The First Passover in Jerusalem - I Cleared the Temple

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

October 25, 2012    The First Passover in Jerusalem - I Cleared the Temple

Page 57        John 2:13-25

 

John the Baptist affirmed that Jesus is “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). John is saying that Jesus is the ultimate Passover Lamb. On Jesus’ visit to Jerusalem for Passover, he reveals the desperate need of Israel for the salvation of God. The Temple was the place where God’s presence dwelt among His people. When Jesus speaks of the destruction of the Temple, he is referring to God withdrawing His presence from Israel, because the intended role of the Temple had become corrupt at its core. Jesus demonstrated God’s judgment against the Temple when he cleared out the money changers and peddlers, which effectively shut down the Temple activities.

Remember Jacob’s ladder from John 1? It represents a connection between heaven and earth, and the miracles Jesus performs are heaven and earth coming together in the person of Jesus. In today’s passage, Jesus likened the Temple, the place where heaven and earth came together for the Jews, to his own body.

“On the third day,” Jesus inaugurated his ministry at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1 NRSV). When the religious leaders asked Jesus for a sign he replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Later, after his resurrection, Jesus’ disciples remembered these events “and believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.” (John 2:22). Do you see the faith connection? The disciples were not resting their faith on miracles alone. They trusted what Jesus said; they trusted the witness of Scripture.

“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

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The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

October 26, 2012    My Meeting with Nicodemus        Page 57-58   John 3:1-21