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Here’s our text for the week:
John 2:12-25
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days. When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men 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 area, 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! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."
Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous 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." The Jews 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.
Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man’s testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.
What is the point of this passage? How would you summarize it? How does it fit with the entire Gospel?
Why is Jesus angry? How does his anger make you feel about him?
What is the response of the disciples to his actions?
What is the response of the "Jews"?
What do you think the last paragraph means?
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What else is going on in your world?
18 comments:
Here are some really good words from the Psalms.
Psalm 56:4
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
Psalm 56:11
In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6
The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
I think of these words in light of what Jesus says in John 16:33
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Such a world view, ulimited, abundant, and eternal, is where we are led when we see the "signs" of Jesus, starting with the water to wine.
Did you notice our text this week also speaks of "signs"? These also lead people to believe.
We had another interesting discussion in our class, taught by Duane and me, this morning. We talked some about suffering being tied to God’s discipline. We need to be careful though, because not everything that happens is something that God desires for us. But he can use it for our betterment, right?
I think any problem can be examined and interpreted in various ways. I think suffering and problems are mysterious; we just don’t know why some things happen. What we do know is that God is redemptive, i.e., he works in our situations and struggles to bring good from them, ultimately, I presume, to bring glory to himself.
These words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 are amazing:
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
And don’t forget these very familiar words, found in Romans 8:28:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
But notice the next few words (vs. 29):
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Do you see a theme?
When we suffer in various ways, including insults, we have the opportunity to draw closer to God, following in the steps of Jesus. It’s all about trust, which is the essence of faith.
1 Peter 2:21-23
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
What a great evening! We honored several graduates tonight, and more than 200 people showed up to help. Marc Fields did an outstanding job, just like he used to, and Brent Fields had some very good, kind, and encouraging words as well.
I think I have heard Jesus anger with the moneychanges described as 'righteous indignation'. The moneychangers were there to exchange Roman coins which were OK for everyday activities and needs but according to the priests not acceptable in temple worship. If I understand this correctly, they would get Jewish coins from the priests then scam the Jews at the table with their shady exchanges and then when they returned the Roman money to the priest they short changed the priests too. They were double dipping and stealing from God's people. Dishonesty and the fact they were using God in the process speaks volumes and it did to Jesus too. In last weeks lesson we saw the power Jesus had over nature. This week we see His authority and his dislike for sin. It angers me too when I see someone being taken advantage of. Honesty is always the best policy even when it hurts. Being honest with ourselves might be the hardest part. Jesus came as an example of right judgement. There are just some things we have to stand up to and be counted in a firm but kind and positive way. And if the Lord is with us, and He is, we have nothing to fear. What can man do to me. He can take my life, but not my soul. He gives us peace. Have a wonderful week. Sherron
You remember how, yesterday, I compared the world view of the banquet’s master with that of the disciples?
The Master of Banquet knows what he knows. He smells. He tastes. It’s amazingly good wine, and so he goes to the groom and says, “Why did you hold out on us?” He assumes, using his knowledge of the way the world works, that the wine has been there the whole time, hidden and held out.
But the servants and the disciples know otherwise. They know where the water came from, and they know that somehow, someway Jesus changed it into fine wine. Their eyes widen. Their jaws drop. They stand in awe of his majesty and might.
Then a little later I said this:
This story is encouraging us to leave the world view of the Master of the Banquet, who reasons according to worldly knowledge of limitations, and it encourages us to take the view of the disciples who simply see the sign and believe, changing their world view into a Kingdom view of abundance.
Here’s what I wish I would have said in part of the application.
It’s amazing that Christians often attribute good things that happen to them to as “luck”!
I am not sure we still get what has happened. The power of the Almighty God is available to us! This gives us a new world view, which is really a Kingdom view.
We aren't "lucky," we are blessed with abundant life through Jesus.
Great insight, Sherron, as usual!
The more I know you the more I appreciate you and your wisdom.
And thanks for the breaking the ice with our new blogging system. I hope some of the rest of you will jump in!
I love this quote from Luke Timothy Johnson. It is found in The Creed, page 101.
Christians need to begin by insisting, first of all to themselves, then to each other, and finally to the world, that faith itself is a way of knowing reality. They need to insist that faith establishes contact with reality in a way different from, but no less real than, the very limited (though, in their fashion, extremely impressive) ways of knowing by which the wheels of the world’s empirical engine are kept spinning. Christians need as well to cultivate practices that reveal and reinforce perceptions of the world that include “things invisible” as much as “things visible.”
I think this fits beautifully with the disciples in yesterday's story.
We had an interesting day down at the old BHRP corn barn today. The semi was late, yet again, but it was ok.
Nick Mullis from Campus Life brought a great group of hard working teens, so it made the job much easier. Nobe, Luke, Ben, me, and a bunch of older fellows also helped out.
Included in this load, destined to Honduras, was about a dozen television sets. I don't know why, really. We packed and stacked corn all around them. I felt like were smuggling something, but I don't think that was the case.
I love the BHRP ministry - feeding some of the hungriest people in the world.
Today I got a note from Mike in Iraq.
Here part of it:
The other day I saw a commercial Iraqi truck driver outside of our base with the name of Jesus written in large letters across the top of his windshield. That is a very dangerous thing for an Iraqi to do.
