Jesus does the unthinkable

 Jesus Does The Unthinkable

Heb 8:10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

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Psalm 69:9  for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.
Jesus’ zeal for the Gospel appeared in his strong and lively preaching of it, in his determination to continue in it. And in the wearisome journeys he took to spread it. In the risks and dangers he exposed himself to, for the sake of it; Also in the miracles he wrought to confirm it, and in the care he took to free it from doubt and reproach: His zeal for the worship and discipline of God's house was shown by his asserting the purity of worship in spirit and truth; by his severe rejection of the traditions, superstition, and  self worship of men, and against the vices and corruptions of professors of religion, the Scribes and Pharisees: Those of that day who eagerly sought to control the people.

John 2:13  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. The Passover he kept at Jerusalem;
it is the first after his baptism, and after his temptation in the wilderness, and  there were four in all, the fourth at which he suffered (three years after this), and half a year was now past since his baptism. Christ, being made under the law, Thus he taught us by his example a strict observance of divine institutions, and a diligent attendance on religious assemblies. Christ, being made under the law, observed the Passover at Jerusalem; Thus he taught us by his example a strict observance of divine institutions, and a diligent attendance on religious assemblies. He went up to Jerusalem when the passover was at hand, that he might be there with the first. It is called the Jews' Passover.
Q.1 What is the significance of Jesus observance of Passover?
Q.2 Of what significance is that to us?
"Christ our Passover lamb is sacrificed for us;...let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:7, 8 In 2014, Passover begins at sunset on Monday the 14th of April until nightfall Monday the 21st.
Q.3 So might Jesus have been rather sensitive or committed during this time??

What Jesus sees
John 2:14  In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
As this practice had become a custom no one considered it otherwise. Their hearts were already tuned to another master, the false representation by the Scribes and the Pharisees, and their own interests, not the worship of God. But the worship of God for the purpose of gain.
Q.2 Why would this have angered Jesus?
Q.3 What is the significance of this incident?
Q.4 Was this one of the prophecies?
Q.1 Is there the worship of God for the purpose of gain today?





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 What Jesus does                                                                                                                             John 2:15  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
Rather  more as a symbol than for use as to harm anyone. He had the right to cleanse his Father's house and here in his first act of his public ministry he asserts his authority. The traffickers fled before him, as his glaring at them, was no doubt imbued by a superhuman majesty. This was the first public act of  Jesus’ ministry.
First purge out the old leaven, and then keep the feast. Christ's design in coming into the world was to reform the world; and he expects that all who come to him should reform their hearts and lives, Gen_35:2. And this he has taught us by purging the temple.
Q.1 What was the purpose served by this act ?
Q.2 What impression of Jesus was then apparent?

What Jesus said
John 2:16  To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"
Here he reveals the reason for the act of his aggression
As Jesus cleansed the Temple so He can cleanse our hearts. When He comes to dwell within us, He finds our hearts desecrated by unholy things, which He quickly casts out.
Q.1  Is there another reason perhaps just as significant?
Q.2  Did Jesus then realize the hearts of the people were in Jeopardy?

The prophecy fulfilled
John 2:17  His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.
In a word, a religious zeal is one of intense loyalty towards God. And we all know what is meant by loyalty. To be loyal is not merely to obey, but to obey with commitment, devotion, faithfulness and dedication. And This is what Jesus did and what he demands of his followers.
Mark 11:17  And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
Q.1 Is there an abundance of religious zeal in our worship in churches today ?
Q.2 Can you recall any one that you would classify as having Zeal for God?
Q.3 What would be the defining characteristic of that person?
Q.4 The disciples had Jesus in their day. Who is it that we have today?








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By Who’s Authority!
John 2:18  The Jews then responded to him, "What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"
Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so doing. He foretells his death by the Jews' malice, And gives them something to think about. Being Jews, they should rather have stood by him, and assisted him to vindicate the honor of their temple; but, instead of this, they objected against it. note, Those who apply themselves in good earnest to the work of reformation must expect to meet with opposition. When they could object nothing against the thing itself, they questioned his authority to do it:
Q.1 What kind of sign were they expecting from Jesus?
Q.2 Why would those in authority not have been pleased that he cleansed the temple?

Jesus Answers
John 2:19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."
He foretells his death and resurrection, not in plain terms, as he often did to his disciples, but in figurative expressions, he called it the sign of the prophet Jonah,  Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. He spoke in parables that they might not perceive. Those that will not see shall not see.
This figurative speech used here proved such a stumbling-block to them that it was produced in evidence against him at his trial to prove him a blasphemer.
 Matt. 26: 60, John 2:20  They replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"
 Luke 8:10  He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, "'though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.'
Q.1 Jesus was referring to his own death at their hands, but what did they think ?
Q.2 And as a sign, He would be raised again in three days, What did they think?
Q.3 They did not comprehend what Jesus was saying, are there many who are like that?
Q.4 Those who hear and do not understand, and see yet do not see. Who are they?

Are we convinced yet?
John 2:21  But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
Jesus answer was understood as the materialistic world in which so much is invested
Q. Why was that true?
John 2:22  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.
Even the disciples had not been convinced of his deity by his words, but after his resurrection, surely by then the world was convinced
Q. Why do you think that some still have doubts?
John 2:23  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.
Q. Does it still take a miracle for us to believe?



Opening Prayer
Jesus our savior, and our intercessor, we pray your blessing on this study. We pray that you would put the words and their meaning into our hearts and minds,  those things that you would have us learn from this study. We pray that no word be spoken contrary to your will, and that all here will be subject to your guiding Spirit. Leave each one of us with a deeper understanding of what your life, death, and resurrection means for our lives today.  We pray that your spirit will guide and direct those who make and enforce the laws of our land, and  that they will be morally and rightfully responsible. We ask your blessing on all families represented here tonight and bless all those who are in the thoughts and prayers of those who seek thee tonight.  These things we ask in your Holy name Jesus, AMEN


This is our 6th study in our attempt to learn from Jesus’ ministry as he lived and taught it on this earth.  This study gives us the full intention of God as relates to those who have positions of power in high places.  There is an awesome responsibility that comes with making and enforcing laws and regulations, and a great responsibility on those who must be governed by them. And there is no margin for self satisfying and greedy compassion-less acts of those who are making the laws and on those who are to abide by them. Our study tonight will examine how these circumstances come to be and, the example Jesus sets when confronted with people who were using the temple as a market place with the leaders blessings


Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, We ask  you to help us in our unbelief. We want our salvation through Jesus to be real and true. Yet we know in our hearts that we are not deserving any better treatment than Jesus gave to those who were desecrating the temple at Jerusalem. We pray that you will put your laws in our minds and write them on our hearts, and that you will forgive our wickedness and remember our sins no more. We pray that your loving concern for us will be such that we will learn to be attentive to the words of Your son Jesus. and that we, just as did the disciples, will believe the scriptures and the words that Jesus speaks. Be with us as we depart and bless those of us who are ill and needing help in any way Lord, Put your healing words and comfort in their minds and hearts and give them peace. In Jesus Holy Name we pray, AMEN