Destroy This Temple
John 2:18-22
INTRO: Good morning church. Today we will continue in John chapter 2, John 2:18-22. Last time we saw Jesus had declared that those who were ruling in the temple complex had profaned the temple because of the commerce that they have been conducting there.
Jesus has challenged their authority to do this, and He has driven out the animals, sellers, and the money changers from the temple courts. The Jews want to know by what authority Jesus is doing these things and that in and of itself is a pretty sad statement. They do not see Jesus’ cleansing as; Here is the Lord entering His temple, being zealous for pure worship, telling them this is my father's house and clearing out the traders, as we noted was predicted in Zachariah 14:21. Rather than being introspective about this, they want to get back to doing the things they've been doing.
They say, “Who gives you the right to do this? “Who do you think you are to come in here and upset things that we've been doing all this time? “Who says that you have any authority to overturn our tables and to drive out these animals?”
That's where we are in our text in John chapter 2. Let’s reread starting in verse 13 and then pick up in verse 18 to get the whole scene.
John 2:13-22, “13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 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. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 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.”[ESV]
This is an interesting turn of events. The religious leaders say, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”[NAS] In other words, “Who do you think you are? “We need some authority before we believe you.” This is certainly going at Jesus directly. That is why the disciples remember this phrase; zeal for your house will consume me.
The leaders are challenging Jesus’ authority, wanting to justify their own actions, discredit Him, and get back to the ‘worship’ they want to have it in the temple courts. Therefore, Jesus says He will give them an appropriate sign for their problem.
I. The Sign - Jesus’ response is fascinating. Verse 19, “…Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
A. One of the things that we need to contextually consider is that John has quite a habit of marking out misunderstandings throughout this gospel. In particular he backs up a lot of them right here.
1. Think about what we saw as a lack of understanding when Jesus performs the miracle of turning the water to wine at the wedding in Cana. Remember the master or steward of this feast had no idea where the wine was from. He said to the groom, “You have saved the best for last.” There we see a misunderstanding. Here again, the people, as this statement is made, do not understand what Jesus is talking about.
2. When we get to chapter 3, we are going to see Jesus engage Nicodemus. Nicodemus does not understand what it means to be born again or born of the spirit.
3. When we get to chapter 4, the woman at the well, does not understand what this living water is that Jesus is offering.
B. I suggest what John is pointing out is that people do not understand. They do not comprehend His purpose. They do not observe Him as the Son of God, yet. People do not understand who He is. We will see this misunderstanding again in chapter 6, and chapter 13. It is going to keep happening in John's Gospel for us to observe. Keep that in mind as we look at this text.
1. What the Jews say in verse 20 is interesting. “The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”” Immediately they begin to think about the physical temple as Jesus is standing in the temple complex. They think Jesus is talking about this physical structure.
2. Jesus knew the hearts of men and He knew what was precipitating from the temple cleansing. They think He is talking about the temple itself. Recorded elsewhere Jesus is going talk about the destruction of the temple. That is not the point here. At this point, we are given the picture of them not understanding. They do not realize what Jesus is talking about.
3. I have read this expansion of the Temple was started around 18 B.C. by Herod the Great. The Temple itself was functional within three and a half years from the start of construction, allowing for dedication and worship.
4. As an aside, while the main structures were largely completed during Herod's reign, construction at the complex continued for decades, possibly until the 60s AD, as reflected in Josephus' reference to additions under the procurator Lucceius Albinus (c. 62–64 AD). A year or so later the Jewish revolt against Rome begins in Judea. In response Titus leads in the Roman forces around 69 AD. Jerusalem is conquered and the temple (and much of the city) is destroyed in September of AD 70.
C. This misunderstanding is crucial in what John tells us. Repeatedly, this statement Jesus makes will be the linchpin to get Jesus killed. That's why verse 17, “zeal for your house will consume me”, is a critical, prophetic statement. A prophetic statement made by David in Psalm 69. The disciples are seeing the prophecy here as well and applying it to Jesus.
