The Zeal of Jesus

February 16, 2014

John 2:12-17

In the last sermon we walked with Jesus to a wedding where He performed His first miracle. Now we walk with Jesus to Jerusalem to observe the Passover at the Temple.

One of the things I’ve learned about walking with Jesus is I never know exactly where He will lead next. The disciples may have felt this way in John 2. After following Jesus as “the Lamb of God,” they saw His gentleness. Next, they saw Him manifest His glory as He turned water to wine.

But now they see “another side” of Jesus. The gentle Lamb of God becomes the roaring Lion of Judah. With eyes flashing and whip cracking… muscles bulging and tables soaring, they witnessed a zeal that reminded them of Psalm 69:8-9. [It showed that the disciples knew their Bible!]

At the wedding, Jesus sat at the table. Here, He is throwing tables.
At the wedding, He worked quietly and privately. Here, He acts conspicuously and publicly.
At the wedding, He manifested His glory. Here, He displayed His indignation.
At the wedding, He brought joy. Here, He brings judgment.

This event took place in the spring. The Passover was in the Jewish month Nisan, which corresponds with March-April on our calendar.

Spring is only about month away! (Do I hear an “amen?”). Soon families will begin spring cleaning at their house. In our text Jesus is doing some “spring cleaning” at His House!

I. The VISIT to the TEMPLE (v. 13).

The Passover was an annual feast. John records three Passovers (2:13; 6:1; 11:55). This indicates Jesus’ public ministry was about 3½ years long. This corresponds with Daniel’s prophecy (9:27).

A. A FREQUENT practice. Jesus attended the Temple regularly.

1. As an infant

2. As a child

3. For some people “God’s House” isn’t important and they only come when it is convenient.

If your relationship with God isn’t exciting enough to make you want to come to church to worship Him then something is very wrong with your relationship.

•I wouldn’t trust something to get me into heaven if it couldn’t even get me to church.

B. A FULFILLMENT of prophecy (vs.16-17 cf. Mal. 3:1).

This prophecy applies to both His first and second coming.

At His first coming, the Jews were expecting a military leader to drive out the Roman’s from their land. They didn’t recognize Him as Messiah when He came SUDDENLY into the Temple and drove out the garbage.