*Last week we talked about what? Where was Jesus? The Wedding of Cana,
Jesus turned water into wine, his first public miracle.
This was maybe about a month before the Passover. It was probably cold, still winter.
Read John 2:12
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
This was about a 3 day walk, 20 miles or so.
*Who did he go with? Maybe it was his last time he knew he would be able to spend time with his family before his ministry started. Capernaum was by the Sea of Galilee.
Read John 2:13
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
*How far do you think Capernaum is from Jerusalem? 90 miles – maybe 5-6 day walk
Read John 2:14
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
*Why were the merchants selling animals and exchanging money? Back then before Jesus died for our sins, they had to bring an animal to sacrifice. You could not use regular money you had to use temple money.
Read John 2:15-17
15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”
*Why was Jesus so mad?
If people brought their own animals, they were not good enough. The merchants made money selling more expensive animals. Also, they could not use regular money to buy these animals. They had to use temple money. The conversion rate was higher, the sacrifices cost even more. Not only that, but they were selling in an area of the temple, the Court of the Gentiles, where non Jewish people came to worship.
*Even if this was not a temple or church, is it right to charge people more than what is the fair price? No
*What is church for? For worshipping God.
*Does God want sinful acts done in His church? Never
*Do you think Jesus’ reaction was too much?
*What if people came to our church and said you had to pay money to get inside?
*What if we had no room for new people in the church because a store was set up in the back of the church?
*When you think of Jesus, do you imagine him as being so angry?
Jesus is not a wimp. He is strong and passionate about his church.
*Should we too be like this about God’s church?
Read John 2:18
18 But the Jewish leaders demanded, “What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it.”
*Who gave Jesus the authority? Jesus is God, He always had the authority
Read John 2:19-21
19 “All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
20 “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?”
21 But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.
*What was Jesus talking about? His death on the cross
Jesus’ death did away with the temple. No longer do we need to worship only in a temple in Jerusalem.
*Where do we worship? Every where
*Do we need to sacrifice animals to worship? No, Jesus died as the perfect sacrifice for our sins
Read John 2:22
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.
*Does anybody remember what they accused Jesus of when they wanted to crucify him? Later when they were trying to find something to accuse Jesus of, they brought up this. That Jesus said He would destroy the temple and rebuild it in 3 days.
Read John 2:23-25
23 Because of the miraculous signs Jesus did in Jerusalem at the Passover celebration, many began to trust in him.
24 But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people.
25 No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.
*What is in each person’s heart? Are people mainly good or mainly bad? We have all sinned and need a savior.
*Does Jesus need us or do we need Jesus?
Jesus came to die for our sins even though we do not deserve it. He does not trust in us, we trust in him.
*Have you trusted in Jesus?