John 2:12-25

12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So 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. 16To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

20The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22After 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.

23Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.  24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why did Jesus tear up the temple?

 

Here are a few things that we do know:

 

The men selling cattle, sheep, and doves were selling “perfect” animals at higher prices…..the animals of the “common man” were NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

 

The men exchanging money were not using fair exchange rates…..the money of the “common man” did not have the same VALUE.

 

Watching over the entire show….we had the religious leaders—dressed in their fancy clothes and dictating right and wrong…….the level of the religious leaders to the “common” man was not on the same level.  They were BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE.

 

Also watching over the activity were the Roman guards……and they ruled with an iron fist.  Crucifying thousands and ruling with an iron fist.  Their methods were fear, intimidation, shame, …… to the “common” man, the Romans controlled their DESTINY.

 

And then there was the idea of the temple itself.  It was the idea of Passover….and this Passover celebration was set up, by God, so that “anyone who had the blood” could be saved by the Lord and the judgment of God…..but men had ruined it.  And now, for the “common” man, this was not about the Passover, it was about standing.  It was a constant reminder to the “common” man that they simply stood on the outside looking in.  And so…..thousands of broken, poor, and overburdened people came to the temple each year to come to the IN-YOUR-FACE realization that they did not have the STANDING to be important.

 

Enter Jesus of Nazareth.  Not Sunday School Jesus as I like to call Him….but Jesus of Nazareth—-the greatest man who ever lived and the lion of the tribe of Judah.

 

I have to think that this was not about money or animals or levels of accomplishment or conforming to Roman way…..it was about the fact that the people believed that “our standing will never be good enough”.

 

This was about:  LOVE.  This was about the fact that we, as people, can build things up and create walls between us and God that are not there…..and Jesus came to BREAK DOWN THOSE WALLS.

 

He stood in vision of this scene and could not stand to watch it any longer:

 

Jesus brings a new message….and it is as true today as it was the day that He cleared out the temple:

 

 

  • You are UNCOMMON…Even Extraordinary.  You belong to Him and that makes you more than anyone who could be defined as great by any measure in a man’s heart.
  • You are VALUABLE.  You don’t need to exchange your money at an unfair exchange rate to somehow attain your value.  Your treasures are in heaven.
  • You are GOOD ENOUGH.  Never does He devalue who you or what you are….He is simply calling you to Him…..for in Him is your peace and value.
  • There are not levels of prestige.  There is simply God who loves us….and us.
  • Thy Kingdom Come is our destiny.  Not government, not law, not money…..but God bringing peace, hope, and love to all.
  • Your standing is with God.  Your citizenship is in heaven and your future is set.

 

 

 

Jesus has claimed the right to your destiny.  He has bought you at a price.  He has put value on your life and given you standing.  There is no level of purity or righteousness…..just a God who left heaven and came to earth to proclaim His kingdom and rescue His people…….

 

And all who saw Him that day in the temple backed away in awe and reverence.  There would be no standing up to Him that day or ANY day when He did not allow it.  He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  And when He gave His life—-He did it on His own terms and of His own choosing on a cross on Calvary some 2000 years ago…..claiming that it was “PAID IN FULL” to seal it with His blood.

 

So when you come to the “temple on the Passover”….bring yourself and yourself only.  You don’t need money or a perfect animal or a resume of all that you’ve done or a certain level of accomplishment.  You don’t need anything but a soft and teachable heart……….that would say to Him:

 

“Lord Jesus….You and You alone….Hold the keys to eternal life.”

 

 

 

 

In The Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

 

 

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Coach J