John 2:12-25
June 25, 1995
Sunday Morning Bible Study
Introduction
Last week we studied Jesus' first miracle which took place when He had been invited to a wedding held in Cana of Galilee.
When the party ran out of wine, Jesus turned water into wine, about 120 gallons of it!
This was "the beginning of miracles", the first sign that John records that is supposed to tell us something about Jesus.
We got a glimpse into the grace of Jesus, the joy of Jesus, and the abundance of Jesus.
We also spent a good deal of time discussing the issue of the Bible, the believer, and alcohol.
:12 Moving to Capernaum
:12 down to Capernaum
Don't be thinking about our modern maps, as if "going down" means south.
This literally means "down".
Cana is up in the hills of Galilee, about 1000 feet in elevation.
Capernaum is along the coast of the sea of Galilee, a little below sea level.
Capernaum is on the west coast of the sea of Galilee, 16.5 miles east of Cana.
It will become kind of a northern headquarters for Jesus' ministry in Galilee.
:12 he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples
Jesus still has His family along.
:13-17 Cleansing the temple
:13 the Jews' passover was at hand
This is one of the distinguishing marks of John in contrast to the other gospels.
John actually gives us landmarks on a time line.
If you track the passovers mentioned in the gospel of John, you find that there are at least two others mentioned.
»John 6:4-AV And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.
»John 11:55-AV And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.
There is also the possibility of another:
»John 5:1-AV After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
We aren't told what this particular feast was.
If it weren't for John's accounts, we might think that Jesus' ministry was only a year long. Instead, we think it's at least two or three years long.
:13 Jesus went up to Jerusalem
It was required by Jews to go to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate the major feasts.
Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles,
»Deuteronomy 16:16-AV Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty:
To get to Jerusalem from Capernaum, you would travel 75 miles south along the Jordan river, then 18 miles west, climbing up into the mountains.
Again, going "up" to Jerusalem meant climbing in altitude.
Jerusalem was located on top of a hilly, mountainous area, and you always had to go up the hill to get there.
As the Jewish people went to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts, they would often sing Psalms, particularly the Psalms of Ascents (or in KJV, "Song of Degrees"), such as those found in Ps.120-134.
These are always short songs, because if you're going to climb a hill and sing, it had better be a short song!
:14 those that sold oxen ... changers of money
There was quite a racket going on in the temple in those days.
First there was the selling of animals.
Many of the people coming to the temple would be coming to present sacrifices to the Lord.
They may be sin offerings, burnt offerings, or peace offerings.
For people who came great distances, it would be much easier to just buy your sacrificial animal when you got to Jerusalem, rather than taking your animal from home.
This was even recommended by the Lord:
»Deuteronomy 14:24-25 AV And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: 25 Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,
In addition, the Law required that all sacrificial animals should be "without blemish", the idea being that you don't give God your second best.
»Deuteronomy 15:21-AV And if there be [any] blemish therein, [as if it be] lame, or blind, [or have] any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God.
With these two things in mind, a small industry was set up, to sell sacrificial animals to the people. Animals that did not have any blemishes or defects.
It might have started out as a convenience, even a blessing, to be selling animals to those who came great distances.
But it went way beyond that.
The priests set up a racket with the animal sellers and the money exchangers.
Before it was sacrificed, each animal had to be certified as being "without blemish", and the strange thing was that unless you bought your animal from the sellers in the temple, some kind of blemish could always be found on your animal.
Of course, animals sold in the temple, being certified as "without blemish" were much more expensive than comparable animals outside the temple.
The people were being ripped off, and the merchants and the priests were lining their pockets with the people's money.
Secondly, there was the changing of money.
There was several reasons for the people to be bringing in money.
Some were bringing in their "tithe", a tenth of their produce, in money, rather than pay it in grain or livestock.
All were required to pay a temple tax of a half a shekel every year.
»Exodus 30:13-AV This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel [is] twenty gerahs:) an half shekel [shall be] the offering of the LORD.
But It wasn't appropriate to pay money to God's temple with some kind of pagan coin.
And so there was an industry set up to exchange foreign currency into the acceptable currency, the temple shekel.
Of course, the exchange rates were high, with the people being ripped off.
Alfred Edersheim, a Jewish historian and cultural experts says that at this time in history, the priests were netting the equivalent of $300,000 a year in money exchange alone.
:15 he drove them all out
This isn't your typical picture of little Jesus, meek and mild.
:16 Take these things hence
Said to the sellers of the doves, to take their dove cages and leave.
