Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!

John 2:12-25

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me. 

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.  But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

John places this incident at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the other Gospels at the end. He may be overruling strict chronology for more important considerations. Jesus, the Messiah, visits 'his' Temple and asserts his unique authority - to be instantly questioned by the authorities about his right to do so.

Why?

Jesus cleans the temple courts to show his authority, he is the Messiah. 

Some people treat the church as a business place, churches is place for worship and prayer, so Jesus angry with those people make the Temple like the market.

Jesus will raise it again in three days, this means his raising from the dead.

Jesus knew what was in each person, nothing can hide from the Lord.

---------------

1.耶穌潔淨聖殿：在外邦人院擺攤賣東西，需要祭司同意，當然有官商勾結的問題。如果在聖殿外面買賣，沒有關係！教會是彼此激勵、服持的地方

2.猶太人質疑耶穌的權柄：他們指控耶穌，耶穌用復活來指控他們。

3.耶穌不將自己交託給他們，神渴望把他交託給我們。耶穌知道他們指相信神蹟，不相信神，不是真正承認耶穌！我們不僅相信神蹟也相信祂，我們把自己交給神，相信跟隨祂。祂也把生命、話語交給我們！

----------------

How?

Be humble before the Lord and with love to treat others. For Jesus is the Lord!