for healing; the children danced and sang, while the people hung on every word of His teaching, coming every day to learn more of God’s love for them. And the Jewish leadership, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people tried all the harder to find a way to kill Him. They even asked Him again, just like three years ago, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things; who gave you this authority?” They did not like the answer He gave them any more than the last time (Lk 20).
Observations for living today:
In the past God spoke to us many times and in various ways, but in this final age He has spoken to us through His Son, who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being (Heb 1:3).
God has a plan for redeeming man and restoring him completely. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. When He speaks there is only truth and fact in His voice. Man may not understand it completely, but it is understandable.
When He saw what the Jewish leaders were doing in God’s name, He said NO! God’s house is not theirs for profit; His house is for the people – a house of prayer for all nations!
Whatever those leading God’s work on earth are doing, if it does not help the people find their way back to a healthy relationship with God, and/or if it does not do what Jesus was doing (Jn 14:12) – it is a misrepresentation of God’s character.
What priority is given to prayer? How much time? Who participates? What effect is seen by those who are praying?
Reality in Christ:
John wrote chapter 14:10-21 because he wants us to know what Jesus said about reality.
“The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
God’s house, His temple, the Body of Christ, is dedicated to prayer for all of mankind!
Early in Jesus’ ministry, just after His first miracle turning water into wine, He went to the temple because it was almost time for the Jewish Passover. “In the temple courts He found men 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 area, 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! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!’”
In response to His actions:
His disciples remember what is written (Ps 69:9) about the Messiah: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The Jewish leaders in the temple recognize a threat to their institutional interests/authority and demand, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answers, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
The Jews reply, "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. Jesus knew what they were really doing and how they would use His statement three years later to kill Him. He was addressing the leadership failure that placed the interests of their institution/temple before God’s interests for the people.
Second cleansing of the Temple (Mt 21:9-17; Mk 11:4-26; Lk 19:37-47)
During the last week of His earthly ministry Jesus entered the Jerusalem on a colt with the people shouting “Hosanna” – Hebrew expression for “Save!” – and praising God for the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
When He entered the temple area, He again drove out the profiteers and merchants quoting the Prophet Isaiah (Isa 56:7) saying, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” and adding the same warning the Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 7:11) gave Israel, that you continue to make the temple ‘a den of robbers.’”
In response to His actions: The people in pain, blind and lame came for healing; the children danced and sang, while the people hung on every word of His teaching, coming every day to learn more of God’s love for them. And the Jewish leadership, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people tried all the harder to find a way to kill Him. They even asked Him again, just like three years ago, “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things; who gave you this authority?” They did not like the answer He gave them any more than the last time (Lk 20).
Observations for living today:
In the past God spoke to us many times and in various ways, but in this final age He has spoken to us through His Son, who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being (Heb 1:3).
God has a plan for redeeming man and restoring him completely. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. When He speaks there is only truth and fact in His voice. Man may not understand it completely, but it is understandable.
When He saw what the Jewish leaders were doing in God’s name, He said NO! God’s house is not theirs for profit; His house is for the people – a house of prayer for all nations!
Whatever those leading God’s work on earth are doing, if it does not help the people find their way back to a healthy relationship with God, and/or if it does not do what Jesus was doing (Jn 14:12) – it is a misrepresentation of God’s character.
What priority is given to prayer? How much time? Who participates? What effect is seen by those who are praying?
Reality in Christ:
John wrote chapter 14:10-21 because he wants us to know what Jesus said about reality.
“The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”
God’s house, His temple, the Body of Christ, is dedicated to prayer for all of mankind!
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