Why was Christ’s Cleansing of the Temple really important?
The gospel account written by John detailed those events of Jesus’ life that would display His Glory, His deity, and His grace upon grace poured out for you and for me. John wanted to show you Christ in all His beauty that you might believe in Him and gain eternal life. He wanted to share with you what he had found in Christ. “Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[b]that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31 NIV)
So why did John choose to tell us of this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of the earthly ministry of Christ? If we read the “cleansing of the temple” accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke we will read about Christ running out the money changers upon His final trip into Jerusalem just before His arrest and crucifixion. Yet, John is telling us about Jesus running out the money changers and those selling animals in the temple courts during Christ’s first trip to the Passover at the beginning of His earthly ministry. Why is that an important detail to our seeing Christ? How does that impact our lives? Those are the questions I want to look a little further into with you.
JESUS IS CONSUMED BY HIS PASSION AND LOVE OF HIS FATHER
“13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.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”[c] John 2: 13-17 (NLT).
Imagine this, Christ is coming to be the ultimate sacrifice and to shed His blood to pay for man kind’s sin. He comes to the temple which was built to honor and worship God. There He finds only hypocrisy. He finds opportunists financially abusing those who came to worship. He finds people who make a mockery of God’s Glory and Grace by seizing it as an opportunity to “make money.” His passion and zeal for all that was righteousness and the honor of His Father’s name; consumed Him. The Passover, the sacrificial system were all pictures of God’s grace to man. All pointed to Christ’s coming, His substitutionary death, and His ultimate victory over sin. Here, Christ saw the hearts of men; depraved and greedy. [bctt tweet=”Christ hated sin with a passion. Still He loved the sinner enough to die in their place.”]
PROPHECY FULFILLED.
“What right have you to order them out?” the Jewish leaders[c]demanded. “If you have this authority from God, show us a miracle to prove it” (John 2: 18 TLB)
The Jewish leaders did not even recognize the dishonor to God in these practices? They had forgotten what David wrote in Psalm 69 (NIV) “I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children 9 for zeal for your house consumes me…” Nor did they remember the prophecy of Malachi “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3 NIV). The cleansing of the temple was prophesied. That should have been proof of His authority. [bctt tweet=”Yet, blinded, darkened hearts cannot see Glory even when it is standing in front of them.”]
CHRIST’S RESPONSE
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2: 19 NIV). The Jewish leaders mocked Him for even suggesting such a thing; yet, He was pointing out that they themselves were destroying the very purpose of the temple by their greed. He was also referring to His future death and resurrection in which the purpose of the earthly temple would no longer exist. The body of each believer would become the temple of worship for Almighty God because of Christ’s atoning work on the cross. Christ’s death was the destruction of the Jewish temple and its purpose as well as the destruction of his body. He would raise it up again in three days through His resurrection. He would raise up His church who would worship Him in honor and truth. The Apostles remembered this when Christ rose from the dead and that added to their belief. Their faith may have trembled when they saw Jesus on the cross; yet, their faith was confirmed by His resurrection. They had seen “Glory, the Glory of the begotten son of God” through whom they had known “grace upon grace” as John said in chapter 1.
WHY WAS IT IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Most likely, this was a yearly occurrence, Christ cleansing the temple when He arrived for Passover. Yet, men returned to their folly year after year. Even the Jewish leaders could not recognize their own self-exalting hearts. They were blinded to the truth. How many times has Christ revealed himself to you? Do you see Him and desire Him above all other treasure? How many times must you see God’s Glory before you open your heart to let Him in?
Christ knew all men and saw their hearts. Christ knew those who truly believed and those who wanted to follow Him for what they could gain as He was a “miracle worker”. He still sees today the hearts of men. He knows who proclaim to follow Him for what they can get in prestige, money and prosperity. He also knows who truly follow Him because of love and devotion. He knows the heart who tenderly, passionately falls before Him to worship Him.
Christ hates sin and greed; but, He loves you and bids you come to worship in truth. Do you hate the sin that separates you from Your heavenly Father? Do you passionately desire to defend His name? Do you hate sin; yet, love the sinner enough to long for his salvation?
So, I answered one set of questions; yet, left you with a few to think about. I would love to hear your answers. Click here to respond.
The song I chose for you today is: Covered by Grace
The artist that drew the picture “A Broken and Contrite Heart” featured on my header and who designed my logo is Ronald Barba. To obtain your own portrait, logo, or art design please contact Ronald Barba at the email below. If you can dream it, he can draw or design it for you. Do you want to surprise someone with an extraordinary special gift of a personal portrait? An idea for a book cover? Or a new logo? Feel free to email him at Ron@Barba-Art.com to discuss any art projects.
New Living Translation(NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights
Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved
©2015 Effie Darlene Barba
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