Jesus in Jerusalem

John’s timing is different than the other gospels. In fact, timing isn’t nearly as important of a concept to John. John deeply cares about narrative and meaning. Exactness of time falls to the side.

And so we see Jesus in Jerusalem at the beginning of his ministry. And wow, does he do a lot while there.

John 2:13-25

It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple those who were selling cattle, sheep, and doves, as well as those involved in exchanging currency sitting there. He made a whip from ropes and chased them all out of the temple, including the cattle and the sheep. He scattered the coins and overturned the tables of those who exchanged currency. He said to the dove sellers, “Get these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it is written, Passion for your house consumes me.

Then the Jewish leaders asked him, “By what authority are you doing these things? What miraculous sign will you show us?”

Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple and in three days I’ll raise it up.”

The Jewish leaders replied, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and you will raise it up in three days?” But the temple Jesus was talking about was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered what he had said, and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover Festival, many believed in his name because they saw the miraculous signs that he did. But Jesus didn’t trust himself to them because he knew all people. He didn’t need anyone to tell him about human nature, for he knew what human nature was.

Prayer

God,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for Saturdays. For good weather. For food that both sustains and is enjoyable. Thank you for naps, for dogs, for plants. For sunshine.

I give you this day, even as you’ve handed it to me.

By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.