John 2:13-22 (NRSV)
Read John 2:13-22 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Verse 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Verse 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. Verse 16He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!" Verse 17His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me." Verse 18The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Verse 19Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Verse 20The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?" Verse 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. Verse 22After 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.
Devotion
Further reflection on this week's gospel reading suggests
that there are standards or principles by which God
operates. When these principles or standards are
violated, God acts. Why else would Jesus act so harshly?
As Jesus disrupts the marketing in the temple, might
Jesus be saying to us that some of the disruptions in
our lives, in the nation and in the church are acts of
God to redirect our paths? It is hard to know one way
or the other. What we can affirm is that Jesus can be a
disruptive force.
After he cleansed the temple, Jesus was asked about
his authority for taking this drastic action. His response
did not directly answer their questions, and their
interpretation of his response was also amiss. This drives
home a point that all who wish to follow Jesus must
continue to seek to understand his word, and strive to
walk in obedience.
Prayer
Lord, help me to understand your word to me. Amen.