These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
Review…
- John 1:1-51 – It is all about the Word…
- Jesus – the Word – is God – and became a man – to live a perfect life – then die for our sins!
- John the Baptist came to prepare the way for Jesus – show men they needed to be clean
- John knew Jesus was the Messiah – the Lamb of God – come to save the world from sin…
- Jesus met Philip in Galilee – Philip told Nathaniel about Jesus but he did not believe…
- So Philip told him to go and see Jesus for himself – Jesus had seen him under a tree…
- Then Nathaniel believed – you are the Christ – the King of Israel!
- Greater things – you will see heaven opened – Jesus is the ladder to get to God!
- John 2:1-12 – The wedding at Cana…
- Jesus and the 6 disciples were invited to a wedding…
- They ran out of wine – Mary the mother of Jesus – told him about the problem…
- Mary told the servants – whatever Jesus says – do it!
- The servants filled up 6 large pots full of water – and when they served it – it was wine!
- The master of the ceremony congratulated the bridegroom on the quality of the wine…
- Unlike in the world – the best had been saved for last!
- Jesus first miracle – turning water into wine…
- Jesus came to give us the New Covenant / the New Wine – Luke 5:37-38…
- The New Wine of Jesus is what allows us to enjoy the Wedding of the Lamb!
- Jesus – the Word – is God – and became a man – to live a perfect life – then die for our sins!
Going up to Jerusalem for the Passover… (4 things)
- 1st – A family tradition... vs. 12-13
- Jesus went with his mother – the 6 disciples – and his brothers to Capernaum…
- After only a few days there – the time came to go to Jerusalem for the Passover…
- The Law required every Jew to attend the Passover every year – Exodus 23:14-17…
- And Jesus and his family had attended every year since He was a little boy…
- Luke 2:41 – “His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.”
- Parents – take the time to establish good traditions / habits in the life of your kids…
- Celebrate ‘Resurrection Sunday’ / Passover – teaching your kids about the cross…
- Encourage your children to be in the Word – to daily read their Bible…
- Not just Bible stories – but let them dig into the Word – they can handle it…
- Encourage them to ask questions – to investigate and explore their faith…
- Not just hanging onto their parent’s faith – but let them get to know Jesus personally!
- I know a lot of parents who let their kids be out all night at a disco…
- But are hesitant – even refuse – to let their kids go to church – hang out with the Lord…
- Cherish the gifts that God has given to you – your children – watch over them…
- Know where you children are – keep them from things that will harm them…
- But at the same time – encourage them to seek after the Lord!
- Every parent wants their children to be successful – to have a fruitful life…
- We give them the best education we possibly can – teach them to work hard…
- But so often we miss the key ingredient – teach them to abide in Jesus…
- The only way our kids will be successful – fruitful in life – is in Christ!
- When I was 18 – my father took me aside and told me – ‘You are no longer my son’…
- I had been a tough teenager – but never been disowned – I wondered what I’d done…
- His point was I belonged to God now – his job was done – he had led me to Jesus!
- The greatest gift we can give to our kids – is to make them God’s kids!
- III John 1:4 -“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children live in the truth.”
- 2nd – Cleansing the Temple… vs. 14-17
- There has been some confusion as to when this event occurred in Jesus’ ministry…
- According to Mark 11:15 / Luke 19:45 – it happened at the end of Jesus’’ ministry…
- Yet here in John it seems to occur at the VERY beginning of Jesus’ ministry…
- The answer is that Jesus ‘cleansed the Temple’ on two different occasions…
- They did not learn the lesson the 1st time – Jesus repeated it at the end of His ministry!
- The difference was – at the end there was also a warning given to Israel…
- Just before going into a Temple he cursed a fig tree – the nation of Israel…
- Mark 11:14 – “Jesus said to it, “Let no one eat fruit from you ever again…”
- Israel should have been bearing good fruit for the Kingdom of God…
- Because they missed Jesus – apart from Jesus – they would never bear fruit…
- God will repeat a lesson – if we do not learn the first time around…
- But there is a danger of hardening our heart towards the truth…
- That does not mean God does not keep fighting for us – but there will come a point…
- Hebrews 3:15 – “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…”
- If we continually choose be hard headed – refusing to obey the Lord…
- God will give us what we want – we will have a life that bears no fruit for God
- The Temple – the Jewish religion – had become a moneymaking industry…
- One that took advantage of the poor and those who were seeking to know God…
- Jesus made a whip and drove out those selling – doves and animals for sacrifice…
- Even if you brought your own sacrifice – it had to be perfect…
- The priests would always find a flaw – so you had to buy one of theirs…
- Of course the cost of their pre-approved animals was double or triple the going rate!
- The dove – a poor man’s sacrifice for those who could not afford a lamb…
- Even those who sold the doves – charged exuberant prices – robbing the poor…
- He poured out the money and overturned the tables of the money exchangers…
- All Jews were required to pay the Temple tax – Matthew 17:24
- The tax and all animal purchases had to be paid with a ‘Sanctuary Shekel’…
- The exchange rate for which was comparable to extortion!
