Taking on the temple tantrum

Part 3 of "Broken for Us"--Third Sunday of Lent

The BIG Idea:

Lent is a time for us to gather with God's people regularly in worship and to trust our daily work to Jesus. The zeal Jesus has for His work is much stronger than the zeal we have for our work. Our attitude toward Worship reflects our attitude toward God. Jesus came to have a relationship with us. It is a relationship built on a surrendered life. The presence of God is always with us, but we must choose to recognize God's presence. The commitment Jesus has to us is for eternity!

Key Scripture for the Day:

¹³ The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. ¹⁵ And He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; ¹⁶ and to those who were selling the doves He said,  Take these things away from here; stop making My Father's house a place of business! ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written: Zeal for Your house will consume me.  ¹⁸ The Jews then said to Him, What sign do You show us as Your authority 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 took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?  ²¹ But He was speaking about the temple of His body. ²² So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. John 2:13-22 (NASB)

ILLUSTRATION: The Gospel of John film - Begins at 00:16:20; Ends at 00:19:37

Jesus doesn't just confront with words; He takes direct action.

The Passover was the most important of the three religious feasts celebrated at the time of Jesus earthly ministry.

There were four courts in the Temple.

-        The Court of the Priests (outside the Holy of Holies)

-        The Court of the Jewish Males

-        The Court of the Jewish Women

-        The Court of the Gentiles (Location of the event mentioned in John 2)

But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel. Romans 9:6 (NASB)

We worship our work, work at our play, and play at our worship. Anonymous Theologian

I was glad when they said to me, "Let' s go to the house of the Lord." --Psalm 122:1 (NASB)

Our attitude toward Worship reflects our attitude toward God.

For zeal for Your house has consumed me, And the taunts of those who taunt You have fallen on me. --Psalm 69:9 (NASB)

With the Resurrection of Jesus, God raised up a new Temple in just three days.

And they said, "Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was still alive, He said, 'After three days I am rising.' --Matthew 27:63 (NASB)

The zeal of religious leaders for Herod's temple (Second Temple period) will consume the true Temple, Jesus the Christ.

God would raise up God's sacrifice (JESUS) as the center of our Worship.

The crucifixion marks the destruction of the true Temple that is, Jesus's community of disciples as His Temple which was reconstituted upon His return after His Resurrection. (John 20:19-29)

The point of the actions Jesus took that day was to show that these things were unnecessary to get to God.

²² For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them on the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices. ²³ But this is ^]what I commanded them, saying, 'Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you will be My people; and you shall walk entirely in the way which I command you, so that it may go well for you.' --Jeremiah 7:22-23 (NASB)

As for My sacrificial gifts, they sacrifice the flesh and eat it, but the Lord has taken no delight in them. Now He will remember their guilt, and discipline them for their sins; They will return to Egypt. --Hosea 8:13 (NASB)

For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offering. --Psalm 51:16 (NASB)

Jesus cares about our worship, especially when we are distracted from that worship by concerns of this world.

God is NOT confined to a floor plan.

Only Jesus can cleanse our "temple."

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. --Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

Create in me a clean heart, God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. --Psalm 51:10 (NASB)

Jesus came to have a relationship with us. It is a relationship built on a surrendered life.

-        Be hungry for His presence.

-        Recognize His presence

-        Let the Holy Spirit increase the pace of your heart.

Our pride often prevents us from feeling the touch of God.

The antidote for pride is God-centered commitment.

The presence of God is always with us, but we must choose to recognize God's presence.

Teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. --Matthew 28:20 (NASB)

 

Questions for Reflection:

Why do we struggle with seeing Jesus as someone who would throw a "Temple Tantrum?"

Why was Jesus angry?

What did Jesus accomplish through His actions on the Temple Mount that day?

Why was the commitment of the Gentiles wanting to be on the Temple Mount so important to Jesus?

Why were the religious leaders so intent on removing the threat of Jesus from the Temple?

Is there something in your life that is defiling God's temple?

What do you think of when you think of the cross?

Why is worship so important to our relationship with Jesus?

Who or what is at the center of your true worship?