Jesus Cleans House: Initial Observations

I get to preach on the cleansing of the Temple from John 2 this Sunday and I thought it might be fun and helpful to post some initial observations from the text. Personally I'm curious to look back on this after Sunday to see how it develops (especially the applications points).


What is John trying to show us in this story?
1. Jesus is in Charge of Worship
"In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade” (John 2:13-16).


What outrages Jesus exactly? Jesus comes to celebrate the Passover in Jerusalem and, when he arrives at the Temple, he sees that instead of focused, reverent worship he sees trade and business. I've heard it summarized something like this before, "Under a cloak of religious concern is a supreme dedication to the accumulation of wealth." In other words, God is being used for the sake of man's greed.


Turn on the "Christian" television station and, I daresay, this is what you'll see. Stadiums full of eager worshippers and faithful givers being told to "sow their seeds of faith" so that God will do great things in their lives all the while the preacher's gold cuff-links, designer suits, luxury cars and private jets betray what he's really asking.


2. Jesus' Resurrection Testifies to His Authority
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken (John 2:18-22).


Rather than consider whether worship has indeed been corrupted by their greed they evade the issue and challenge Jesus' authority. This is classic human behavior. My conscience bears witness that I am in the wrong and this person has exposed it. What's the quickest way for me to get out of this? Discredit the one who exposed me, of course. If I can challenge the authority and integrity of this person, his accusation will not stick.
Jesus' own testimony and John's emphasis is that the guy who rose from the dead, never to die again, has no challengers. If you want a sign, Jesus says, as to why I have the authority to do these things just wait. Speaking figuratively of his own body, Jesus says if you were to tear down this temple (which they will do) I will raise it up (which he does). If I have authority over death, I have authority over you.


What do you and I do to evade Jesus' authority? Tell me if any of this sounds familiar:

• I'll be sure and investigate Jesus' claims and give Christianity a chance....someday.
• I'll come to Jesus once I have this or that straightened out in my life.
• I think Jesus was a good man, even a moral example we should all follow...I'm just not convinced he was God.
• I think Jesus is like every other great philosopher/religious figure in history.
• I like what Jesus says about "this" but not "that".

3. Jesus is Zealous for the Glory of God
His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me” (John 2:17).
The criticism is clear: You don't have the authority to do what you've just done.
It's interesting that the disciples remember Psalm 69:9 when reflecting on this moment, 

"For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me."

In other words those who hate you, hate me because of how zealous I am for you. Jesus sees that people, under a cloak of religiosity, are being distracted from what is ultimately valuable, namely God. I love the way the King James translates this verse. It says, "Zeal for your house hath eaten me up." 
David is "eaten up" with Zeal for the praises of God and this results in the reproach of those who do not have the same adoration for God. John returns to this point repeatedly throughout John so that you and I know would know what life is all about: the glory of God. 

"I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed" 

(John 17:4-5).

Even if we say this is also our concern, sometimes our lives betray that it isn't and I think so much of what we live in trains us in the opposite direction. I think right now, the cultural bent appeals to the sin in our hearts to make things all about us rather than him. We bear this out in a variety of ways within a worship setting.
Signs we may be making worship about us:

• I don't like any of the songs.
• I'm bored easily.
• I feel like it was too long (even though I have the patience to endure 3 hours of football).
• I think about lunch...alot.
• I'm upset by noisy children or the "irresponsible parents" of noisy children.
• I like to criticize and advise the ministries in the church without taking any responsibility for them.
• I'm more concerned about being greeted than greeting others.
• I'm not sure how the sermon applies to me (NOTE: This thought may in fact occur because of bad preaching, but not always. Even bad preaching, if it's based on the Bible, can benefit everyone because it is God's word.)

4. Jesus' Resurrection & Authority Warrant our Believe 
"When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken" (John 2:22).
Let us behold and believe the risen Son of God and by believing have life in His name!