Well, the passage we're going to look at is in John 2 to confront you and comfort you with the fact that Jesus has authority of everything in this life, but there is more. He has authority over death. Let me read for you John 2:13-22.
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade." His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore 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.
It's Passover, and it is the occasion of Jesus' first major public confrontation with the Jewish leaders. Jesus is filled with righteous anger at what these leaders had done to God's house of worship; this God-appointed place of prayer and worship had been turned into a place of commerce. And he's not afraid to take on these leaders; he's not afraid to get in the way of their desires for God's house.
When the disciples see the decisive, angry actions of Christ, they remembered a verse in Psalm 69:9, which simply says, "For zeal for your house has consumed me." This verse in the Psalms is clearly prophesying this moment in the life of Jesus--another confirmation of his Messiahship. This is the beginning of that almost daily conflict that will take place between Jesus, the priests, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the religious leaders of this day. This conflict will finally result in his trial, execution, and death. The presence of Jesus is a huge challenge to the religious system of the day. These religious leaders had drifted so far from the truth that not only had they polluted the temple, but they were unable to recognize the Messiah even though he was right there in front of them.
This passage sits as a warning for us. May we never make Christianity what we want it to be. It must never be formed by what we want, but what God, in his wisdom and love, wants for us. The church is not about us, it's not about what we want out of it, but what God wants for our good and his glory.
After Jesus did what he did, these leaders ask what authority he has for doing what he has done in ending their temple commercial enterprise. Jesus' answer is both curious and powerful. He's essentially saying, "You have no idea who I am. If you did, you would know that there is nothing you can do to me. There is no way you can stop me and the mission of grace to which I've been appointed." Now, because he uses temple language, the answer confuses these leaders. But he's talking about his own body. And in his answer, Jesus is predicting his resurrection, essentially saying to these leaders, "There will be a day when you put me to death, but not even death will be able to hold me because I AM the resurrection and the life."
I love this. There's nothing in heaven and on earth that can stop your Lord or the march of his redeeming plan for your eternal good. Nothing!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. In what ways have you made Christianity what you want it to be, forming it into your own image and not what it actually is? How have you seen your heart more committed to making a relationship with God about you and your desires as opposed to what good God wants to do in your life for his glory? Take some time right now to ask the Lord for forgiveness and request that he guide you into what he thinks is best for you and your life.
2. Where is it a struggle for you to believe that Jesus has authority over you and every detail of your life? Why do you think it's difficult for you to believe that his authority rests over all aspects of your life and every detail of the universe?
3. In what ways can God's grace come into your heart and mind in a way that helps you trust him when life is messy and chaotic? What experiences from your life have led you to wrestle with the idea that God has a redeeming plan for your eternal good? What experiences from your life have led you to believe with confidence that God has a redeeming plan for your eternal good?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Why do you think it's hard for you to trust that God has a plan for every detail of your life and that his plan is good? As you've looked at me and how I respond to difficult situations, do you think I've struggled to believe that God has a plan for my life and that his plan is good?
• Let's take some time and pray together that God would help us to trust him when things are good and trust him when things are difficult.
For Older Children:
• As you've read about him or studied him, how has Jesus blown your categories? Why do you think Jesus refers to himself as the temple in this Scripture? Why is that relevant to you personally?
• Why do you think it's hard for you to trust that God has a plan for every detail of your life and that his plan is good? As you've looked at me and how I respond to difficult situations, do you think I've struggled to believe that God has a plan for my life and that his plan is good? How can we keep each other accountable to trusting God when it seems impossible to do so?
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