I will raise it up
Experiencing Lent • Sermon • Submitted
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The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After 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.
John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–10 Jesus in the Temple (John 2.13–25)
Jesus takes the traditions and applies them to himself. He is the reality to which the Temple itself points. His death and resurrection will be the reality to which the whole Passover celebration points.
Jesus cared about the purpose of the temple
Jesus cared about the purpose of the temple
In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John 2:14-16
Jesus cared about Justice
Jesus cared about Justice
Jesus cared about the purpose of the temple
Jesus Specifically Addresses the Dove Peddlers
, , and 14:22 all address that if someone is too poor to afford a lamb for their sacrifice, they can sacrifice two doves or pigeons in the lamb’s place. These Leviticus references show us that the heart of the issue here is not simply that things were being sold in the temple but that there is a direct economic component to who is being taken advantage of and who is gaining advantage. The poor are being exploited. Jesus shows his care for the poor and his anger at those who are taking advantage of them. The poor were often taken advantage of out in the world, and it angers Jesus that they are being taken advantage of even in the temple, a place that is supposed to be different from the world.
taken advantage of even in the temple, a place that is supposed to be different from the world.
Jesus cared about people more than property and finances
Jesus cared about people more than property and finances
Jesus’s Response to Injustice was Active
Jesus’s Response to Injustice was Active
Jesus isn’t being violent, as far as we can tell. No one seems to be injured in the overthrowing of tables. But his response is an active one. Jesus is not passive about injustice. He directly confronts those who are acting unjustly toward others, and he works within what little power he has to change the system. He challenges the existing system, by establishing himself as the temple. Despite their inability to understand, we can start to connect that going to a temple to make sacrifices is exclusionary but that coming to Christ is an option that is open to everyone, no matter how poor or weak. Because some could not afford the price of a lamb, Jesus alludes to his eventual becoming of the lamb, so that all, regardless of status, will be able to come.
lamb, so that all, regardless of status, will be able to come.
Jesus doesn’t only judge, he also restores.
Jesus doesn’t only judge, he also restores.
The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After 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.
We Should Respond to Injustice like Christ-not like a politician
We Should Respond to Injustice like Christ-not like a politician
It is appropriate and right to be angry at injustice and at the exclusion of others from worshiping God. Or being kept from basic life needs. When we see people being taken advantage of or told they must jump through hoops to worship God, we should be angry. Do people have to have it all together to be welcome here? God forbid! Who would qualify? We are on a journey with Jesus. Everyone who truly wants to follow Him is welcome here. Begin wherever you are, just be sure you keep following from here. Don’t stop growing. Don’t avoid change. Follow. If I see anything else going on it will make me angry as a leader.
But our anger should lead not to bitterness or cynicism but to action! Though we probably won’t literally or physically overthrow any tables, we do have power to overthrow unjust systems in other ways—through how we spend our money or the organizations we choose to support. We have to repair some water damage and replace a few more lights, and get this baptistry fixed so people can be getting wet for Jesus very soon! But then let’s get the focus on people like we have in the Wherehouse. We must check our own hearts and lives to ensure we are not becoming like the money changers. Are we asking people to jump through hoops or pay a price to worship God? Are we standing guard at the temple, to drive away the vulnerable? Or are we doing what we can to ensure that the vulnerable are being cared for in our faith communities, that they might worship Jesus too?
that they might worship Jesus too?
But the goal is to be aligning with what God is already doing. Our goal is not to act in anger or get even with others. But we want to see God’s kingdom coming. That happens as we have a heart for those for whom God has a heart. The poor and those suffering for doing what is right. Young parents trying to raise their children in a terrifying world. We are tempted to fight every battle like stopping political correctness or a certain political viewpoint. If we do this the world will not say: “zeal for God consumes them”. They will say: “zeal for MSNBC” if you’re liberal or Fox News if you’re conservative “consumes them”. When you’ve been consumed by a media outlet or a political party you have lost your kingdom edge. Don’t just pick a network or a facebook meme. Pick Jesus. Follow him alone. Don’t be selfish. Don’t be a jerk. Be a difference maker.
Here’s the way out of this conundrum: Jesus wasn’t merely saying I don’t like this Temple so let’s tear it down and build one that looks like my friends. Jesus said: i’m the only Temple worth giving your life to. His body; about to be given on the cross would be raised to new life. So it doesn’t even matter what happens to the earthly Temple. Focus on Jesus and his power. Don’t look to human striving to deliver yourself. I saw a story about a group that claims to be Christian in Newfoundland. They worship holding AR-15’s in the service. Every single person. Friends, I know gun control won’t solve all our problems. But gun worship surely won’t either.
Get involved. The Wherehouse is creating a space for people to come into God’s house. No barriers. No obstacles. Just pure holy love.
John for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1–10 Jesus in the Temple (John 2.13–25)
Jesus takes the traditions and applies them to himself. He is the reality to which the Temple itself points. His death and resurrection will be the reality to which the whole Passover celebration points.
Worship Jesus. Trust Jesus. During Lent let go of anything that’s keeping you from holding tightly to him! The temple of his body will deliver us all if we gather to it. Let Jesus lead us to the cross where his blood poured out to cover our sin. Where his surrender won victory over worldly power. Where the lamb was slain who has overcome the world.
After 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.
Get involved. The Wherehouse is creating a space for people to come into God’s house. No barriers. No obstacles. Just pure holy love. Injustice has created a world kids don’t deserve to have to grow up in. Let’s help parents. Let’s cut through the garbage and show them God cares because we care. It’s God loving through us. It’s Jesus raising to new life what has been destroyed by sin, death and the devil. As we sacrifice they can move closer to Jesus who will raise it up again.
Get involved. The Wherehouse is creating a space for people to come into God’s house. No barriers. No obstacles. Just pure holy love. Injustice has created a world kids don’t deserve to have to grow up in. Let’s cut through the garbage and show them God cares because we care. It’s God loving through us. It’s Jesus raising to new life what has been destroyed by sin, death and the devil. As we sacrifice they can move closer to Jesus who will raise it up again. Amen and Amen.
Amen and Amen. And now let us come to the Table of His Grace that we might receive nourishment for our spirit and body.
That’s what he said-
I will raise it up again.
I will raise it up again.
Say it with me: I will raise it up again! Believe it. Receive it. Amen and Amen. And now let us come to the Table of His Grace that we might receive nourishment for our spirit and body.
Communion