The True Temple
John 2:13–22
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
⸻SEE IT (what do you see God saying and transforming?)
Why do you think the temple priests allowed the market to be in the outer court of the gentiles? What does this say about their view of themselves and their view of the gentiles?
What does it mean to you to see Jesus so consumed by zeal for His Father’s House that he would drive out people and animals with a whip and flip over tables?
Jesus says that if they destroy the temple, he will raise it again in three days. What does it mean that Jesus is declaring himself to be the new temple of God?
⸻BE IT (what is God calling us to do about it?)
Are there places in your life where you compartmentalize holiness? What would it look like if you surrendered every part of your life to God? Who would see God’s love in you for the first time?
The temple leaders and merchants were so comfortable with how they were disgracing God’s dwelling place, that they set up tables. Are there any places in your life that you have allowed compromise to become comfortable? What tables do you need to allow God to flip in your heart and mind so that you can experience complete transformation?
Through the Holy Spirit, we are now the dwelling place of God. The temple was always meant to connect people to the love and transformation of God. Do you see the church living that out today? How can we better be walking vessels of God’s love, demonstrating His Kingdom way to the earth?