1. Let’s look at where we see this; like in Matthew chapter 26, when Jesus is on trial and they're unable to find any witnesses to convict Him and put Him to death. Matthew 26:59f – “59 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’””[ESV] That's not what Jesus said, not even close to what Jesus said.
2. Then we see Jesus on the cross. What are the people saying as they go by Him in Matthew 27? Matthew 27:39f – “39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.””
3. This statement by Jesus becomes a central peg to what the Jews are going to use against Him. He said the temple of God was going to be destroyed. That's the reason we should crucify Him. Then as the people go by, if you're really the Son of God, then come on down. You said you could do something miraculous like destroy our temple and raise it in three days. Here we are killing you. You're truly not God, are you?
D. When we look carefully at it, we see that Jesus doesn't say that He would destroy the temple. He said that they would. He says destroy this temple. That's what you are going to do, but I'm going to raise it up three days later.
1. Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders questioning Him; You are in the destroying process. You are the ones that are destroying the temple. That might have caused them to understand things a bit differently if they had truly listened to what Jesus was saying. Unfortunately, they didn't.
2. Jesus is prophesying His death and is referring to Himself as John narrates in verse 21, speaking about the temple of His body, and is making this prophetic statement. We see how closely that connects to the prophecy of David, zeal for your house will consume me. He says that to them; You're going to destroy this temple, but I'm going to raise it up in three days.
E. I strongly think this is the reason why John is so closely connecting this event to the Passover. We saw this in verse 13. John starts this by saying it’s the Passover to show us that this death is not accidental or merely an incident in history. Jesus is the prepared Passover lamb who is going to die for the sins of the world.
1. His zeal for His Father, His desire for pure worship and a right relationship with God is going to get Him killed according to the plan of God because He is the lamb that is to be slaughtered. It is interesting to see John work this together. Here he is pointing out that Jesus is causing hostility. He is making enemies. They are going to consume Him because of His zeal.
2. John is subtly saying that this is all according to the plan. He is the Passover lamb. Just because all this hostility is pouring upon Him does not mean that this is outside the bounds of God's purposes. Everything is going according to plan as the Passover lamb is being prepared to be sacrificed for the sins of the people.
F. I have a question right here. Why does Jesus call Himself the temple? Why does Jesus intentionally bring about this misunderstanding? If Jesus had only desired to predict the resurrection then He could have done so like He did in the other Gospel accounts. Matthew 12:39-40, Jesus answered them – “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” He could have emphasized resurrection alone. He doesn't do that here. He intentionally ties Himself to the temple by calling Himself the temple.
II. Destroy the temple. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Why is Jesus doing that? Why does Jesus want to connect Himself, His body, to the temple concept?
A. Let’s look in the Old Testament and put ourselves in the mind of Israel for a moment. Begin to feel the weight and the significance of what the temple meant to those people.
1. The most obvious thing about the temple of God is, of course, this was where the presence of God was. This was the image of the relationship of God being with His people. The idea of the tabernacle and also of the temple, is that God is with us. His presence is with us.
2. It symbolized a relationship with God, and that we are in His good graces. When we read those prophetic images, like the one in Ezekiel where God leaves the temple, it is meaningful to say that God is no longer with His people. He's no longer in relationship with them and judgment is due them.
B. We also should consider what made the temple extremely important is that this is where atonement was made. This is where people came for atonement. We've observed in Acts, and our study of the Old Testament, that there are three times the people had to come to Jerusalem to be able to give their offerings and sacrifices at the temple. Here we have atonement images in all three instances as a reminder of what God was doing for them.
1. Atonement was made in the Holy of Holies. The high priest would go into that place where the Ark of the Covenant was, sprinkling blood on the mercy seat. This was the place where God was meeting His people, where atonement was being found and mercy would be dispensed.
