Click Here to Read John 2:13-25
An Unusual Day in the Temple
I imagine that Jesus’ actions in the temple that day raised a lot of eyebrows. The rumors must’ve been flying, the comments a mixture of wonder and criticism. Who had ever come into the temple, overturned tables, and whipped merchants? Merchants in the temple courts?
Another Kind of Aroma
The habit of selling animals and changing coinage began as a convenience for worshippers to buy the animals needed for sacrifice. It started in the city, but turned profane when it moved into the temple courts. The purpose of the temple was prayer, worship, and sacrifice—not business.
Not only had the merchants turned the temple courts into a currency exchange, they had turned it into a barn. Herd animals urinate and defecate at random, attracting all manner of flies, parasites, and vermin. The floor of the temple courts was covered with filth. The pleasant aroma of incense wafting heavenward from the altar of incense (signifying prayers) was replaced with the smell of a feed lot.
Incensed (no pun intended), Jesus fashioned a whip made of several cords and drove the oxen and sheep out, along with those who were selling pigeons (with their caged pigeons).
The disciples recognized the prophetic significance of his actions. “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me1.’”
Demand for a Sign
Jesus provoked his adversaries. They pushed back.
“What sign do you show us for doing these things?” They wanted proof his authority to regulate the temple was greater than theirs.
Significantly, this happened during Passover2, the festival commemorating the night that every home in Goshen marked with the blood of a lamb was spared the death of the firstborn of that household.
An Indignant Savior
Jesus, God incarnate, responded prophetically.
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” While they thought that he meant Herod’s temple, he was speaking of his body. He was referring to sacrifice, atonement, and resurrection.
While fathers were recounting the story of lamb’s blood on the lintels and doorposts in Goshen to their children, Jesus pointed them back to the words of John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” His blood would not be spread upon doorposts, but would carried into the holy places in Heaven.
“… He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”3
John reports that “many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he [Jesus] was doing.”
When I was younger I was a straight arrow. I depended upon the knowledge that if I just lived by certain principles I’d be “in”. However, in these later years, I see things a bit differently. Usually within the first few minutes after waking each day, the thought crosses my mind that if Jesus doesn’t save me, I cannot be saved. I cannot carry a sack full of merits into the Holy Place and exchange them for salvation or redemption. I must trust that Jesus himself will walk into the holy places with and by his own blood to make atonement for my sin and rebellion.
Questions for reflection:
- Who or what do I believe will make my life whole or complete?
- What role does prayer and worship play in my life?
- Who do I believe Jesus to be? Does my belief correspond to what we see written in this passage?