Zeal for God Consumed Him
Notes
Transcript
Read [Lord’s Supper]
Read [Lord’s Supper]
John 2:12–22 (ESV)
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Opening Prayer
Opening Prayer
Up & Down to...
Up & Down to...
When we read in the Bible of Jesus and the disciples traveling up to Jerusalem, yet they are traveling south on a map, we can scratch our heads…(going down to Canada or going up to Mexico)
Especially, if we are from areas of similar elevation.
But, many locations, and Israel you can travel south and yet at the same time be traveling up.
Or as we see Jesus went from Cana down to Capernaum, even though Capernaum was N,NW of Cana.
Cana of Galilee sits at 330ft above sea level...
And Capernaum sat at 682ft below sea level.
So, although traveling N, NW from Cana to Capernaum...
One would be traveling down in elevation.
Similarly traveling up from Capernaum at 682ft below sea level...
Even though traveling South to Jerusalem...
One would be traveling up to an elevation of 2,575ft above sea level.
Two Temple Cleansings or One?
Two Temple Cleansings or One?
The synoptics show a Temple cleansing near the end of Jesus’ ministry and which led Jesus’ arrest.
John shows us here a Temple cleansing that happened at what seemed like the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.
Some have stated that John is more concerned in his gospel with thematic and spiritual truths that were evident from Jesus’ words, actions, and miracles...
Over a concern for chronological order.
While there’s truth to that statement, there are also reasons to believe that there were two Temple Cleansings.
And, from the evidence we see in John’s telling...
It’s easy to see that Jesus could have performed this at the beginning without any recourse...
Other than the religious leaders now opposing Jesus.
While at the last cleansing, they’d had enough...
The straw that broke the camels back, so to say.
So, although we cannot know for sure, based on the evidence...
It seems from the differences between the two recorded temple cleansings...
To me and many trusted biblical and NT scholars that there were two temple cleansings, not one.
Then & There
Then & There
Imagine walking in to the Temple at the time of the Passover...
A time of solemn remembrance of God’s deliverance of a people whom He would form into a nation.
Delivered from the bondage of cruel slavery.
Delivered into a land that was flowing with milk and honey.
Delivered into a land in which God would deliver you from your enemies...
And, surround you with peace, if you would just show loyalty to Him.
You walk into the Temple expecting to hear prayers, and weeping for the sorrow of sin...
And, tears of joy for God’s forgiveness.
But, what you hear is the loud noises of bickering...
The loud noises of animals bellowing, neighing, wings flapping, birds cooing.
The stench of what animals deposited on the ground.
Quite the opposite of a solemn place of prayer, weeping, rejoicing.
Jesus was upset.
This is His Father’s house.
A house in which one was supposed to meet with God...
Experience the presence of God.
Reflect upon and worship God.
How could a Son let His Father’s house be treated this way?!
How could Jesus let a place that was meant for meeting with God be used as a bank of thievery and a barnyard sales market?!
How could Jesus not be moved to purge the Temple of what desecrated it?!
We’re told there are a few things Jesus takes note of...
John 2:14 (ESV)
14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
His response...
John 2:15 (ESV)
15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.
John 2:16 (ESV)
16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”
Let’s look at what was behind Jesus’ actions...
Is He being harsh?
Is He losing His temper?
Or is He justified in His zeal?
What’s behind all of this commotion and desecration...
The Money-Changers
The Money-Changers
In preparation for the celebration of Passover...
Clean up and construction would begin well in advance.
Bridges and roads would be repaired.
Sepulchers, whitened to prevent accidental pollution to the pilgrims traveling in.
Some people would select this time out of the three great annual feasts to tithe from their flocks and herds.
If so, this had to be done two weeks before the Passover.
Some would use this time for going up to Jerusalem before the feat to purify themselves from any defilement.
Also, the annual Temple-tribute of a half shekel was due for every person of age.
A shekel was a measurement of weight, typically in silver.
It was around ,4 ounces or 11 grams.
In order to pay the Temple-tribute money had to be exchanged into one trustworthy, acceptable coin.
And, it had to be paid in exact half-shekels.
In the crowds of pilgrims there would be copper coins, Persian, Tyrian, Syrian, Egyptian, Grecian and Roman money being circulated.
To make it paid in one strict coin it made it a more precise weight and purity of silver.
All who refused to pay the Temple-tribute were liable to the seizure of their goods.
