Prove Your Authority

Introduction

The evidence continues to mount. You are the jury. You must decide who Jesus is. The latter part of John 2 has been used by some to prove that John’s evidence is not accurate. The end of chapter 2 is the cleansing of the temple. It takes place at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The other gospel writers have a cleansing of the temple at the end of Jesus’ ministry. In fact, it is the cleansing of the temple that brings about his death. Clearly, John has this cleansing at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Is there a contradiction? Is John being lose with the facts and deceiving us? If John is wrong about the time frame then his whole case falls apart.

Look at verse 12. “After this” referring to the previous event. Obviously, John wants us to see some sort of sequence. The ushering in of the Messianic age is to be followed with something profound. The free flowing wine announces the Messiah is here. John adds to this announcement with another announcement—Jesus is the new temple. How do we resolve this timing issue? Is it possible that there are two cleansings? Is it possible that Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning and also at the end of his ministry? Look at verse 18. What is the reaction of the temple leaders? There is no hatred. There is no desperation. There is no attempt to kill him. Instead there is an understanding that Jesus might indeed be operating at a different perspective and level. They are willing to entertain his prophetic actions if he can give an explanation.

It is indeed possible that Jesus cleanses the temple twice. He preached similar sermons twice—Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and the Sermon on the Plain in Luke 6. Why not two times to cleanse the temple with two different responses from the religious leaders? At the beginning a willingness to entertain an explanation. At the end no explanation will suffice. Why spend this much time with an explanation about a timing issue? Some try to demonstrate that scripture cannot be trusted. But let’s make no mistake—we are the jury. We have to decide about John’s truthfulness. We are asked to pronounce judgment about Jesus and ultimately about ourselves. We need a full and clear picture.

In our text, Jesus does something which would have raised eyebrows and which demanded an explanation. Jesus’ explanation is to call for us to look beyond the immediate and see something more significant. Today we will see the significance of Jesus’ deed at the temple.

The First Passover

Jesus announced his ministry in a small out of the way town in Galilee. His turning water into wine solidified the faith of those who were learning from him. That was enough. But now, he will announce his ministry in a larger place—Jerusalem at the Passover. The Passover was one of the three major feasts in the Jewish calendar. It was expected that every Jewish male would make his way to Jerusalem at the Passover. This feast was a time to celebrate what God had done for his people when he set them free from Egypt. The feast was a week long event with Passover being one specific day during that week.

People coming to Jerusalem would have to bring an animal for sacrifice. Many chose to not bring an animal but instead to buy the necessary sacrifice in Jerusalem. This was a legitimate business. The problem is not the buying of animals but the location. This is what disturbs Jesus. (This is different rationale than the other gospel accounts. Just one more clue that this is a different cleansing event.) The business has encroached on the Father’s house. This commerce was taking place on the temple grounds. A place that was to be a place of prayer and holiness. A place where there was to be separation from the holy and mundane. But this distinction had been blurred.

Jesus’ actions are met with a challenge from the religious leaders. Give us a sign that demonstrates your authority? How ironic. They want some miracle to convince them, when the very act of driving out the merchants is sign enough of authority. The obvious is lost in search of the profound. But Jesus does promise a sign—his own death and resurrection. The announcement that he is the Messiah (My father’s house) comes with the promise that the real temple will be destroyed and raised again. The spiritual significance is lost on these leaders. They are not looking for a Messiah that will die or even one that will need to be raised from the dead. Their Messiah will bring prosperity and peace.

Application

What are we to learn from this event? Two things. First, where is your zeal? Jesus entered the temple area to find that the profane had entered into the holy. His zeal was for restoring the holy. Look at Psalm 69. It is this song which is quoted in John 2. The psalmist is under great stress. Enemies surround him; he is insulted; he is mocked and ridiculed; his life is difficult because of his faith. While he wants his enemies to be cut off from God it is the end of the psalm that speaks to us. Look at verse 30. “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” It is not the profane which brings worship. Worship is about recognizing that the profane doesn’t have the final word. Where is your zeal? Too many times we focus on that which will make us feel good instead of focusing on the God who is worthy of praise. The moneychangers were trying to provide a service for the thousands that would come to Jerusalem to worship. Nothing wrong with the service, but its location made the worshiper focus on the profane rather than the holy.

We do that. We focus on songs that make us feel good; sermons that entertain; prayers that make us comfortable and fail to focus on the holy. We seek to make sure that order is maintained while failing to see that the holy one invites us into his presence. Where is your zeal? Is it the profane or the holy?

Second, Jesus has authority. The religious leaders wanted a sign to prove that Jesus could do this. He gave them a sign. He has given you a sign as well. Notice verses 23-25. Jesus did do signs in Jerusalem. These miracles confirmed his ministry. But Jesus didn’t read his own press clippings. He refused to allow the people to have the final word about how the direction of his ministry. Why? He knows what is in man’s heart.

What do people want? A leader. Direction. A sense of belonging. Love. To know that we matter. Someone to show them possibilities. Nothing wrong with these but Jesus was moving toward death and resurrection. He was moving toward spiritual life not earthly ease and comfort. His agenda was spiritual life not political freedom. His zeal was for bringing people to God.

In the book entitled, “The Whisper Test,” Mary Ann Bird writes: I grew up knowing I was different, and I hated it. I was born with a cleft palate, and when I started school, my classmates made it clear to me how I looked to others: a little girl with a misshapen lip, crooked nose, lopsided teeth, and garbled speech.

When schoolmates asked, “What happened to your lip?” I’d tell them I’d fallen and cut it on a piece of glass. Somehow it seemed more acceptable to have suffered an accident than to have been born different. I was convinced that no one outside my family could love me.

There was, however, a teacher in the second grade whom we all adored—Mrs. Leonard by name. She was short, round, happy—a sparkling lady.

Annually we had a hearing test. Mrs. Leonard gave the test to everyone in the class, and finally it was my turn. I knew from past years that as we stood against the door and covered one ear, the teacher sitting at her desk would whisper something, and we would have to repeat it back—things like “The sky is blue” or “Do you have new shoes?” I waited there for those words that God must have put into her mouth, those seven words that changed my life. Mrs. Leonard said, in her whisper, “I wish you were my little girl.”

God says to every person deformed by sin, “I wish you were my son” or “I wish you were my daughter.” This is where God’s zeal is. Where is yours? Invitation.

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