Prepare to Listen. Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Prayerfully Read John 2:13-22 13The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money-changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, ‘Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a market-place!’ 17His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’ 18The Jews then said to him, ‘What sign can you show us for doing this?’ 19Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ 20The Jews then said, ‘This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?’ 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After 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. Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect Read the story as if for the first time and be open to seeing it as brand new. What did you see for the first time? “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple,” proclaimed the prophet Malachi (3:1). The Jewish people expected that Messiah’s mission would begin by cleansing the temple, restoring right worship before right government. Jesus’ action and words that day created panic among the people, but the disciples remembered the psalmist’s words, “Zeal for your house will consume me” (Psalm 69:9). Two important lessons are worthy of reflection. First, Jesus redefined the temple. When “the Jews” (meaning religious rulers) demanded an explanation for his chaos, Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The temple was the symbol of God’s presence on earth, the place where forgiveness, healing, and encounters with God happened. Jesus said he’d replaced the temple. John writes, “He was speaking of the temple of his body.” In other words, what the temple once offered Jesus now offers. According to Wright, “Jesus believed himself to be called to speak and act as if he were the replacement of the temple and all that it stood for.” [1] Only he can offer forgiveness, healing and encounters with God today. Second, John points to Jesus’ resurrection. Only after Jesus was raised from the dead did the disciples have their aha moment of understanding. They remembered this event and Jesus’ words and believed. They were affirmed in their commitment to follow Jesus, regardless of cost. The resurrection changed everything for them and for us. What challenged or surprised you in this story today? Prayerfully Respond Lord, give me aha moments often because I forget so soon and begin to doubt or become complacent. Keep me alert to signs of resurrection, of newness in my life and world today. Amen. Live obediently. Be alert to signs of resurrection. [1] Wright, Tom. Spiritual and Religious. SPCK, 2017, p. 62.
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