Colossians 2:8-23 Jesus is the Solution for All of Our Problems

Have you ever had a problem that was so bad that you couldn’t solve it yourself? Did you wish that the problem would just go away? Well, the apostle Paul has the answer in Colossians 2:8-23. He argues that the cross is the answer to our deepest needs.

It took the sacrificial love of Jesus as expressed on the cross for people to come back to God. This change will provide us with the strength, wisdom, courage, love and otheresources that we need to deal with our problems. The heart is the root of the problem. God understands this and he goes for the root cause of our problem. He promised to take away our hearts of stone, and he did this by joining us to Christ’s death.

Christ’s death was a sacrifice in the style of the Old Testament sacrifices. These rituals involved sacrificing animals to atone for the sins of the people. The problem was that the priests in the temple were human and they had to atone for their own sins as well as making sacrifices for the sins of the people. The view at that time was that God was an angry god who was only satisfied with sacrifices. Jesus was the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of the people, and his sacrifice on the cross had a much deeper meaning than the Old Testament sacrifices.  

When we have problems the cross meets us at the point of our deepest needs. First, the cross is love at its deepest and purest. It is the kind of love that allows God to forgive us and reconcile us to him. This love allows us to love others and receive the love others have for us.

The second need is for forgiveness. We are sinners, and in times of trouble this reality often hits close to home. Through the cross God forgives us and nails our sins to the cross. Once these sins have been nailed to the cross, God forgives them and forgets them.

The third need is for community. Families can be torn apart by our modern society. In larger towns and cities people often don’t know their neighbours. Our thirst for material happiness has isolated us. We need to be connected to other people. The good news is that we are all united and equal at the foot of the cross. Just like he was lifted up on the cross, Christ draws us to him and to each other.

The fourth need we have is a cause to live and die for. That cause is the cross. When we centre ourselves in Christ, the more sensitive we become to the needs of people around us. We die to self, sin and pride. The love that is motivated by the cross becomes our reason for living. God has taken the initiative through the Cross to unite us to him.  

One of the problems we have to deal with in our spiritual lives is false teachers. They exist only to cheat us out of the life we have in Christ. They claim to know God, but they aren’t necessarily mature in the faith. There are countless people who know the Scriptures but don’t apply them to their lives. Their leadership is based on so-called visions and revelations. These claims are false because Jesus was God’s final and complete revelation to mankind. Jesus is the only person we can trust. He is the only one who warrants our allegiance and trust. The person who knows only one verse of Scripture and applies it is more spiritually mature than the one who knows many verses and applies none of them.

The recent information explosion caused by the Internet and the 500 plus TV channels we can receive has made it more difficult to know whom to trust, especially when it comes to biblical teaching. Many so called “preachers” and “theologians” have gained a platform by teaching things that are the opposite in what is written in the Bible. We must not let charm and charisma determine what teachings we will accept. We must put ourselves under solid, biblical teaching so we can be rock-solid in our faith.

One of the false teachings we have to be aware of is the legalism, or the rules and regulations of Old Testament law or fundamentalist denominations. Christ is the substance by which all things are measured out, not rules or regulations.

Paul rebuffs four deceptions that undermine Christianity-philosophy, deceit, the traditions of man and the basic principles of the world. He does this with a definitive statement regarding the identity of Christ. Believers have everything they need in Jesus. Believers are buried in Christ through the water of baptism and are raised to new life through faith. Sin, death and hell do not have a claim on us anymore. God made a public spectacle of his enemies when Jesus was triumphant over death. We do not have to submit to anything Jesus has conquered. Jesus has solved out biggest problem, and he can help us solve all of our smaller ones as well.

Jesus has united all believers through his death and resurrection. He erased our sin-debt. He has created a relationship with us, and that relationship allows us to live the Christian life. He gives us the resources we need to defend ourselves and to be successful in life.

