sermon notes

Cleansing the Temple
John 2:13-25


While it can be assumed that by their confessions of whom Jesus is in Chapter 1; John the Baptizer, Andrew, and Philip are not credited with belief yet here in Scripture. However, there are four times that belief is spoken of. The first is when Jesus asks Nathanael if his hearing Christ say he saw him under the fig tree was the cause of his belief. The second is when Jesus turned the water into wine at the wedding feast and the disciples believed. The third and fourth instances take place in today’s passage. The third is in John 2:22 when the disciples remember Jesus’ words and Scripture and believe. Fourth, many people see the signs of Jesus and believe. Now as my children would tell me, “Daddy, there’s a pattern!”

Look at these four moments in the early ministry of Christ. Jesus spoke; someone believed. Jesus performed a sign; someone believed. Jesus spoke; someone believed. Jesus performed signs; many believed. I would like to remind you of a passage we looked at in Hebrews not too long ago, Hebrews 2:3-4. “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.” We discussed at that time, how we have a tendency to expect big signs. We expect large miracles. We feel that we deserve the greater gifts. And this is all while we miss the gift of salvation in a new creation’s heart. We miss the miracle of rebirth. We miss the sign of the Spirit baptizing one of Christ’s own. But let us not forget the purposes of the signs and miracles and gifts. Let us not forget the purpose of the message through the Scriptures and Word’s of Christ. They are intended that you may believe; and by believing you may have new life, eternal life; life with God Almighty through Jesus Christ His Son.

We have spent much time discussing belief. I will admit, I have done a rather poor job of communicating this. Yes, we have the knowledge of who Jesus is. Yes, we have the knowledge of what God has done. Yes, we have the knowledge of the cross, the resurrection, ascension, and how one day Christ will return again. This is so true in the case of those who do not believe Christ. But Christians, let me ask you this morning, “Does what you believe in your mind, affect how you live during the day?” For those who have either just made this commitment to follow Christ and for those who have made that decision years ago, it ought to.


What we believe ought to affect how you live. It ought to drastically change something about us. How does darkness become light and go unnoticed? We are supposed to be a new creation. We are supposed to turn away from sin and turn towards God. We are supposed to live in the world yet separate from the world. What we believe is what sets us apart! There are things that a Christian just simply does and does not do. But for too many, when we hear God’s Word, when we hear how we ought to live as Christians, we roll our eyes. We sigh and brush it off. We get defensive and point out the sin in others. We would rather offend God than possibly hurt someone’s feelings by being Biblically honest with them. And when it comes to the Bible, it must not apply to many for they disregard what God says because it just doesn’t work that well in today’s world. Then we sit and scratch our heads and wonder why people don’t take us too serious as Christians. And as far as young legalistic, zealots like myself, evidently trying to do what the Word of God says must be a futile waste of time because so many, much wiser people have told me it is way too hard. But on the upside, it has its easy parts; let’s face it…sin is easy.


Oddly enough, the world and the people that Jesus ministered to were the very opposite. He dealt with people that instead of growing apathetic and lazy in their religious pursuits, they became overly legalistic and fell away. Many today are prideful of their lack of activity; they were prideful in their over-activity. That is very much what is going on when Jesus walks into the temple this Passover week. Most of us know the story;



I. It is Passover
a. Exodus 12, Numbers 28, Deuteronomy 16
b. Year old male lamb with out blemish.
c. For fourteen days they would take it into their home.
d. They would kill and eat it.
e. They would sprinkle the blood on the door posts of the house so the “destroyer” would pass over.
f. Ex 12:13 I am the Lord. The blood shall be a sign for you.

II. Jesus enters the temple
a. He makes a whip of cords.
b. Drives out the money changers and other vendors
c. He drives out the oxen and sheep, the object of sacrifice.
i. Rules concerning the poor and sojourner Lev. 25:35-38 Ex. 22:21

III. The Jews want a sign
a. They knew how God worked. He spoke and there were signs.
b. Jesus tells them he will tear down this temple and raise it up in three days. He was talking about his body and the resurrection.

IV. His Father’s house, the temple, the bride, the church, you are the temple.

Do you think that God is zealous for you?

Do you think that He is consumed with zeal for you?

V. Many believed but Jesus did not entrust himself to them.
a. He knew what was in man. In other words, he knew the heart of man.

VI. Our hearts are overtime working sin and idol factories.

VII. Repent