Picture the scene around the table of the money-changers...
Large crowds of people
The weighing of the coins
Deductions for loss of weight in the coins
Disputing about weight differences
Arguing about the exchange rate
Bargaining based on the differences of weights, etc.
The loud roar of the crowds upset about the exchange of money.
It’s easy to understand the terrible truthfulness of Christ’s charge that they had made the Father’s House a house of trade.
The money-changers were duly authorized by the Temple authorities...
Many times, Levites/Priests themselves would run the tables...
The permanent priests and servants of the temple...
Not the rabbis who were visiting and worshipping.
Also, if it wasn’t the Levites running the Money-tables...
Those who did would still be authorized by the Temple authorities...
And, highly exorbitant rental rates were charged for their tables to be in the temple court of the gentiles, where all of this took place.
Either way, each would have served for great profit to the Temple Treasury...
Which, by the way, profited the High Priest and his family and permanent priests in the service of the temple...
Which at this time was Annas, and his notoriously infamous sons.
The money-changers had a fixed fee of approximately a half shekel for every transaction.
Four drachmas were a shekel, known as a tetra-drachma...
Which, also known as a Stater, was the coin Peter pulled out of the fish’s mouth to pay the tax for he and Jesus.
Lots of stuff was needed to be bought within the temple area that was needful for the feast, sacrifices, purifications, etc...
So, you can imagine with the transaction fees, how much could be made off the people.
An extremely conservative and easily justified estimate regarding the profit that the money-changers would be 10-12% profit.
One record of the value that was carried from the Temple treasury amounted the enormous sum of 2.5 million sterling.
Which in today’s Us Dollar numbers would equate roughly $3.1 million dollars.
No wonder later, He would say they’ve changed the temple into a den of robbers.
But it didn’t stop with just money exchange...
The Oxen Sheep, & Pigeon/Doves
The Oxen Sheep, & Pigeon/Doves
For those traveling great distances, it would be welcomed news that one could just purchase in the Temple what was required for the meat and drink offerings.
Especially, when those same authorities were in charge of judging whether you brought met the requirements.
Imagine traveling for days with your sacrificial animal only to be told by the priests that your animal didn’t measure up and would not be allowed.
Imagine the disputes that would arise when being told yours isn’t up to snuff...
But, we can sell you one that is.
On top of that the inspection of animals that were brought were subject to an inspection fee like to the exchange rate fee.
Two drachmas or a half shekel.
You could avoid such a fee, and avoid having your animal turned down by just buying one from the temple authorities.
Jewish writings are filled with records of improper transactions and the taking advantage of the poor people who came to offer their sacrifices.
And, what if certain animals started running low in inventory?
Poor people were allowed to offer doves instead of larger animals.
There are records of doves being sold for $4 our equivalent when they were only worth a $.05 outside the temple at a different time of year.
All of this pointing the money trail to the Temple treasury...
Which benefited the High Priest and his family.
Annas and his sons were infamous for their lush living and cruel treatment of other people, including Rabbis.
Josephus, the famous Jewish Historian of biblical days records Annas and his family as great hoarders of money, very rich, and as being regular in their open violence to common priests and taking their revenues from them.
Annas, the High priests, his sons who were also high priests, their sons who were treasurers of the temple, their sons-in-laws assistant treasurers...
And, whose very servants wielded enough authority and fear to go around beating people with sticks.
How interesting that Jesus made a whip to drive out those who beat people with sticks, and upset their unholy profiteering in the temple of God.
So, that is the scene and the “There & Then”
Now, first I want us to look at...
The Response of the Religious Leaders
The Response of the Religious Leaders
John 2:18 (ESV)
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”
They ask for a sign, but Jesus just gave them one.
He just cleansed the temple which was a Messianic expectation.
What they should have done was think through what Jesus just did...
Search and study the Scriptures.
Also, if they thought Jesus was just some crazy guy there were courses of action that could have been followed to punish Jesus...
Instead, they ask Him for a miraculous sign...
Which shows that they felt some unease at what was going on...
Knew in their conscience that it was wrong...
And, most of the visiting worshippers knew it was wrong.
So, the popular opinion was that what was going on in the temple courts was corrupt, abusive, and a stumbling block to worship.
Were they interested in truth?
If so, and they had eyes to see, they would have noticed that the cleansing of the temple was sign...