The doves would have been in cages, and Jesus didn't drive them out with His whip as He did with the oxen and sheep.
:16 make not
present active imperative, "stop making"
:16 my Father's house
Jesus kind of sounds like He thinks He's God's Son or something!
:16 an house of merchandise
Greek:
Lesson:
Is it wrong to sell things in church?
I don't believe that this means that we're never ever supposed to sell anything at church.
But we better get concerned when the church gets to the point where it looks more like a store than a house of prayer.
We better be concerned when the purpose in selling things is to make money for personal gain by ripping off the saints.
Matthew records Jesus doing a repeat performance of this three years later in His last week before dying, and then Jesus says:
»Matthew 21:13-AV And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
The house of prayer
When Solomon dedicated the temple, it was clear that it was intended to be a house of prayer
All throughout his prayer of dedication, he kept asking that God would honor the prayers of His people whenever they called out to Him from various circumstances.
»1Kings 8:30-AV And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
What's the significance of all this?
Lesson:
Clean house
We are God's temple
What are we using the temple for?
»1Corinthians 6:18-20 AV Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Illustration,
Reminds me of the story ...
The young preacher was shocked to hear the well-known evangelist utter the words, "I have spent some of the happiest moments of my life in the arms of another man's wife. Yes, I have spent some of the happiest moments of my life in the arms of another man's wife." Then, following a pause, the evangelist added, "That woman was my mother."
"I've got to use that!" the young pastor thought to himself. A few weeks later, as he was speaking to a civic group, the phrase leapt into his mind and he exclaimed, "I have spent some of the happiest days of my life in the arms of another man's wife." Then, after another long pause, the young man muttered meekly, "But for the life of me I can't remember who she was."
Actually, this is no laughing matter.
God has made us a temple of the Holy Spirit.
It is supposed to be a house of prayer.
Is it time to clean house?
:17 the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up
Actually, the Greek reads, "zeal for thine house hath eaten me down".
But in our way of saying things, we say "eaten me up".
He quotes from Psalm 69 -
»Psalms 69:9-AV For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.
zelos
1) excitement of mind, ardour, fervour of spiritJesus had such a zeal, such a passion for the things of God, that He had to act on it.
He couldn't keep it bottled up inside.
Lesson:
A Passion to change.
What kind of passion do you have for the things of God?
When it comes to cleaning house, are you serious enough to get out the vacuum cleaner and dustrag?
Dieting Example:
I haven't regularly exercised since Timothy was born, almost three years ago.
But diets are tough. They aren't very fun. Neither is exercise.
For them to work, you have to have a "zeal", a passion that keeps you on track.
I finally got sick enough of being tired and out of shape that I've gone on a diet.
I'd like to see if I can stay awake a little better in the afternoons when I'm studying.
I'd like to have as many years to spend with my wife and boys as I'm supposed to.
So it's rabbit food for me, at least for a few more weeks. And a little more exercise.
Are there issues in your life that need dealing with? (I don't mean weight)
When are you going to get serious enough to do something about it?
Could it be said of you, "Zeal for God's house has consumed him"?
:18-22 Resurrection foretold
:18 what sign shewest thou ...
The Jews want to know just who this Jesus thinks He is, wrecking their merchandise and money tables like that.
:19 Destroy this temple ... I will raise it up
Jesus is answering the question that they are posing, wondering by what authority Jesus just walks in and throws out the marketplace.
Jesus' answer is that the sign He will give them showing His authority is His resurrection.
That is always the primary thing that we point to also.
Side Note: Jesus uses a distinct word here.
There is one word used for the entire temple complex (hieron), and we saw it used in 2:14 in reference to where Jesus found the merchants in the temple complex.
But Jesus uses the word here for just the building itself, containing the holy place and the holy of holies (naos).
It is also the same word used:
»1Corinthians 6:19 AV What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
:20 forty and six years was this temple in building ...
They missed the point.
They think He's talking about the physical temple that was under construction at that moment.
King Herod had begun the process of rebuilding Zerubbabel's temple 46 years earlier.
The process wasn't even going to be finished for another 30 years or so.
This misunderstanding of the Jews would also be used in court three years later to show that Jesus was traiterous, planning to destroy the temple.
»Matthew 26:61-AV And said, This [fellow] said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.
:22 they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said
This seems to be what the difference is between being one of Jesus' disciples, and being a part of a crowd that goes along just for the miracles.
The disciples that are now with Jesus started following Him after He either called them, or someone else pointed Him out to them.
