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.
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.
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