- The disciples remembered what was written – ‘the zeal for Your house has eaten me up…’
- The Temple was supposed to be a place where you could meet with God – Prayer
- Instead they made it a ‘house of merchandise’ – a way to make money off of others
- And it frankly made Jesus ANGRY – they were keeping men from God!
- Jesus got angry – but never sinned – so you can be angry but not sin…
- Ephesians 4:26 – “Be angry, and do not sin…”
- There are times when we as believers in Jesus – we should be angry…
- Angry when evil is presented by the world as good / and good as evil!
- Isaiah 5:20 – “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…”
- When you see movies depict ‘living together’ as an acceptable lifestyle…
- When you see adds that make it look ‘cool’ to be drunk…
- Not angry at sinners – they need our help – but angry at sin…
- We need to speak out – we need to take action – because it destroys lives…
- Angry when people market Jesus as a way to make money…
- I cannot help but think of ‘Christian bookstores’ – marketing ‘Christianity’…
- We have Jesus T-Shirts / Jesus bracelets / and countless books about Jesus…
- Many men have made fortunes marketing Jesus as if He was some famous actor!
- Or those who ‘have concerts’ in order to ‘raise funds’ for God…
- It undermines the creditability of the Gospel message…
- People get the idea that Jesus is just another scam – a way to make money…
- Angry when churches only talk about money…
- Churches are to be a place where people come to learn about the Lord…
- Instead people are taught about a God who only wants their money…
- God does not want or need our money – He is the creator of Heaven and Earth!
- His church should be a place of prayer – where men can come to know God!
- I fear if Jesus walked into many churches today He would overturn a lot of tables!
- 3rd – Seeking a sign… vs. 18-22
- The Jews responded to Jesus cleansing – ‘Show us sign…’
- They were not happy Jesus had made a mess of the Temple…
- They wanted Him to prove his authority – prove He was the Messiah…
- It was a valid request – because at this point Jesus had only done one miracle…
- But not matter how many signs Jesus would show them – they would not believe…
- We might think that if only we (or someone we know) could see a miracle – see Jesus…
- That would be all that was needed in order to really believe in Jesus…
- But theses men saw Jesus – saw a deaf and blind man healed – it was not enough…
- What is necessary is the message of the Gospel – the Cross of Jesus…
- People do not need to see miracles – they need to hear the Gospel!
- Romans 1:16 – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
- Destroy this Temple – and in three days I will raise it up…
- The people all assumed He was referring to Herod’s 2nd Temple…
- It was a statement that would stay with Jesus throughout His ministry…
- In fact they would use this as at accusation again Him at His trial – Mark 14:58
- And even taunted Him with the words while on the cross – Matthew 27:40
- They scoffed in disbelief – it had taken 46 years to complete the Temple…
- In fact at the time of Jesus the Temple was still not completely finished…
- The thought of rebuilding it in just 3 days – was absolutely ridiculous!
- But Jesus was not talking about the Temple – He was talking about His body…
- He was talking about the cross – and the resurrection!
- The proof of Jesus authority – was the reason why He came – to die for our sin!
- Jesus dying on the cross is not the Gospel message – every man dies…
- It was Jesus death and resurrection that is the Good News…
- He showed us that there life after death – the grave is not the end…
- Everyone will live forever – the question is where will we spend eternity…
- Jesus paid the price for our sin – so that we could live with God forever in heaven!
- When Jesus was resurrected – His disciples remembered these words…
- Because they had heard the Word of God – in time they remembered the Word…
- As a result they believed the Bible – and the Words Jesus had said…
- Often when we read our Bibles we might think that we do not understand…
- Yet the Lord can brings things back to our memory later one – make them clear…
- The key is to be in the Word – so that we have something to remember!
- John 14:26 – “The Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
- 4th – Not putting trust in men… vs. 23-25
- There were many at the Passover who believed Jesus was the Messiah…
- They believed because they saw the ‘many signs’ that Jesus did…
- But Jesus did not put His trust in them – He knew what was in men…
- One day they would cry out Hosanna – the next day the would say crucify…
- If we put our trust in men – we are sure to be disappointed…
- Men often do what others do – because everyone else is doing the same thing…
- They rarely stop to ask the question whom am I following – where are we going…
- Matthew 15:14 – “If the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
- So follow the crowd – often means being led the wrong way…
- Matthew 7:13 – “For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. “
- Those who are going with the flow – doing what everyone else does – broad path…
- It might be the easier road to walk down – but the end of it is destruction…
- Better to not put your trust in men – instead depend on Jesus…
- Following Jesus means that you do not ‘go with the flow’ – you stand out…
- Matthew 7:14 – “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
- If no one else goes to church – if no one else wants to do what is right…
- Are we still willing to follow Christ – stand up for the truth…
- Do not worry about what others say about you – whisper behind your back…
- What is more important is that we have the approval of Jesus!