2. Consider also the significance of what was in the Ark of the Covenant. That imagery reaches into this as well. There's a reason why there are three things that are contained in that Ark of the Covenant.
a. The first thing that's always noted is the tablets of stone symbolizing the law of God. This is the memorial of God giving His laws. It is a memorial of the covenant with His people.
b. Remember also Aaron's rod is in the Ark of the Covenant. It played an important part in the miracles of God's deliverance of the people out of Egypt. It is a reminder of God's powerful hand, the miraculous deliverance that God would give the people.
c. Third, we also see a pot of manna. That showed God’s provision as they wandered through the wilderness. God miraculously is providing and taking care of His people. These three things were not just idle things in the Ark of the Covenant.
3. From top to bottom, the temple has all kinds of symbolism. The place where God’s presence is symbolized. It was in there where mercy and atonement are found, where blood was sprinkled. Including what was inside the Ark of the Covenant, symbolizing the covenant and the law, and God's deliverance, and God's blessings. The temple was a very important structure. It embodies all of what God had promised for Israel from His presence to His blessings to His deliverance.
C. Jesus transfers all of that imagery, all of that symbolism onto Himself. It is staggering to think of all that power, of what the temple stood for to Israel, and all that was included in that imagery.
1. Jesus transfers all that meaning and places it directly upon Himself. This is where we come in contact with the Father and have a relationship with the Father.
2. What we're going to observe is Jesus showing the irrelevance of the temple altogether. Jesus is saying by referring to Himself as the temple, this is where God is.
This is where you come to the Father.
This is where you learn about the Father.
In Jesus you find a relationship with the Father.
Coming to Jesus now rather than the temple is how one finds atonement.
When you come to Jesus now, there is where you find mercy.
3. Jesus is the embodiment of the law. The tablets of stone are not relevant and not necessary. Jesus embodies all of the law not only in His fulfillment, but also in His revelation. Hebrews 1:1-2, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”
He is the embodiment of the law of God.
He is the place where God miraculously delivers His people.
He is a prophet like Moses who delivers people out of their spiritual bondage of slavery to sin and brings them deliverance and brings them into covenant relationship with God.
4. It also pictures a pouring out of blessings. A picture Paul would use throughout Ephesians.
Every spiritual blessing is in Christ.
They are no longer tied to the temple.
They are not being tied to a physical structure or being tied to the physical Israel.
D. Perhaps most important in what John is telling us is the temple was the place where you worship God. That's what this has been about. Their worship is corrupted. That is a warning for us today as well. Somebody once said when asked how to handle corruption in a congregation; “Remember What Would Jesus Do, and then consider—overturning the tables and making a whip of cords is within the realm of possibilities.”
1. Jesus comes into the temple complex and what's the problem? It's a marketplace. It's not a place of prayer. It's not a place of thanksgiving. It's not truly a place of worship anymore. It's a place of buying and selling, and graft. It's about business.
2. Jesus is the place of worship. If you're going to worship the Father, you must be in connection with Jesus. He is now that very location. I think that is the significance of what Jesus is doing, what He is driving at, and is so important for us to understand when we see He would be crucified and then raised from the dead three days later.
3. I marvel at this imagery that the true temple of God is now going to be revealed in Jesus. Yes, they are going to destroy this temple in that they are going to destroy the human body, but Christ is the temple that can not be destroyed. This is the place where we come in contact with God. There's nothing that you can do to get rid of that.
E. What a contrast that is to the physical temple that would be overrun, rebelled against and destroyed again and again. All the problems that would happen in Jerusalem and the temple, even to what we see today, is completely irrelevant now because that has all been transferred to Jesus. Jesus is the location.
1. What Jesus is doing is not merely cleansing the temple; He is replacing the whole thing. He is not cleansing the temple and getting the Old Law back on track.
