INTRO TO THE GOSPEL OF JOHN, Sarah Barry
JESUS CLEARS THE TEMPLE
Passage: John 2:12~25  
Key verse: 16
12 After this he went down to Capernaum(A) with his mother(B) and brothers(C) and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts(D)
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover,(E) Jesus went up to Jerusalem.(F) 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves,(G) and others sitting at tables exchanging money.(H) 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house(I) into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a](J)
18 The Jews(K) then responded to him, “What sign(L) can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”(M)
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”(N)
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.(O) 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said.(P) Then they believed the scripture(Q) and the words that Jesus had spoken.
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival,(R) many people saw the signs(S) he was performing and believed(T) in his name.[b] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind,(U) for he knew what was in each person.(V)
Cross references
- John 2:12 : S Mt 4:13
- John 2:12 : S Mt 12:46
- John 2:12 : S Mt 12:46
- John 2:13 : 2:14-16pp — Mt 21:12, 13; Mk 11:15-17; Lk 19:45, 46
- John 2:13 : S Jn 11:55
- John 2:13 : Dt 16:1-6; Lk 2:41
- John 2:14 : Lev 1:14; Dt 14:26
- John 2:14 : Dt 14:25
- John 2:16 : Lk 2:49
- John 2:17 : Ps 69:9
- John 2:18 : S Jn 1:19
- John 2:18 : S ver 11
- John 2:18 : S Mt 12:38
- John 2:19 : S Mt 16:21; 26:61; 27:40; Mk 14:58; 15:29; Ac 6:14
- John 2:21 : 1Co 6:19
- John 2:22 : Lk 24:5-8; Jn 12:16; 14:26
- John 2:22 : Ps 16:10; S Lk 24:27
- John 2:23 : ver 13
- John 2:23 : S ver 11
- John 2:23 : S Jn 3:15
- John 2:25 : Isa 11:3
- John 2:25 : Dt 31:21; 1Ki 8:39; S Mt 9:4; Jn 6:61, 64; 13:11
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. Get these out of here! (12-16)
Jesus went up to Jerusalem, to the temple. He was angry. The religious leaders had turned his Father's house into a market. They didn't pray; they only thought about how to make money. They made the worship of God convenient--and superficial. Jesus cleansed his Father's house, the temple, by his authority as the Son, and by the authority of truth.
2. The temple was his body (17-21)
When the Jews demanded his credentials, he gave them a riddle (19). They would destroy his body on the cross, but God would raise him from death. He was the perfect sacrifice for sin.
3. His disciples believed his word (22-25)
His disciples didn't understand, either--but they accepted Jesus as the Christ. They based their belief on scripture and his word. Faith that rests on feelings or miracles will evaporate.
Prayer: Lord, cleanse my heart as you cleansed the temple. Teach me faith that rests on your word.
One Word: Don't make Jesus angry