Bibliography

1.      Dunnam, M.D. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 31: Galatians/Ephesians/Philippians/Colossians/Philemon (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)

2.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

3.      Lucado, M: The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2010)

4.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

5.      Pastor Jack Hibbs, “Be Filled.” Retrieved from wttw@calvarycch.org

6.      Ron Moore, “The Real Thing.” Retrieved from www.ronmoore.org

7.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

8.      Michael Youssef, Ph.D., “The Day I died.” Retrieved from mydevotional@leadingtheway.org

9.      “The Danger of Many Bible ‘Experts’.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

 

John 10:11-18 Jesus, the Good Shepherd

John 10:11-18 is part of a longer discourse in which Jesus tells his disciples and us that he is the way to heaven and eternal life. In this passage he explains this concept by comparing himself to a shepherd. The image of a shepherd was one that was common among members of his audience. Palestine was more of a pastoral region than an agricultural region, so shepherds were very common. Sheep are quite dumb. They will follow anyone who leads them, even if it means that they will be led astray. A good shepherd watches out for his flock and protects them even to the point of sacrificing himself.

We, like sheep, are vulnerable and oblivious to the dangers around us. Like sheep, we live in a wilderness, and that wilderness is called our earthly lives These earthly lives, with their emphases on putting ourselves first, shun the notion of putting off pleasure for the good of others. Our society emphasizes self-indulgence and shuns self-giving. In spite of this, there are people who are willing to give up something in exchange for something far greater. They sacrifice themselves for people they love and things they have faith in.  Sacrifice is a measure of their character and values. It proves the worth of their words and intentions.

There are many people in our world today who want to lead us. The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Who can we trust to lead us and not lead us astray?” We can’t trust politicians because they often make promises and don’t keep them. We can’t always trust ministers because they are human and are subject to human weaknesses unless they lead us in true faith. Ministers are replaceable. Most churches change their ministers every few years, especially if the minister is called to lead another flock. The minister must not be the one who makes us stay or go. Something even bigger must catch us, connect us and make us want to go deeper.

That something is the only one who we can trust to lead us. He is the only person who can back up his claims-Jesus. He accepts us as members of his flock. He gives us boundaries that will protect us. He gives us spiritual nourishment, rest, refreshment and joy. He gives himself away by laying down his life for us. He gives himself away to bring us closer to God. He protects us from Satan’s attempts to distract us while we are on our Christian walk of life. He gives our lives meaning and purpose. He is good all of the time. He will give us a rich life filled with purpose and true happiness. The eternal life he offers is absolutely wonderful and can never be diminished or taken away from us.  

Jesus is our shepherd. He gave up the splendour and glory of heaven so that we could have the type of eternal life I referred to earlier. He protects us and guides us if we let him. He gave up his life on the cross so that we would have eternal life. In contrast, the religious leaders of Jesus’ day were nothing more than hired hands. They were poor shepherds. They were selfish, but Jesus was selfless. They abandoned the flock to save themselves, but Jesus laid down his life for the people. The religious leaders obeyed their own lusts, but Jesus completely obeyed his Father. The religious leaders cared only about themselves and their “chosen ones”, but Jesus was for everyone, even people who had not heard the good news-people such as the Samaritans and the Gentiles.

Our lives have a rhythm. We can feel when the rhythm is good. Everything is going well, and everything works together. We can also feel it when our lives are out of rhythm. They are forced. We feel drained. We ask ourselves why life is so hard. Jesus the good shepherd tells us that he came to show us how to live a life that is in sync with God. Like a good shepherd, Jesus came to show us the very best way to live the life God wants us to lead. 

A good shepherd has three outstanding characteristics:

1.      He has love and compassion.

2.      He knows each of his sheep by name.

3.      He places his body between sheep and vicious animals. He will die protecting the sheep.

Jesus has all three of these characteristics in abundance. His love and compassion are outstanding. He knows all of his people by name. He knows the weak and the strong, the stubborn and the submissive, the hurts and needs of every sheep. He sacrificed himself on the cross so that we could have eternal life.  

