John 2: 13-22
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 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!”
His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”
The Jews replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it up in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After 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.
A Thought
The Jewish Passover was to be a time of cleansing, blood sacrifies, remembering their freedom from slavery and the saving of their firstborn by the blood placed over their doorpost. It appears that over a period of time, corruption had entered the hearts of those in the temple by making it a market place for personal financial gain instead of a time of worship. Jesus, seeing what was in their hearts, was overcome with zeal as he ran out the animals and the money changers. The Jews, who look for signs, demanded to know by what his authority he did these things. Jesus, knowing the things that had to be accomplished, spoke of his death and resurrection. These words of Scripture that were spoken by Jesus, were recalled and believed by the disciples after his resurrection. Do you believe in the blood sacrifice?
Our Prayer
Father help us to fully understand and believe the message of the cross. Jesus paid the price of our sin with his bloody death and with the power of the resurrection that we may be fully restored in a right relationship with you. Open the eyes of our heart that we may accept our forgiveness found only in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, amen.
