John 2:13-22 Cleansing of the Church
John 2:13-22 Cleansing of the Church
The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty- six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:13-22
Background
What is the Passover? The Jewish people celebrate the Passover to commemorate the miraculous deliverance that resulted in their liberation from slavery over 3,300 years before. When the Pharaoh freed the Israelites, they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for the bread dough to rise (leaven). To celebrate the faithfulness of God in liberating the Israelites from Egypt, no leavened bread will be eaten during the feast (Leviticus 23:5). The Passover is one of the three pilgrimage festivals where the Jews make their way to Jerusalem.
Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the Passover celebrations as required of every male. Upon entering the temple, He was appalled by what went on at the temple compound. The temple is to be a place where people draw near to God to hear teachings of the scriptures and receive forgiveness of sin. Therefore, the temple serves two functions: To teach God’s word to the people and to forgive sins. He found people selling animal sacrifices and religious accessories within the compound. For there was no reverence for God, but greed. On one hand, the religious leaders, the priests and teachers of the law have no piety towards God. It was not just the inappropriateness of the activities, but the state of decay of the religious institution. The religious establishment have lost the purpose of its existence; that is to teach the word and to bring the people to God through repentance and forgiveness of sins.
Jesus’s zealous response that disrupted the commercial activities spoke of the urgent need for change and the impending judgment of the church. What would Jesus’s response be if He enters our church today?
Observations
1. Jesus saw the commercial activities in the temple and wasted no time by making a whip to drive out those who traded in the temple court. His actions were disruptive and confrontational against the religious leaders that oversaw the temple operations. Jesus said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” Jesus’s words further revealed His jealousy over the state of His Father’s church. So protective was He that He would risk alienating the religious leaders so early in His ministry. What Jesus felt could be likened to one coming back home to a band of thieves ransacking His house.
2. Jesus affectionately called the temple, “My Father’s house” implying that God was His Father. During those days, anyone calling God “Father” makes himself equal with God. Jesus through His words reinforced His authority as God coming to cleanse and to sanctify His people. Hence, the religious leaders said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” They challenged Jesus to produce a miraculous sign so as to prove Himself as God.
3. Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus was actually referring not to the physical temple structure but to His own body. Jesus meant that His authority as God would be revealed when He dies and resurrects in three days. After which, Jesus will be that living temple comprising true worshippers of God. When this comes to pass, the physical temple building with its priestly order and sacrifices will be done away with. The Jews’ reply showed themselves as being oblivious to this truth for Jesus had meant it only for His disciples to hear.
Truth
The primary functions of the church is to teach the Word and to sanctify God’s people through the Holy Spirit.
It is also a place where people encounter the God of love and truth. A church that is pleasing to God is one that teaches the Word accurately and by the Spirit sanctify the people to serve God. The teaching of the Word transforms the mindset, which in turn transforms behavior. The response that Jesus displayed at the temple showed His zeal to preserve the church’s function and character.
Christ is the head of the church and He holds absolute authority as to how the church should be run.
Paul taught concerning the role of Christ is the church, “He (Jesus) is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.” Colossians 1:18. The Spirit of Christ is the unseen head of every local church. Hence, church leaders have to be constantly filled with His Spirit so that they may lead with divine truth and grace. The church’s vision and her works must be aligned with all that Jesus taught in the word. As Jesus single-mindedly taught and sanctified the people of His time, the church must do the same.
Christ’s body, which served as the temple, is the church.
Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:12 taught, “For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.” The temple, which is Christ’s body, is now referred to as the church comprising the body of believers. Hence, the temple, which is the church serves two functions namely, the impartation of truth and grace. Through the church, believers will be taught the Word and empowered to live victorious through the grace of the Spirit. Thus, we as members of the church carry a responsibility to encourage one another in the truth and to impart grace.
That said, we as members must never use the church as a means to further our selfish agenda. Some come to the church for the sole purpose of receiving help to solve their problems while refusing to repent of their errant ways. Others come to expand their business and social network or to fulfill their fleshly ambitions. The church must purity her vision and programmes continually to teach the truth and to sanctify the people.
Application
1. Feed on the Word, not just listen to sermons. The Spirit primarily speaks directly to individuals on a daily basis. Sunday sermons are meant only to give the church direction and a timely word. Get yourself familiarised with the methods of bible study so that you could learn to feed on the Word directly.
2. Feed on His grace by connecting with God’s mind and passions. The Word reveals God’s mind, so that we could relate with Him as a person. As the Holy Spirit carries all the qualities of Jesus Christ, we can connect with the Spirit in the same way as the 12 disciples connected with Christ.
3. As members of Christ body, we speak to one another in truth and grace. During group discussions or conflict resolution, it is important to speak the truth in a way that is clear and yet unimposing. In other words, to tell the truth without ambiguity, while depending on God to work His grace. Members must also learn to honour one another by building trust and by respecting the structure of authority within the organisation.
Dear Lord, fill Your church with Your grace and truth. So that Your church may grow in becoming more like Jesus in His love and truth. Transform me to become a person that others could see the truth and the love of God. Use me to be a source of encouragement, to bring out the best in others. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.