Every day Jesus surrounds us with opportunities, challenges, difficulties and decisions…and his grace. Even more, he wants us to live that life to the fullest. We are not perfect people, but we can still have that abundant life. Because he gave up his life for us on the cross like a good shepherd, we can have that abundant life. We have forgiveness and eternity. We are not alone, because he is with us, and he will be with us for all eternity.

The image of a Good Shepherd is a comforting one. We can take comfort in the knowledge that Jesus loves us and cares for us. We, like sheep, are vulnerable to attack. A good shepherd will protect us from attack, whereas a hired hand will flee to protect himself. A good shepherd leads his flock to where it needs to go for food, shelter and protection. We, like sheep, know and trust the shepherd. We, like sheep, know every inflection of his voice, the way he leads us to pasture, and his courage in the face of danger.

Jesus will never desert us. He will always be with us. He comforts us. Our sins have been forgiven. We have been adopted into the family of faith. Our prayers will be heard. We will have help for our problems. All we have to do is submit to his word and respond to his message in faith. That involves being thankful for Jesus and all the good shepherds who try to follow him and do his good work.

Jesus leads us to where we need to go. He leads us to the green pastures of our heavenly home. He protects us from the devil’s attacks. He laid down his life for us on the cross. The image of the good shepherd is a sign of Jesus’ divinity. The sacrificial lamb overcame Satan’s power. It turned the earthly view of power upside down. 

Jesus is not an intermediary. He represents God’s love and our positive response. Jesus’ death reveals God’s love to us and our response to that love. We are called on to be shepherds, witnesses of God’s love. That love sustains us and the world. It also protects us and suffers with us. We are called on to show that love. That love encourages us to care for others, especially those who are suffering. It calls on us to move from words to action.

We are to care for others as God has cared for us. We are to work for their safety and security. We are not to refuse to help. We are to support others in using their own best instincts. If we do, we honour the Good Shepherd who leads us and cares for us.

We are called on to continue Jesus’s work. We are called on to be shepherds, witnesses of God’s love. We are to be there for each other. We are to care for and support one another. We must put ourselves in the path of evil when necessary. We are to go out and encourage other non-Christians and non-believers to join the flock, just like Jesus and other Christians encouraged us to join the flock. We are to guide Christ’s sheep, especially if we are in positions of leadership within the church. In other words, we are to be good shepherds ourselves, and with faith in Jesus we will be able to overcome any barriers that would otherwise hinder us in this task.

 Bibliography

1.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)

2.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

3.      George Hermanson, “Saying and Doing.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/05/saying-and-doing-year-b-easter-4-sermon.html

4.      Preaching Magazine, January/February 2015 (Nashville, TN: Salem Publishing; p. 64)

5.      Pastor Ken Klaus, “A Very Real Gift.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org

6.      Pastor Ken Klaus, “Never Know.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org

7.      Mike DeVries, “Rhythm.” Retrieved from www.homeword.com

8.      Dr. Neil Anderson, “Your Journey toward Christ.” Retrieved from Christianity.com@crosswalkmail.com

9.      Anne Graham Lotz, “Because He Lives.” Retrieved from angelmin.info@angelministries.org

10.  Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

11.  Pastor Ken Klaus, “An Act of Valor.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org

12.  George Hermanson, “Saying and Doing.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/05/saying-and-doing-year-b-easter-4-sermon.html

13.  F. Dean Leuking, “Shepherding.” Retrieved from http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=680

14.  Lucy Lind Hogan, “Commentary on John 10:11-18.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1239

15.  The Rev. Dr. Laura Mendenhall, “Led from Behind.” Retrieved from http://day1.org/682=led_from_behind.print

16.  Exegesis for John 10:11-18. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org

John 10:11-18 Jesus Watches Over Us

Good morning boys and girls!

How many of you have pets? I have three of them at my house right now. I have three cats. One is a sixteen year old male named Rusty because he is rust-coloured. My family also calls him Tubby because he is fat. He loves to eat, and he loves begging for food whenever anyone is in the kitchen. He also loves to explore the house and the yard, especially the basement.

