The Gospel of John: John 2.13-25

Read and meditate on John 2.23-25.
Jesus’ first forays into the public square show the broad scope of His grace and power. He is the gentle Savior, Who condescends to meet even our most mundane needs – as for wine at a wedding. And He is the righteous and fearsome Son of God, Who will not stand by while His Father’s house or Name are dishonored. He is Jesus to be loved, and Jesus to be feared. Both at the same time.

¹³Now when the Passover of the Jews was near,
then Jesus went to Jerusalem, ¹⁴and there
He found within the temple many who
were selling oxen, sheep, and doves unto
the pilgrims who had come to worship – and
the money-changers, working at their stand.
¹⁵He made a whip of cords, and drove them all
out of the temple, tearing down each stall
and pouring out the money that He found,
and turning all their tables upside-down.
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.”)
                                 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.” ²⁰The Jews said, “It has been
now nearly fifty years since men began
to build this temple, and You will in three
days raise it up?” ²¹They did not know that He
was speaking to them of His body. ²²His
disciples would recall that He said this,
when, later, He had risen from the dead.
Then they believed the word which Jesus said,
and all the Scriptures.
                                   ²³Now when He was in
Jerusalem for Passover, and when
the people saw the signs which He had done,
then many in His Name believed. ²⁴To none
of them did Jesus trust Himself, for He 
knew every man, ²⁵and Jesus had no need
for anyone to tell Him what was in 
the heart of man, for He knew every man.

- John 2.13-25

Reflect
1.  John is giving us some lessons on discipleship in this story. We begin to understand who is and who isn’t a true disciple, and how disciples think about Jesus and what it means to follow Him. Explain. Complete this prayer: Lord, I know my discipleship is constantly before You. When You look on me, Lord, and on my heart, I pray that You will see…

2.  This story carries some lessons about faith and culture as well. Holy days, sacred places, commerce, tools (such as a whip) – these are all aspects of culture, and Jesus interacts with each of them. Can culture be a means of glorifying God? Explain. Lord, I’m involved in culture all day long! So I…

3.  The Christian life involves three “looks.” The Christian is always looking back, looking ahead, and looking around. How can you see this in our passage for this week? To what do believers look back? To what do we look ahead? With what eyes do we look around? Give me clear vision, Lord, to see my life as…

4.  Suppose you are reading the Gospel of John with an unbelieving friend, and he is alarmed by Jesus’ use of violence in this passage. How would you explain this to help your friend see Jesus properly, and not just as some self-righteous hooligan? Give me understanding, Lord, into Your priorities and how these play out…

5.  Jesus walked into the temple. Upon surveying the situation, what did He understand? How did this make Him feel? And what priorities did this pique in His conscience? Meditate on the way mind, heart, and conscience interact to generate actions. How can we make sure our actions are consistent with the will of Christ? Bring together into one prayer the prayers you composed for questions 1-4.

Summary
“Christ does not yet commit himself to such novices, showing that affinity with God is a great thing and most worthy of love. It does not just lie there before those who want to have it but is achieved by an intense desire for good, along with diligence and time. Let the stewards of the mysteries of the Savior learn then not to suddenly admit just anyone within the sacred veils or to permit them to approach the divine tables who are neophytes who might be untimely baptized and importunely believing on Christ the Lord of all. As an example to us in this also in teaching us whom rightly to initiate, he indeed receives the believers but is seen not yet to have confidence in them in that he does not commit himself to them, making clear that it is only right that novices spend no small time under instruction, for rarely even then will they become faithful.” Cyril of Alexandria (375-444 AD)

Imagine how shocked Jesus’ disciples must have been at this display. They had only seen Jesus as a mysterious, quiet, behind-the-scenes, gentle Messiah. Then this. How would you have responded? Would your faith in Jesus have been strengthened, or would you have hesitated to continue following Him? Explain.

Closing Prayer
For the LORD has chosen Zion;
He has desired itfor His dwelling place:
“This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provision;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
And her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
There I will make the horn of David grow;
I will prepare a lamp for My Anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
But upon Himself His crown shall flourish.”

Psalm 132.13-18

Psalm 132.13-18 (Finlandia: Be Still My Soul)
God dwells among us, and He will forever,
To meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior,
And made us His eternal resting-place.
His foes are banished from His presence ever,
But we shall reign with Him before His face.

T. M. Moore

Visit The Ailbe Seminary, where our course, One in Twelve: Introduction to Christian Worldview, can show you how Jesus is central to all aspects of life in the world – and beyond! Our course is free, and you can study at your own pace, watching videos and using the free materials provided.

We are happy to offer each week’s Scriptorium studies in a free weekly PDF, suitable for personal or group use. You can download all the studies in our series on the Gospel of John by clicking here. Please prayerfully consider sharing with The Fellowship of Ailbe through your giving. You can contribute to The Fellowship by clicking the Contribute button at the website or by sending your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Drive, Essex Junction, VT 05452.

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.