1/16/14- Destroy This Temple John 2

18The Jews then responded to him, “What 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.”

20They 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 Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.^d 24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Thoughts: Authority is backed up by power.  How could Jesus cleanse the Temple, when the Temple authorities had approved the exchanging of money and animals in the Temple,  Jesus was saying He would cleanse the Temple ultimately by destroying it and rebuilding it.  The Temple was destroyed within a generation of Jesus' death- in 70 AD.  This destruction was one of Jesus' great prophesies that even non-Christians recognized that he made.  In part, this prophecy was the reason for the crucifixion (Mt. 27:40).
     The Temple was the physical representation of the presence of God.  Jesus was also, Christians believe, the physical representative of God on earth.  So in this sense, verses 21 and 22 are a true interpretation of His words.  There are many who feel if the Temple were to ever be rebuilt, the Lord of the Temple will come again.
       This passage ends with Jesus not trusting the vote or popularity of the people.  People would believe in Him for a moment and then betray Him as they did between Palm Sunday and Good Friday.  The crowds showed they were fickle- one day proclaiming Him King and the next shouting for His crucifixion.  Jesus did not need the popular acclaim of people for He is God.  He knew how one minute people express devotion to God and the next the people would turn away.  He knew how fickle our hearts are.  He remained true to Himself and true to the Father. 

Prayer: Lord, my heart is fickle, but draw me to yourself.  Help me to listen and submit to your authority.  

   

1/15/14- Jesus in the Temple

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 people 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 courts, 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! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Thoughts: John writes history, but he writes the stories of Jesus grouped by ideas more than by annual chronicle.  After the turning of water into wine Jesus went to another town in Galilee, Capernaum, which became Jesus' headquarters.  But then John begins to talk of Jesus cleansing the Temple at the Passover, which is recorded in the other Gospels is at the end of Jesus' ministry.
     In chapter 1 Jesus is portrayed as God and as the Messiah- the anointed one- king and prophet. In chapter 2 Jesus turns water into wine and cleanses the Temple.  Jesus is promoting a change to a better life- joy and pure religion go together.  Instead of plain water there is wine; instead of greed in the Temple, there is cleansing.  Jesus cares that we have joy, and cares that our religion is pure in heart, not just full of external show.  Jesus shows time and again he is not so concerned about doing the showy things, but in doing the right things from the heart. 

Prayer: Lord, let my heart be right with you that I might have the joy of your presence. 

(El Greco)

1-14-14 John 2

8Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, 9and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

11What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.  (John 2:8-11)

 

Thoughts: This passage tells us that the miracle of Jesus was real- they could taste it (it wasn't just food coloring).  The Master of the Banquet was the taste-tester.  It was only through him that the rest of the wedding could get to the miracle of the wine.  He was most impressed- not with the miracle (which he probably didn't know about at the point of this passage), but because the wine was great.  Jesus not only makes the plain unplain-- He makes the plain extraordinary!  This miracle was the first of many.  Its effect was not to wow the audience, but to encourage people to follow Him.  The disciples believed in Him and followed Him.  We should too.

 

Prayer: Lord, change my plain life into an extraordinary one. 

 

(first century stone jars)