We also have his sister, and her name is Mama. She’s usually very quiet and sleeps most of the time-usually outside my bedroom door. The third one is a four year old male name Bo. He loves to stir up trouble, especially with Rusty. Sometimes I have to take a squirt bottle filled with water and let him have it………although one time I had to use a glass that was half-filled with water.

All three of them are a big responsibility, just like all pets are a big responsibility, but everyone in the family loves them. They have to have lots of food and water. They have to be kept cleaned and taken to the veterinarian when they are sick. They need someone to care for them.

People also need someone to take care of them. Who takes care of you?  Jesus also looks after us, and he tells how and why he cares for us in John 10:11-18, and I’ll read that to you right now.  

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd so that the people would know what he was talking about. Jesus was preaching in Palestine, and sheep were quite common in that area. Sheep are not very smart though. They were easy prey for animals such as bears, foxes or coyotes. They needed someone to protect them from harm and to lead them to fresh grass to eat.  They needed someone who would be willing to die to protect the sheep. That person is a shepherd. Let me explain what a shepherd does by telling you a story about a boy named Seth.

"Mr. Markley," Seth said after class one morning, "in our lesson, why did Jesus call Himself a good shepherd?"

Seth was new in the class. His home was in Texas, and he didn't usually go to Sunday school. But he was spending a few weeks with his grandparents, and they took him to Sunday school. He liked it very much. Seth grinned at his Sunday school teacher now. "I'd like it better if Jesus said, 'I am the good cowboy!' We have lots of cowboys back home. I'm going to be one someday!"

Mr. Markley laughed. "I know you love your Texas ranch, Seth," he replied, "but Jesus knew what He was saying when He compared Himself to a shepherd rather than a cowboy. Tell me--what does a cowboy do?"

"Aw, that's easy." Seth's eyes lit up. "He drives the cattle where he wants them to go. They used to do it on horseback, but now they use pickup trucks a lot. Sometimes they even use helicopters! That's what I want to do!"

"Well, how about sheep?" asked Mr. Markley, "How do you get sheep to go where you want them to go? Do you drive them, too--with a horse or truck or helicopter?"

Seth grinned. "I don't really know a lot about sheep. I just know they used to always need a shepherd to take care of them. Otherwise, I guess they wandered away and got lost or got into trouble. I think they're kind of dumb. That's why I'd rather have . . ."

Mr. Markley held up a hand. "Wait a minute," he said. "Think about the way people act, and maybe you'll see why Jesus compared Himself to a shepherd. Do you think maybe we're more like sheep than cattle? Most people don't mind following a good leader, but they don't like to be forced to go any particular way."

"I guess that's true," acknowledged Seth.

Mr. Markley nodded. "God doesn't force us to go His way--like a cowboy would drive the cattle. God is like a loving shepherd, ready to help us and lead us. Without Him, we're lost and just wander around."

"I think I get it," said Seth, "and I guess I'll be learning more about that while I'm here, right?"Mr. Markley smiled and nodded.

Let’s bow our heads for a moment of prayer. Dear God, Thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Thank you for loving us and taking care of us. Thank you for laying down your life for us so that we can have eternal life with you in heaven. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

Bibliography

 

       1.      “The Good Shepherd.” Retrieved from http://sermons4kids.com/good_shepherd.htm

2.      “Not a Cowboy.” Retrieved from newsletter@cbhministries.org

3.      Real Life Devotional Bible (Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz; 2008)

Luke 24:36-48 Seeing is Believing

Has anyone ever told you something so outrageous or so unbelievable that you thought you couldn’t believe it unless you saw it for yourselves? Have you ever seen anything that was so unbelievable that it was scary? If so, then you can understand how the disciples felt after they saw the risen Jesus in the reading we just heard from Luke 24:36-48.

