Gospel of John Series - For He Knew All People

                                                     For He Knew All People

John 2:12-25

It is an amazing fact, Jesus knows all about each person. Their past, presence, future, heart, mind, birth, death, and etc. Everything! 

John and the other disciples probably thought this would be an extraordinary Passover, having Christ, the Messiah, the Lamb of God with them, but they didn’t expect what Jesus did, and they were amazed, so were all who were in the temple courts. Let’s look at the text, “When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Imagine, the court of the Gentiles was beaming with noise, not the noise of prayer, but of animals, people haggling over prices, laughing and corousing, and in walks Jesus, the Light to the World. The court of the Gentiles was just that, a court, a place for the gentile world to come and pray and worship God. There was no worshiping God that day, only the worship of monetary gain from exchanging Greek drachmas, tetradrachms, denarius, shekel, Roman sestertius, assarion, and quadrans  and the selling of animals they couldn’t sell any other place. To the disciples, this was nothing unusual, it was the same as all the Passovers before.

In charged Jesus, with a homemade whip of cords, he begins with the cattle and other livestock. The animals would have known the sound of a whip. They began to move out of the gentile court, restraints and all. In the cacophonous madness, Jesus moves in on the tables of the local bankers, usurer, and shysters. As the coins fell and flew upon the ground, the tables all flipped over, and angry moneylenders and bewildered people just stared at the audacity of someone who would do this on a holy day.

Jesus then shouts out “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” Referring to Psalms 69:9 “ For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.”, Jesus knew the heart and mindset of all the people in the court, they were not there for prayer but profit, and this was a reproach to God the Father. And Jesus’ zeal for God’s house of prayer was so evident to all, especially the Jews and Jewish leaders, they stopped to comprehend all that was transpiring. 

Application - God has a plan, and prayer is a major part of it. Jesus knew who he was, and why he had come. When he saw the temple used for other purposes than prayer and worship, his zeal for God kicked in, and Jesus knew the darkness that had enveloped the holy day of Passover. He came as the Light to the world, and this included the gentile world. The court of the Gentiles was just that, a place where the Light of God’s presence and Word would be heard, and the gentile people could be freed from the darkness of the enemy.  Jesus came as the Light to the nations as foretold by the prophet Isaiah,“ I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” “The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.” Isa. 49:6, 52:10

The darkness in the time of Jesus covered both the Jewish people as well as the gentile nations. Paul by the Holy Spirit explains “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

2 Cor. 4:4 Jesus came to destroy the dark sinful works of the devil, “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:8

He came into the court of the gentiles not just to cause disorder in the enemy’s plan but to make it clear the authority to destroy the schemes and works of the devil was now here. I wonder today, is the house of God a place of prayer and worship, a place where the Light of the gospel opens all the eyes who enter to the Light of the World? Or is it a place with the enemy’s agenda to keep the world in the dark by the works and acts of this world and the blindness by the devils to why God’s house is a place to pray and worship to Jesus?

Next, let’s begin with the text, “The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.” 

Jesus was now the object of a lot of attention, they might have heard of the miracle in Cana, or they may have heard Jesus’ teaching along the way to Jerusalem from Galilee, but now here he stood in their midst. Whatever the jews had heard, they asked him for two things: By what authority and what sign will you give us? Jesus’ response attacked the darkness of their lack of understanding. 

