The Gospel of John: John 2.13-25

Read and meditate on John 2.16, 17.
We’ve all seen those athletes boasting about how they intend to defend their “house” against anyone who tries to get a victory there: “Not in my house!” I suppose such zeal is laudable. How much more laudable is Jesus’ zeal for His Father’s house! And what about us?

¹⁶He said to those who sold the doves, “Now take
these things away from here! And do not make
My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
¹⁷(His followers would remember with surprise
that it was written: “Zeal consumes Me for
My Father’s house.”)

- John 2.16, 17

Reflect
1.  I get the impression Jesus not only intended to create some chaos, but to clear the temple of this practice, at least for the present. He meant for the temple precincts not only to be disturbed, but cleansed. Is there a lesson here for any sin Jesus might find in our hearts? Complete this prayer: Search me, O Lord, and know my thoughts and my heart, and…

2.  Jesus was said to have zeal for His Father’s house. What kind of affection is zeal? What would it look like for us to have zeal for the Lord’s house? Our Father in heaven, all around You everything cries, “Glory!” (Ps. 29.9) How can I show zeal for You and for Your house today, when I…

3.  John opened his gospel with a barrage of bold statements about Who Jesus is. Can you recall them all? Beginning at the end of chapter 1, he begins to bolster those claims in a variety of ways, laying down a track of allusions and referents. First, seeing Nathanael from afar, and appropriating Jacob’s vision for Himself. Then water to wine. Now this reference to Psalm 69.9. Look up Psalm 69.5-10. What about that psalm would have caused John and the others to recall this incident? Show Me, Lord, in all of Scripture, how You…

4.  Jesus said, “My Father’s house…” Why didn’t He say, “Our Father’s house?” Was He claiming something specific about Himself? Or trying to get people to think of Him in some special way? I know You, Jesus, to be the Son of God because…

5. What does Jesus suggest in this incident about what it takes to keep God’s “house” in proper working order? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you wrote for questions 1-4.

Summary
“He did not merely ‘cast them out’ but also ‘overturned the tables’ and ‘poured out the money,’ so that they could see how someone who threw himself into such danger for the good order of the house could never despise his master. If he had acted out of hypocrisy, he would have only advised them, but to place himself in such danger was very daring. It was no small thing to offer himself to the anger of so many market people or to excite against himself a most brutal mob of petty dealers by his reproaches and the disruption he caused. This was not, in other words, the action of a pretender but of one choosing to suffer everything for the order of the house.” John Chrysostom (344-407 AD)

Do you ever feel like a “pretender” about your faith? How does Jesus’ action in this situation counsel us to be not pretenders, but ready sufferers for the Gospel and our King?

Closing Prayer
Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O LORD, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.

Psalm 40.5-10

Psalm 40.4-10 (Dix: For the Beauty of the Earth)
Blessed are all who trust in You, turning both from lies and pride.
Countless wonders, Lord, You do, and Your thoughts with us abide.
Lord, Your worth who can declare? None with You can e’er compare.

Off’rings You do not require – open now my ears, O Lord.
What from me do You desire? Firm delight to do Your Word.
Take my life in ev’ry part; write Your Law upon my heart.

Lord, Your truth will I proclaim to Your people gathered ‘round.
Nor will I my lips restrain – let Your precious ways resound!
Of Your saving grace and Word I would speak, most loving Lord!

T. M. Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV a and b: John, edited by Joel C. Elowsky, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006. Verse translation of John by T. M. Moore.