2. He says what you're doing is wrong. You're out of fellowship with God. Your worship is improper. He's eliminating the whole thing and replacing it and saying you need to come to me.
F. This is a theme that we will see again as we go forward in our look at John’s Gospel. Let me preview.
1. Think about Nicodemus in chapter 3. What's He telling Nicodemus about being in the kingdom of God? You must believe in the Son.
2. What's He telling the woman at the well? You have to come to me. He tells her that worship to God will not be on the mountain nor in Jerusalem. We don’t care about temples in Jerusalem anymore. Christ is the total replacement.
3. Jesus is the true center of worship. The risen Lord is the place where God is revealed, where forgiveness is found, where the renewal is known, and where God's fellowship is experienced and forever maintained.
G. Jesus is doing something extraordinary here and we can see why the antagonism would be so great. I suspect, even if they had begun to understand what Jesus was saying, it probably would have pushed them faster to killing him.
Jesus is showing them the true temple.
When you worship Jesus, you're worshiping God.
When you come to Jesus, you find the forgiveness of God.
When you come to Jesus, you find the mercy of God.
When you come to Jesus, you find the deliverance of God.
When you come to Jesus, you find the blessings of God.
When you come to Jesus, you find the covenant law of God.
Zeal for your house will consume me is exactly the point that John observes for us.
CONCLUSION:
I’ll mention a few points to consider as we wrap this up.
The first, we see John noting that the Jews ask for a sign. They are asking, what authority do you have to come in here and cleanse the temple? Who do you think you are? The New American Standard says, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”[NASB] Here Jesus uses resurrection as His authority.
That is really important. You need to believe in who I am. When I rise from the dead that settles everything. It does, it proves that He is divine, that He is God, and that everything He said about His relationship with the Father is true. He has the right to say that these people are out of relationship with God.
He has the right to tell people that the only way to come to the Father is through Him.
The only way to worship God properly is through Him.
He has the right to tell people if you seek any other path, you're going to destruction.
The reason why He can do that is the resurrection.
Destroy this temple, and I'll raise it up in three days. The resurrection becomes the proof.
We note verse 22. “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.”[ESV] After the resurrection, the disciples now understand this. When the resurrection happens, they think back to this and realize that is the authoritative moment.
That gives us great hope. Now if you want to know why you don't have to listen to anybody else, anybody else who claims to be a prophet or somebody sent from God or claiming to have a special revelation or thinks they have something that's worthy of sharing from God, it is because you can't trump resurrection. Matthew 17:5 – “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” You find this also in Mark 9:7 and Luke 9:35. The resurrection shows us this is the Son and we need to listen to what He has to say.
Second, what's John's purpose in this gospel? So that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. These events have that intended effect.
Remember what we saw at the wedding in Cana Jesus performs the miracle and verse 11 tells us, and His disciples believed him. Jesus reveals His glory, the disciples then believe in who He is. It does the same thing here, verse 22, when He's raised from the dead, what do they do? They believe the scripture and they believe everything that Jesus said.
Third, Jesus is the place where God comes to His people. Jesus is the place that we need to turn to. The more that I study this gospel, the more I am astounded by loose Christianity in the world that declares, you can find any way you want to God. When I hear this I realize they have not studied John very well because John is very adamant, scene after scene, driving home the point that Jesus is the one true way.
The only place to find worship in God is through His son, Jesus Christ. It is the only place that we find atonement, mercy, forgiveness, blessings, and deliverance. There's no other.
Jesus is that one place. John is placing the supremacy of Christ in our hearts. Teaching us to appreciate who He is, seeing Him as way more than just a man, far more than just a prophet. Not just somebody who did good works.
He is somebody to be obeyed, to be awestruck by, to be revered and to follow because He is the only way to God and there is no other.
The message is yours. The invitation is there for any who have a need to be baptized into Christ, or those who need prayers of faithful people, to come forward while we stand and sing.
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Reference Sermon: Brent Kercheville