First, the temple of Herod had taken forty-six years to complete, and was built with the overtaxing of labor and temple finances and taxes. When Jesus told them to destroy the temple, it flabbergasted all who heard. Herod’s temple was the pride of the Jews of Jesusalem. No one would even consider such a thing. And Jesus' next admonition, “and I will raise it again in three days.” This literally sent them into complete bewilderment. Later, the enemy would twist this response of Jesus at his trial, "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.''" Mk. 14:58  Jesus knew their thoughts and John reminded the readers of this gospel that Jesus referred to his body, that would be brutally beaten and crucified, and then three days later he would arise victorious over death and the grave. It was after the resurrection that the disciples true faith kicked into overdrive with understanding and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Application - There are many edifices today that are venerated because of religious orientation or who built it. Jesus loved the house of God, not because of its ascetics and extrinsic value, but that it was God who had called Moses to build the Tabernacle and Solomon to build the temple in likeness of God’s throne and His dwelling place. It was here that God dwells. Jesus knew that their understanding was skewed at best and uncomprehended at worst. He knew one day all who believed in him would understand that he was God the Son, and he had come to Earth to dwell with them. He also knew that the authority to do this was given to him from God the Father, and the Holy Spirit of God was in him to do signs that testified that the Father had sent him. Later, Paul would tell the church that their bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, a place where God dwells, a place that is to be kept holy, set apart for God’s use.   

 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;  you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Cor.6:19-20 Imagine all the things that God’s temple, the body of the church, is used for today. Is it used primarily for prayer and worship of God? Are we adorning it with the attractions of the world? Is it a place where the Light of God’s Word shines into a dark sinful world? “You are the light of the world... In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ”Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” Matt. 5:14, Jn. 8:12, Eph. 5:8

In a little while, Jesus will come for his church to be with Him, and God will take the light out of the world. It will be even darker than we can even imagine, so let us be the light to all those around us, let the temple of the Holy Spirit be used for prayer and worship of God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

  

Last, John mentions that Jesus gave more signs to bring the nations to faith in his name. He doesn’t tell what they were. In Luke’s gospel account, there were several healings (Leprosy, and paralytics Lk.4:41-42), and Matthew says that Jesus healed every disease and sickness among the people (Mt. 4:23-25) at the beginning of his ministry. Let’s look at the text, “Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”

But John writes, Jesus wouldn’t encumber himself to the people. Jesus knew what the people would do if he entrusted himself to them. The religious leaders tried to use Jesus by questioning him about scripture and God. The people wanted to use Jesus in order to see more miracles, and be entertained i.e. Simon the pharisee’s home (Luke 7:36-50). The Bibleref commentary gives insight into the verses.

“Jesus' conversations with the Pharisees, and His miracles, certainly provided a good show. Over time, people would fall away as they realized that fireworks were not the main purpose of Christ's ministry. God doesn't jump through hoops, simply to keep us amused.

Also, those who say "only a miracle will make me believe," probably won't believe even if they see one (Luke 16:30–31). Simple intellectual belief is not the same as saving faith. The gospel requires each person to trust in Christ, not merely admit that He exists, or that He has power. It's likely that these unspecified signs from verse 23 are what inspired Nicodemus to seek Jesus out, as described in John chapter 3. He knew that true miracles were messages from God, and that only someone bringing God's message could do the things Christ did.  Bible ref commentary

Application - It is not amazing that God knows what he created. Jesus knew the heart and minds of all who were at the temple, both jews and gentiles. He knows the heart and minds of all who are on the face of the earth today. Yet like those who were there that day, we stand amazed when Jesus brings discipline to the church and the world. Like those who were kicked out of the court of the gentiles, people who misused or abused worship and prayer, they left disgruntled, bewildered, and stunned because they couldn’t see the light. Yet Jesus showed who he was, he spoke the word and people were healed, they believed Jesus was special, possibly even a prophet, or the Messiah. 

Today, God is working as the light through his body, the church. He has given us authority to go out and proclaim the Good News, the gospel, to pray in Jesus’ name and see miracles. And he has given us authority to destroy the strongholds i.e. the vendors in the court of the gentiles. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We are to be holy, cleansed, and to be at prayer and worship of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Jesus knows our minds and hearts, he knows that mankind will try to use him or spin his word to testify about mankind and his achievements. Remember He came to be the Light, to testify and to be the witness to the Truth. “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.”  “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."  (John 18:37)  

  I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He is Life and that eternal, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

 

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare

Please give it a look and join me in praying with authority against the darkness in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com