They grew in their belief when they saw the water turned into wine.
But it didn't stop there. They had a belief that rested on the sure foundation of God's Word.
Lesson:
Miracles are good.
God's Word is best.
We want to see God's work in our midst.
We don't just want to settle for a form of religion based only on words, with no power.
But we don't want our focus to be so much on miracles, that we leave ourselves open to deception and straying from God's standards.
Miracles alone aren't enough:
» Matthew 7:21-27AV Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
:23-25 Knowing what was in man
:23 many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles
These people had entered into a preliminary state of believing in Jesus.
They saw the miracles and realized that something special was happening before them.
Yet there's something missing.
Jesus sees it and is not willing to tell them too much about Himself.
Perhaps it is because they are only believing for the sake of the miracles.
That's not all bad.
After all, even the disciples that were already with Jesus entered into a deeper place of belief in Jesus after seeing one of His miracles:
»John 2:11-AV This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.
And John himself tells us at the end of the gospel that the miracles he's picked out to share about were chosen so that we might enter into believing in Jesus.
»John 20:30-31 AV And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
But there's still something missing in these people.
:24-25 Jesus did not commit himself unto them ... he knew what was in man
Jesus was able to tell that with these people, He could only tell them so much for now.
For us, the best we can do is know people by their outward actions.
Jesus said of false prophets,
»Matthew 7:15-16 AV Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
But Jesus is far different than that.
One of the attributes that makes God who He is, is the ability to see what is going on inside men's hearts.
When God wanted Samuel to anoint a new king, He took him to Jesse's house and Samuel thought one of the older sons would be the logical choice, being tall and good looking.
»1Samuel 16:7-AV But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
This attribute of God is also a trait of Jesus.
He can see what's in your heart.
You may be able to fool all the people around you, but you won't be able to fool Jesus.
»Revelation 2:18-23. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; 19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last [to be] more than the first. 20 Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. 21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. 23 And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.
And so Jesus was able to see something in this crowd that was beginning to form around Him that He knew He had to be careful about.
Lesson:
Can I trust people?
Do I dare share myself with others, for fear that they will abuse my confidence in them?
If Jesus didn't trust people ... should I?
Here's the balance we need to be careful to walk:
1. My trust is in the Lord.
»Psalms 146:3-5 NIV Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,
Ultimately, people are going to let you down.
We shouldn't be surprised when this happens.
I know that some of you, whom I've grown to love, will hurt me, others will disappoint me, and some will even betray me.
My only sure confidence is in the Lord.
He will never let me down.
2. I need people in my life.
Jesus did not need other humans to keep Him going.
He is God, after all.
I, on the other hand, am not God.
I need you.
a. We are a part of each other, like it or not:
»1Corinthians 12:20-22 AV But now [are they] many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
Illustration:
In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy demands that Linus change TV channels and then threatens him with her fist if he doesn't.
"What makes you think you can walk right in here and take over?" asks Linus.
"These five fingers," says Lucy. "Individually they're nothing but when I curl them together like this into a single unit, they form a weapon that is terrible to behold."
"Which channel do you want?" asks Linus.
Turning away, he looks at his fingers and says, "Why can't you guys get organized like that?"
b. We need other people to keep encouraging us.
»Hebrews 3:12-14 AV Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;
Illustrations:
During a revival in the central part of New York, a little boy was converted, who desired to join the Church. His father told him he had better wait six months, and see if he could live his religion first. Shortly after, he was in the field with his father, and found a lamb, separated from its mother, bleating piteously.
The father directed the son to put the lamb with its mother. The boy replied, "I think we might as well leave it for six months, and see whether it will live or not; and then, if it lived, we could put it with its mother."
Feeling the force of the application, the father said, "put the lamb with its mother, and join the Church if you wish to."
Or,
The Boston Marathon is among the world's best-known races. One of the most infamous portions of the 26-mile, 385-yard course is "Heartbreak Hill." It's there, along that hill, that thousands of spectators gather. They stand and cheer as they see weary runners about to collapse. During one race a young man was near total exhaustion as he approached the foot of Heartbreak Hill. It was doubtful he could go a step farther. About halfway up the hill an older man, who was obviously in better shape, came alongside the younger man, put his arm around him, and spoke quietly to him. Together, step by step, they painstakingly made their way up Heartbreak Hill.
We need that other person from time to time to come and put their arm around us and help us up Heartbreak Hill.
Jesus didn't need to trust Himself to other people.
But you're not Jesus.