AUTHORITY TO CLEANSE

AUTHORITY TO CLEANSE

TEXT: JOHN 2:12-22 http://www.biblica.com/bible/verse/?q=John2&niv=yes

PARAPHRASE – John 2:12-22

After attending the wedding banquet Jesus went to Capernaum with his mother, brothers and disciples where they all stayed for a few days.

Then when it was getting close to the time of the Passover he went to Jerusalem where he found that cattle, sheep and doves were being sold and money was being exchanged in the temple courts. Making a whip out of chords he drove the sheep and cattle from the temple courts, scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables – shouting to those who were selling doves, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!

As he did this, his disciples remembered that in the Psalms it says “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

In contrast, the Jews were demanding that Jesus perform a miraculous sign to prove he had authority to do what he had done.

Jesus responded to them by saying “Destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days.”

Taking him literally, the Jews asked Jesus since it had taken 46 years to build the temple, how was he going to rebuilt it in three days – not realizing the temple he spoke of was his body. After the resurrection his disciples remembered what he had said to the Jews and they believed the Scripture and the words he had spoken.

PRINCIPLES – John 2:12-22

I. John told his first century readers that Jesus had authority to cleanse the Temple.

II. How does John tell his first century readers that Jesus had authority to cleanse the Temple?

III. John tells his first century readers that Jesus had authority to cleanse the Temple because:

A. It was His Father’s house v 13-16

B. Scripture foretold it v 17

C. His resurrected body was the new Temple v 18-22


IV. John tells us today that Jesus has authority to cleanse the Church.

V. How does John tell us today that Jesus has authority to cleanse the Church?

VI. John tells us today that Jesus has authority to cleanse the Church because:

A. It’s His Father’s house v 13-16

B. Scripture foretells it v 17

C. His resurrected body is the Church v 17-22

PRAYER

Our Father, we thank You for Your Son’s Resurrection, for His Body the Church.

Our Father, forgive us when we desecrate His Body with materialism and privilege.

Our Father, we praise You for Your Word foretelling of Your Son’s cleansing.

Our Father, we praise You for Your Son’s authority to do what he does.

Our Father, help our faith to grow strong in Your Son for what he has done.

Our Father, we pray all of this in the Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Amen.

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