The disciples did not immediately believe after seeing the resurrected Christ. They felt great joy, but the truth had not created faith in their hearts. Perhaps it still seemed too good to be true. This detail alone should quash any thought that the disciples desired so much to see Jesus alive that they made themselves believe. In fact, even when they saw, doubts arose in their hearts. They needed to see that being with Jesus was a metaphor for being with God. He signaled the coming of the Reign of God.

How many of us have been in a similar place? We might have been in a place of disappointment or hardship. Jesus was there with us, but we didn’t see him because our thoughts were on our situation. We might even wonder in the disciples needed consoling so much that their imaginations played tricks on them. Jesus helped them to see that God can bring new life after death.

Luke wants to make it clear to us that our real, physical world is so valuable that God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour. He came to heal our physical, mental, spiritual and emotional needs. He continually meets us in this world, especially as we gather around the word of God.

The apostles were the first witnesses, but through the power of the Holy Spirit, all believers are the custodians of the truth. God poured out his Holy Spirit on us at Pentecost. That Spirit is a present power in our lives. We are being healed, transformed, liberated and sent on missions because of the supernatural God living in and among us by his Spirit. 

What do you think would have happened if Jesus had not made his presence known when he did? Perhaps the disciples would have gone back to whatever their lives were before Jesus called them. Jesus stood among them. He reminded them that his coming was for peace. He invited them to see for themselves that it was him in the flesh and not a ghost. He told them to stay put and wait for the power that was to come.

This passage emphasizes the reality of Jesus’ resurrected body and the need for Jesus’ death and resurrection to fulfill God’s plan for salvation. In Jewish folklore, the spirits of the dead appear to mortals only to engage in evil activities. When Jesus suddenly appeared to the small group of disciples, it was a frightening supernatural event.

Jesus spent time with his disciples, summarizing his ministry, especially the Old Testament prophecies. He prepared them to continue his work after he returned to heaven. He laid out exactly what their message after he left earth should be about. He gave them the courage to speak publicly on a street corner in Jerusalem at Pentecost, and that speech led thousands of Jews into the Christian faith in a very public baptism as written in Acts 2. The disciples had the mission and power to change the world.

Jesus and the risen Christ are the same. The only difference is that the body of the risen Christ is different from his pre-resurrection body. It is fully healed, strong and not subject to the death and decay of the flesh. Jesus presented himself to the disciples not as a disembodied spirit, but as a person in bodily form. His body was recognizable by sight and touch. His body was capable of eating food. Just like Jesus was raised from the dead, we will also be raised from the dead in bodily form according to the Scriptures. Our bodies are not useless pieces of garbage that we will leave behind when we die. They are an integral part of our identity. 

Luke reminds his readers in verse 44 that Jesus came to satisfy all the prophecies made about him in the Old Testament. It has been said that Jesus was concealed in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. Everything that was written about Jesus in the Bible was fulfilled. That was why Jesus taught his disciples in the Scriptures while he was with them during his life and his resurrection. They needed to understand the significance of the past. Jesus came to fulfill the Old Testament, not to abolish it.

We, like the disciples, can’t understand life after resurrection, but we know that resurrection is God’s plan for us. Jesus is the model for God’s plan. The resurrected Jesus was no ghost. He explained the Scriptures to the disciples, especially the Scriptures dealing with resurrection. The disciples were physical witnesses to the resurrection, and we are witnesses to the risen Christ through the Scriptures. We are witnesses when we come to church. We are witnesses when we come to the Lord’s Table to receive communion. We are witnesses when we do a kind act for someone. We are witnesses when we invite a friend or neighbour to church. We are witnesses when we do things such as teaching a Sunday school class, sponsor a youth group, sing in the choir or serve as an usher. We are witnesses when we get up in the morning and decide to let God guide us through the day.

In verse 39, Jesus offered the disciples proof that he rose from the dead, and he wants us to have the same proof. More important, he wants to prove that he is our friend. God is on our side. Satan persuaded Adam and Eve that God was not their friend and that the fruit of the tree of knowledge was forbidden because if they ate it, they would become as wise as God. Satan convinced them that God couldn’t be trusted. The Old and New Testaments are the records of God’s attempts ever since to convince us that he is our friend and we can trust him. Jesus wants to stand with us through job uncertainty, illness, loneliness and estrangement.  