They could have asked themselves...
Was Jesus’ actions and charges foundationally just.
They could have done some self-examination, self-reflection...
Reflection and examination on the corruption of the temple treasury...
But, they didn’t because they were less concerned with pure worship...
And more concerned about maintaining their authority and their lavish lifestyle that was funded in part by their temple business of heavy financial gain.
One of the Messianic expectations was from...
Malachi 3:1,3 (ESV)
1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple;...3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.
Jesus just refined the the sons of Levi.
But, they were unwilling to see it.
The crowd that felt the corruption, experienced the fraud upon their own pocket books...
Looked in awe...
Most likely thinking, Jesus is doing what I never had the courage or ability to do.
This is the Messiah we need.
This is the Savior we need.
A Savior who can do for us what we cannot do on our own.
Purge sin from the worship of God.
Let’s think about something...
Let’s think about something...
When the conviction of the Holy Spirit comes upon us through:
the preaching of the Word.
the devotional reading of the Word.
a Christian friend.
Whatever God uses.
What us your response?
Do we look at it as an interruption to our fun, comfort, pleasure, long-time habits?
Or do we step back and ask ourselves, ask God in prayer, ask God’s Word...
Could this be that Jesus is cleansing me a temple of the Lord?
Jesus didn’t stop cleansing when He died on the Cross.
He cleansed the churches of Revelation 2-3.
And, still today, He promises to cleanse us, His people...
Who are the temple of the Holy Spirit of God.
It’s easy for us to point the finger at the corrupt Temple system and those who ran it...
While missing the corruption of our own worship of the Lord in our every day life.
We stand guilty.
But, we have a Savior who has removed our guilt.
Run to Him. Rest in Him.
Ask Him to search your heart.
Then, ask Him to cleanse it.
Now, let’s look at the...
The Disciples’ Remembrance
The Disciples’ Remembrance
John 2:17 (ESV)
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The disciples remember King David’s writing of his suffering...
Psalm 69:9 (ESV)
9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
They’re not remembering this with joy.
They’re remembering the reproaches that David suffered because of his burning zeal for the cause of God.
They’re watching Jesus cleanse the Temple and they’re thinking...
This is not going to turn out good.
This is going to, as we would put it, stir up the hornet’s nest.
When the psalm states, “Zeal for your house will consume me”...
This doesn’t mean that He is consumed, as in filled up to overflowing with zeal and zeal is bursting out.
Not that Jesus wasn’t filled with zeal...
But, what this phrase actually means is that Jesus’ zeal for the Lord is going to cost Him everything.
He will be consumed by those who hate Him...
Because of His zeal for the Lord and proper worship of Him.
Jesus Knew the End from the Beginning
Jesus Knew the End from the Beginning
He knew that His work and zeal for the Lord would lead to His death at the hands of the very ones who now opposed Him.
And, with that knowledge, He told them the sign that would ultimately prove His authority...
And, the end of the physical temple and all that occurs within it...
Would be His death and resurrection.
The Irony
The Irony
The fact that ultimately the Jews themselves, who rejected Jesus...
Would be the very means of bringing about the sign they asked Jesus to produce...
And which they still did not recognize when it came.
Additionally, that their putting Jesus to death was to offer the One sacrifice that could truly atone for sin...
And has put an end to the physical Temple as a place for the offering of sacrifice.
Hebrews 9:11–12 (ESV)
11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:26 (ESV)
26 ...But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Hebrews 10:18 (ESV)
18 Where there is forgiveness of sins, there is no longer any offering for sin.
Zeal for God’s house did consume Christ.
It consumed Him all the way to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The death of Christ made possible the building of the true people of God, a spiritual house unto the Lord.
Every Easter we celebrate the true Temple of God being raised up after being "destroyed” on the Cross.
Death could not hold Him.
And, in the end Christ has the victory forevermore.
And, every year, we get to gather and rejoice in the victory and raising of the true Temple of God.
Let’s think about this…
Let’s think about this…
How are you living each day?
Are you living in the light that the true Temple of God has been raised up?
Or are you living as if the true Temple of God has been destroyed?
For Christians, every day is Easter.
We are united to a living Savior.
A resurrected Messiah.
A Victor over Sin and Death.
He is our Savior!
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Closing Prayer [Lord’s Supper]
Closing Prayer [Lord’s Supper]
