Week 8 – The Reaction

b. Verses 18-22 

Jesus cleansing the temple was something that the Jews immediately reacted to.  It seems obvious that they would.  The temple was something that was more important to them than just about anything else.  This act solidified the belief of the disciples and it got the attention of the Jewish religious leaders.    

The disciples recalled the Psalm that the messiah would be consumed with zeal for the house of the Lord.  This act was something that they recognized as a statement by Jesus of “Look everyone.  I am the Messiah!”  Although we don’t see Him actually saying it here, He was saying it with this act.   

The Jewish leaders obviously were interested in who it was that was messing up the temple during the most important celebration of the year (and the most profitable).  They demanded to know by what authority Jesus did this.  They actually asked for a sign.  This isn’t a question you ask someone unless you think that they might be God or a messiah.  Jesus already had somewhat of a reputation and then he performs such a bold act right in the middle of Jerusalem, they knew better than to just arrest Him and throw Him in jail.  Everyone recognized that Jesus was making a claim to be the messiah and they asked Him to prove it.   

What did Jesus say?  He said that if they would destroy this temple, He would rebuild it in three days.  It was somewhat of a challenge to the Jewish leaders.  What did He mean?  Well, He was certainly referring to Himself.  His disciples remembered what He said after He was raised from the dead.  Also, he was referring to the temple and what it stood for.  Jesus told the woman at the well that the day was coming when men would worship God, not in Mount Gerizim, nor in Jerusalum, but in spirit and truth (John 4:21).  This is part of His message that day, that the importance of the physical structures and empty rituals were going away and He was ushering in a new covenant.  When Jesus was crucified, the temple curtain that was what separated men from God in the temple was torn from top to bottom.   

This was a little hard for the Jews to swallow, since they treasured their temple and had waited a long time to get it built the way it stood.  The important concept to grab from these verses is that we have no way to God, but through Jesus.  No temple, no ritual, no tax, no anything that we can do without Jesus.  He came to show us the way, the truth, and the life and we have to recognize that.  We are here without a way to God, except for Jesus.  Jesus shows us a lot in this one act. Most importantly that He came to be the way for us and that the true temple is in each of us through Him. 

Question:  Have you ever asked for a sign from God?  Have you ever received a sign from God?  Has God ever shown you in some way that what you are most proud of has become a hindrance in your life (like the temple for the Jews)?