Mistrust? Perhaps the Opposite is Needed! - John 2:13-25 - Third Sunday in Lent

 

John 2:13-25 ESV

¹³ The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

¹⁸ So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” ¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ²⁰ The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” ²¹ But he was speaking about the temple of his body. ²² When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. ²⁴ But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people ²⁵ and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

Mistrust? Perhaps the Opposite is Needed!

Apparently, there were two cleansings of the temple three years apart. One at the beginning of Jesus ministry, as we see here in the Gospel of John, and another before Jesus’ crucifixion; at least if you read all of the accounts in the Gospels of this act of Jesus. I’m not sure myself. For me? It misses the point that I see here. It seems to me that the Temple cleansing set up a coming clash between Jesus and the religious authorities, in either case.

The journey to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover Feast brought around 100,000 people to the city and the Temple. That’s a bunch of folks in one place! All gathered in response to a call of duty felt towards their God.

This temple to which all of these people were coming to visit was the second temple built. The first temple was built with the preparation by King David and actually built under the rule and instruction from God by King Solomon. This first temple was destroyed, and the Israelites, then of Judah, were, for the most part sent into exile in Babylon. After the exile the people returned to rebuild Jerusalem. This second temple, is commonly referred to as Herod’s Temple, built for a million people, with stones weighing up to 400 tons. That’s some hefty building and construction. That’s all nice to know but misses the point of what I hear Jesus’ message is to the rest of us throughout time and eternity.

So, Jesus comes towards the temple and makes a mess of things. On purpose no less. God’s Temple is to be kept holy and IS Holy! God’s Temple is not a place for monetary advantage to vendors or even human satisfaction of pleasing God for God’s sake.

The religious rulers of that day, and this day as well, are not the authorities, or even the ones who we should focus on.

But, here, when Jesus took these wild actions, they were appalled at what he had done, and questioned him… Who gave you this authority, Jesus, to come in here and trample all over our process? Who gave you this authority? Show us a sign of how you came to the decision and thought process that allows or even permits you to do the things you have done here? (My paraphrase)

Jesus’ answer, just doesn’t make any human sense at all! Jesus tells them…

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 

Well, what kind of nonsense is that? This temple before the eyes of the people of that day is HUGE! It’s taken years and years to build! And Jesus says it will be destroyed and he will raise it up in three days? Ridiculous!

Not really. Jesus was talking about the real Temple. Not this current temple, this work of man. The Temple Jesus speaks of, only will need to be rebuilt one time and will last for all eternity. The Temple Jesus refers to is the True Temple of God. Jesus is that, Temple.

The Temple Jesus speaks of, like the first Temple that King Solomon built under the direction of God, are both the dwelling places of God. And this final and most important Temple, this Jesus, is the final and only Temple all along. You see, Jesus IS the true Temple where we worship God. God calls all mankind to himself through the Temple of Jesus.

So…

Keep your eyes on Jesus!

And see God…

We like to see Jesus just as this “Meek and Mild” Savior. Don’t be fooled. Look at the words of this Gospel passage above. Jesus is not just “Meek and Mild,” like we would like to think.

No…

We just heard lately…

Matthew 16:23 ESV

²³ But he (Jesus) turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

And then later in Matthew, Jesus unleashes anything but “Meek and Mild”

Matthew 23:27 ESV

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

 

Matthew 23:33 ESV

³³ You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?

Matthew 23:15 ESV

¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Would the Pharisees see Jesus as “Meek and Mild?”

You see, here in this time, and in all time, Jesus goes to his death rather than making peace with the like of those who would challenge his authority. Who would challenge his doing of the “Will of God.”

So, as you see, Jesus drives out pollution from the Temple.

We don’t get to accept only the parts of Jesus we like. Jesus IS God. Jeus IS God on all parts. Jesus IS God in even what may cause us to be uncomfortable.

And…

Jesus will ALSO die!

Jeus is THE Sign. A Sign that has come into this world that CAN’T be killed or defeated. THE Truth wins.

And many people have come to believe. People come to believe through this gift of faith given to us in the Word… the Word made flesh… this Jesus… this God… who comes to us… to save us with his own action and love, from sin, death and evil.

How? In Jesus’ saving act on the Cross! How foolish is this? What nonsense?

Three days! Come on! But that’s the Temple… the Temple that we will worship… more than meek and mild, The Rock, The Redeemer, the I AM, our God, our Savior.

Come! Let us gather at the Temple of Jesus and worship Him… today… tomorrow… and forever!

I leave you with a shocking scene from the 70s Play/Movie “Jesus Christ Superstar”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAyMKyoQbIQ

God bless you this week as you worship and witness the power of the Word, spoken, and given to you.