Going up to Jerusalem for the Passover… (4 things)

• 1^st – 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.”
        
• 2^nd – 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 1^st 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!
      

What is more important is that we have the approval of Jesus!

3^rd – 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 2^nd 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.”

4^th – 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…