Can you imagine this? This Iraqi brother has clearly seen the signs and believed. Wow! Boldness!
Mike asks that we pray for this truck driver, and please continue praying for Mike.
Howdy.. You mentioned the word lucky. I use the word different than the world. I still feel lucky when good things happen. knowing that God is the one who granted the luck. Basically because when we pray and ask for certain happenings, not material things but spiritual things we don't always get them at least the way we ask. And yes I know it's His timing and all. but my point is we are still lucky simply because when he does answer them at least the way our minds think, we are lucky. kinda like praying for rain in the dry summer, and then finally when it comes a couple weeks later, we're Lucky.. it's all just word play.. luck=blessings.. What gets my goat is when the world see's luck/blessings as coincidence. IMO that word coincidence should be used rarely because it gives little or no credit to God.. anyway you all have a good day..
Jon Goller
Hey Jon, thanks for the post. I see what you're saying. I like the old sign saying:
A coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.
We sure appreciate you and Becky and are praying for you during an emotionally active time of your life together.
I was in Nashville last week. I went there to attend Lipscomb’s Mission Banquet. I spoke a little about “missions past” at Lipscomb. I guess that means I am getting old? Anyway it was a wonderful evening. I sat next to Earl Lavendar on one side and the President of Lipscomb, Randy Lowry, on the other side. You would have been proud of me: I didn’t spill anything, use the wrong fork, or say anything stupid (that I know of). All in all not a bad night for me! Ha ha. In addition to the banquet I got to spend some great quality time with Earl and spoke in one of his graduate classes, telling some about the MCOC.
While at Lipscomb I ran into Gary Holloway. You remember him? He is the Lipscomb professor who met us at Cane Ridge. It was great to see him. I ended up with one of his new books, Daily Disciple - a One Year Devotional Guide. It is available from Leafwood Publishers. I really enjoyed today’s entry:
PSALM - Psalm 37:3,4
Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
MEDITATION - J.H. Garrison, Alone with God, 41.
That is to say, every disciple of Christ, in his measure, is to be a divine incarnation–an embodiment of the grace and virtues, and of that quality of life and character which belong to God.
SCRIPTURE - Colossians 1:27-29
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. It is he whom we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone in all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil and struggle with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me.
Loved Jon's blog. Speaking of luck, blessings and providence of God. I spoke this morning with my best friend from school, neighbor and fellow Christian who lives in Sedley Virginia. She was very near the tornadoes last night. It missed them but her daughter Linda was on her way home from work when she felt objects hitting her car and saw the tornado. She quickly pulled into a YMCA and took shelter. She called her husband Steve who was on his way to pick up their children in an after school program. The school they go to was hit but the children were in another building and were taking shelter in the basement, safe but scared. It hit a block away. God is good. Linda stopped and prayed as she neared the Y. Have a great day. Sherron
Here is what somebody suggested for a sermon title this week:
JC Rocks the Temple - Let's get Ready to Rumble
This same person thought last Sunday's title should have been:
"Wedding Crashers" Jesus and The Boys Party Down with the Locals
And now you know why I select my own titles. Yes, mine may be boring, but at least they don't invite lightning bolts. ha ha
I’ve only been able to see a little of it, but I would love to watch all of Ax Men, a “reality show” about some loggers. It’s kinda like the popular Ice Road Truckers. Both of these shows appeal mostly to men, I think. I think I could enjoy both jobs for a while.
The problem with these shows and so many others is the excessive “bleeping” that replaces the prolific profanity. No, I don’t really want to hear the actually words either. Is the use of profanity on the rise? It’s hard for me to believe how much profanity is used. I hear and overhear it everywhere I go.
If we are going into “bleeping” words, then I wish they would bleep out the Lord’s name when taken in vain. This one really bothers me, and it fascinates me at the same time. Why do people, even and especially pagan people, invoke the name of God or Jesus so often? A trend that I see now is to add the F-word with God’s name. Wow. Why?
Sometimes I hear Christians say that cussing or cursing does not matter. Might need to re-read the Bible. Language matters and matters a lot. Words create worlds as they reveal hearts.
Where did all these thoughts come from this morning? From reading the text about Jesus in the Temple. Do you think Jesus used profanity as he drove the people from the Temple courts?
The Tabernacle was the intersection of Heaven and Earth, right? It was where God chose to place a tangible presence.
The Tabernacle was replaced by the Temple, a more or less permanent structure. It too was the intersection of heaven and earth, the place where Heaven and Earth meet.
Now, isn’t interesting that Jesus “tabernacles” among us - pitches his tent - dwells among us? The Word becomes Flesh; the divine takes on “human.” So does Jesus become the perfect intersection of Heaven and Earth?
And isn’t interesting that Jesus is in the Temple and angry? Why is he angry?
And what is this Temple destruction he speaks of? John, the narrator, tells us that he was referring to his body, but is there a deeper thought associated with these words? What’s going to happen to the Temple in Jerusalem?
Is this yet another statement, in John, about how Jesus is fulfilling, superceding the old covenant?
Just full of questions this morning.
Had another interesting class tonight.
Here's one place we went: what, if anything, would Jesus throw out of your life? You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, right?
We as the church are the Temple where the Spirit resides, so what would Jesus throw out of our church practices?
1Cor. 6:19,20
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Eph. 2:22
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
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