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THE FIRST CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE AT THE PASSOVER BY JESUS.

John 2:12-25

Q.1. Why did Jesus remove the merchants and animals from the Temple? What made Him take such strong action? – (Jn.2:12-17)

Jesus stayed at the fishing village of Capernaum on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was to be a rare family time with His mother, brothers, and His disciples (Jn.2:12). Following this break, Jesus journeyed up to Jerusalem for the Passover – some fifteen kilometres. Families might travel for twenty kilometres to Jerusalem. Rather than take their – oxen, sheep, and doves … these were provided by traders at the Temple (Jn.2:14). The temple was to be – … a house of prayer for all the nations (Mk.11:17 c.f. Isa.56:7). However, these traders charged extortionate prices and had turned the feasts into a lucrative business. In indignation, Jesus – drove the traders and livestock out of the temple and … poured out the coins of the money traders and overturned their tables … and told them – Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business (Jn.2:15-16). His disciples connected these zealous actions as a fulfilment of Psalm 69:9.

Q.2. How was the reason that Jesus gave for cleansing the Temple understood? How did the disciples gain insight into His explanation? – (Jn.2:18-22)

Though it appears that none could stand against the Lord’s zealous actions, these people demanded that Jesus state His authority for such drastic action (Jn.2:18). Jesus answered them – Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (Jn.2:19). The Jews ridiculed His claim, since they were aware that Herod’s Temple had taken forty six years to build, using vast amounts of money and construction crews (Jn.2:20). It was not until Jesus rose from the dead that His disciples understood the real significance of His earlier claim (Jn.2:21 c.f. Mt.26:61; 27:40). John connected the Scripture with the words of Jesus that had previously confused them – When He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken (Jn.2:22 c.f. Isa.53:10-12).

Q.3. Why did many believe in Jesus? How did He respond to their adulation? Why? – (Jn.2:23-25)

It is one thing to believe in Jesus because of His signs, and something altogether different to receive Him as our Saviour (Jn.2:23 c.f. Jn.1:12). John would report that large numbers of people described as disciples would stop following Him as He began to spell out His claims (c.f. Jn.6:60-66). Jesus knew what people were like – … He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man (Jn.2:25). Consequently – … Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men (Jn.2:24). Jesus was not into popularity or the crowds’ LIKING Him. He wanted people to really LOVE Him and submit to His agenda for sinners.