The Gospel of John: John 2.13-25

Read and meditate on John 2.18, 19.
Jesus casts everything people know and understand in a new light, a light that emanates from Himself, the Light of life and Light of the world. We’ll need a new idea about the dwelling-place of God, now that Jesus has come.

                                ¹⁸And then the Jews stood forth
and answered saying, “What sign do You show
us, since You do these things, that we might know
Your right to do so?” ¹⁹Jesus then replied,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I
will raise it up.”

- John 2.18, 19

Reflect
1.  The Jews are looking for credentials: Who authorized this chaos? They demand a sign, which would indicate Jesus had some prophetic authorization to act as He did. But really, they demanded a sign so that they would have something to render a judgment about concerning Jesus. They were trying to establish themselves as authorized to judge Jesus’ actions. They sought to make Jesus compliant to their agenda. Do we ever do anything like this? Do we ever try to get Jesus to do our bidding? Complete this prayer: Lord, how can I know when I might be…

2.  The very mention of destroying the temple would stick in the craws of those Jewish leaders. The temple was Israel’s most sacred place. Even to think about destroying it, much less to utter the idea publicly, was scandalous. They would make Jesus pay for that remark. But was Jesus talking about the temple in Jerusalem? Is there a sense of “dare ya” to Jesus’ response? Does Jesus know what lies ahead for Him? Explain. Lord, Yours is an indestructible life, and I share that life because I my life is hidden with You. Give me boldness today, Lord, so that…

3.  It is clear Jesus knows where all this is heading. Why should He mention this being raised up “in three days” at this early point in His ministry? And why did John think it was important to include at this point in his story? Lord Jesus, You know everything. You know where my life is heading, so let me live my life…

4.  The Jews demanded a sign, and Jesus offered one. But they would have to wait for the outworking of that sign. Sometimes we must wait for the promises of the Lord as well. The Jews had to wait for this sign, but they missed it when it came. Why? What can we do, as we wait for the promises of the Lord, to make sure we don’t miss anything He might be doing in our lives each day? Show me Your glory, Lord, and let me realize Your promises as I…

5.  This whole incident is fraught with so many emotions. It has a comic element to it, even though it is a violent scene. Jesus’ boldness and firmness create a sense of fear, while the demands of the Jews’ and Jesus’ response raise an ominous tone. How do these various affections contribute to our understanding of and faith in Jesus?  Bring together into one your prayers from questions 1-4.

Summary
“He then is eaten up with zeal for God’s house who desires to correct all that he sees wrong there. And if he cannot correct it, he endures and mourns.… Let the zeal for God’s house consume every Christian wherever he or she is a member.… In your house you busy yourself in trying to prevent things going wrong. In the house of God, where salvation is offered, ought you to be indifferent?… Do you have a friend? Admonish him gently; a wife or husband? Admonish them too.… Do what you are able, according to your station.” Augustine (354-430 AD)

Jesus often answered people’s questions in a way deliberately designed to confuse them, as we see here. Jesus lived and spoke and did what He did with a view to the glory He knew was coming later during His earthly sojourn. There is good advice in this for us (cf. 1 Jn. 3.1-3). Explain.

Closing Prayer
Oh, do not remember former iniquities against us!
Let Your tender mercies come speedily to meet us,
For we have been brought very low.
Help us, O God of our salvation,
For the glory of Your name;
And deliver us, and provide atonement for our sins,
For Your name's sake!
Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?”

Psalm 79.8-10

Psalm 79.6-11 (Passion Chorale: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded)
Pour out, O Lord, Your wrath on all who deny Your Name;
Who trust You not nor seek You, bring down to deepest shame!
For they have with great rancor Your precious saints devoured;
Lay waste their habitation at this late dreadful hour.

Why should the nations mock and say, “Where now is their God?”
Let there be known among them harsh vengeance for our blood!
Hear, Lord, our groans and sighing; preserve us by Your pow’r,
For we are fairly dying each day and hour by hour.

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.