The disciples heard the Lord teach innumerable times. They watched him perform miracles for at least three years. They saw him crucified and now they stood in his resurrected presence. It was only when the Lord opened their minds to understand the Scriptures that they truly comprehended. The understanding of the Scriptures-that is, understanding how all of the pieces of redemptive history fit together-is a gift of God. Spiritual understanding comes through the Spirit of the living God, or it does not come at all. God’s influence helps us understand and accept the truth of his word. Without understanding, the things of the Holy Spirit are foolish to normal human beings.

We can, and should, read the Scriptures at home, but it doesn’t replace hearing the Word of God preached and taught in church. Preaching can strike us in a way that adds new meaning to God’s Word. Understanding Scripture has a lot to do with the mindset that we bring to the pages of the Bible. We need to be open to new revelations to really understand the meaning of God’s Word for our lives. In return, God works in us to go into the world to share the gospel. When we do, future generations will be able to put their trust in Jesus and continue his work until he returns.

In verses 46 and 47, Luke makes it clear that the message of Christ must include a focus on repentance and the remission of sins. One without the other is incomplete. When we understand Scripture, we move from doubt to worshipping and great joy. We are to preach repentance and remission of sins in his name and in all nations. Jesus said that after his death and resurrection, the message his followers would carry to others would be about repentance and forgiveness. In fact, Jesus called on his disciples to preach this to all nations.

Salvation occurs when we trust Jesus as our Saviour. He forgives us, changes us and sees us as righteous. In that moment, we are redeemed, and though we continue to struggle with sin, it is a defeated foe. Then, as time goes on, our service, gifts and love for him should naturally become greater. We as modern disciples are an extension of Jesus’ ministry. We are witnesses to the same real relationship with Jesus that the disciples had. Just like Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to his disciples, he does not leave us alone. We have his power so that we can touch lives and affect eternity.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)

2.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan; 2010)

3.      ESV Study Bible. Part of Wordsearch 10 Bible software package.

4.      Larsen, B. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 26: Luke (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1983)

5.      Stanley, C.F.: The Charles F. Stanley Life Principles Bible, NKJV (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 2005)

6.      Dr. Charles Stanley, “The Holy Spirit-An Absolute.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

7.      Philip Yancey, “As Below, So Above.” Retrieved from noreply@rbc.org

8.      Selwyn Hughes, “Changed Perspectives in Church.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

9.      Kenneth L. Samuel, “Knowing as Understanding.” Retrieved from dailydevotional@ucc.org

10.  Rev. Wayne Palmer, “Passing the Torch.” Retrieved from lh_min@lhm.org

11.  Exegesis for Luke 24:36-49. Retrieved from www.lectionary.org.

12.  George Hermanson, “Standing Near Greatness.” Retrieved from www.georgehermanson.com/2009/04/standing-near-greatness-year-b-easter-3-sermon.html

13.  The Rev. Dr. Steve Montgomery, “It’s Touching Time.” Retrieved from www.day1.org/6532-its_touching_time.print.

14.  Jude Siciliano, O.P., “First Impressions, 3^rd Sunday of Easter (B), April 19, 2015.” Retrieved from firstimpressions@lists.opsouth.org

John 2:18-25 Jesus and the Religious Leaders in the Temple

The events in John 2:18-25 occur just after Jesus has chased the moneychangers and the sellers out of the temple. The religious leaders wanted to know who gave Jesus the authority to do what he did in the temple. Jesus did not give them an answer because he knew that the religious leaders did not want to hear it, and even if they did want to hear they would not understand it. They took his challenge about destroying the temple and rebuilding it in three days quite literally.

