Devotional - June 1, 2002

Passage To Study:

John 2:13-22

[13] Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [14] And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. [15] When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. [16] And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!” [17] Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” [18] So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” [19] Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” [20] Then the Jews 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 of the temple of His body. [22] Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

What are the facts of the passage?:

(Verse 13) In observation of the Law Christ goes to Jerusalem to Celebrate the Passover.
(Verse 14) Jesus finds the Temple full of money changers.
(Verse 15-16) He cleanses the Temple by physically driving them out.
(Verse 17) The disciples remember what the OT said about the Servant of the Lord.
(Verse 18) The leaders question His authority to do such a thing.
(Verse 19-21) Christ responds by giving a prophecy of His death and resurrection.
(Verse 22) His disciples remembered this prophecy after He was crucified and believed.

What do those facts mean?:

This carries on in the same vein as the previous passage. God was done with Judaism and the condition of Temple is illustrative of the condition of Judaism at the time. The commentary on the condition of Judaism is verified by the death and especially the resurrection of Christ. God cleansed the real Temple by means of the blood of Christ.

How do those facts apply to my life?:

My faith and trust must be in the right thing, not in the traditions of men. I should be careful to remember that religion can make people sanction horrible things.

What should I do in response?:

Be sure that my own religious experience is clear and pure - not just an expression of the religious traditions of man.

Day

The Cleansing of the Temple