The temple was built so that God’s presence could be confirmed among his people, but because of their sin and rebellion God’s presence had left them a long time ago. When Jesus challenged the religious leaders, he might have pointed to his own chest and said, “This is the authentic dwelling place of God.” While the religious leaders did not believe Jesus, John wrote that many other people who saw this confrontation believed Jesus.

Jesus’ power came from heaven, not earth. People want leaders who will lead them where they want to go. Most worldly leaders get their power from popular support. The problem is that this power is based on the sin-filled nature of this world. Jesus’ power came from heaven. He presented himself in truth. His miracles signalled the Messiah’s arrival. He trusted God, and in return he invited people to trust him.

Jesus used the physical structure of the temple to represent his own body and his coming crucifixion and resurrection. At the same time he signalled that he replaced the temple and would now live with his people as their God-Man, Jesus Christ. This statement was misunderstood by the Jewish leaders and would be used against Jesus at his trial.

Only after Jesus rose from the dead would the disciples finally put the story together. Jesus’ resurrection helped them to remember the Old Testament Scriptures that prophesied his death as well as his statement about raising up the temple.  

People were following Jesus for superficial reasons-out of curiosity rather than commitment. Anyone who seeks after the Lord with his/her whole heart will find him. Jesus can’t be fooled because he sees what is really in a person’s heart.

The story of the cleansing of the temple shows three primary truths:

1.      God owns the temple, not the priest.

2.      God’s Word is the only authority recognized in the temple, not anyone else’s.

3.      God’s Son claimed ownership of the temple, and the religious authorities rejected him.

God’s temple is a holy place where we can meet him without any restrictions, borders or walls. That’s why the curtain separating the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn in two when Jesus died on the cross. Once his work was complete, the meeting place changed. Instead of a physical building, believers are now his temple. Just like the physical temple had to be cleansed, believers have to have their spiritual lives and hearts cleansed. We can’t do the job ourselves. Only God can cleanse us. We have to submit to the process by refusing to tolerate the presence of corruption in our lives and then asking God to remove it.

Faith that rests on miracles alone and does not mature to embrace Jesus and follow him is shallow and fickle. That’s why the religious leaders didn’t follow Jesus. Their faith was so shallow and fickle that they didn’t have any faith in Jesus. They, like most of the rest of the Jews, were so imprisoned in fleshly existence and understanding they could not grasp the deeper spiritual reality. They could not see beyond the physical temple. Even though they knew every comma and every dotted “I” and crossed “T” of the Old Testament law, they were bound in the darkness of ignorance.  

The fact that the Jews asked Jesus for a sign revealed that they had not grasped the significance of Jesus’s rebuke in the temple. It was centered in their need for proper attitudes and holiness in worship. Further, they were asking for a display of miracles on demand, and that request further displayed their unbelief.

Many of us are like that. We might be saved by grace, but we often know very little of costly discipleship or the calling to be servants. This understanding comes only when we submit to Jesus as Lord on his terms. Sometimes we settle for “cheap grace” instead of following Jesus to the point of death.

This reading ties in with the story of Jesus and the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14 and 20-24. Jesus saw a fig tree in leaf, but it did not have any fruit because it was not the season for figs. The fig tree looked good on the outside but it wasn’t producing any fruit. The religious leaders also looked good on the outside, but they didn’t provide for the people. As a result, Jesus decreed that he would let them fade and raise up something new in their place: the Church. We are the new creation God planted for people who are hungry to know God. In return, we must make sure that we yield a bountiful harvest.

Bibliography

1.      Jeremiah, David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood, TN: Worthy publishing; 2013)

2.      Swindoll, Charles R.: Swindoll’s New Testament Insights on John (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010)

3.      Frederikson, R.L. & Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Vol. 27: John  (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1985)

4.      MacArthur, J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASB (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)

5.      Ryan Duncan, “Figuring Out the Fig Tree.” Retrieved from Crosswalk@crosswalkmail.com

6.      Dr. Ralph J. Wilson, “Cleansing the Temple (John 2:13-25).” Retrieved from jh@joyfulheart.com