What is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple?

23rd May, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Aldersgate’s Sunday

John 2:12-25

Main Idea: The special relationship of Jesus with God

Objectives: a. To teach that we need a special relationship with God like Jesus. b. To teach that our bodies are temple of God and we need to take good care of it.

A. Introduction

- This is one of the rare occasions in the 4 gospels where Jesus was angry, aggressive and he cleared the temple as if he had the authority to do it.

- On what ground Jesus clears the temple as recorded?

- This is where we need to examine some background information and; we have to some explanation on what he says.

B. What is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple?

- Now, why Jesus was so angry with what happened in the temple courts? Verse 14 says, “In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.”

- The temple here signifies the whole of temple and its surrounding areas. This includes the various courts as well as the holy place. The trading must have been done in the outer courtyard, the court of the Gentiles. The reason for the practice was at the convenience of those who could buy the sacrificial animal. People who came to worship from a distance, they could not bring with them the sacrificial animal.

- Money changers also took the opportunity because worshippers are only allowed to do money offerings in the approved currency. The other currencies were not acceptable was because they bore the Emperor’s image or they contained the image of idols. For whatever the reason, the rule required that money changers must be somewhere at work!

- Jesus made a whip from cords and used it to drive out all the traders with their goods, including the animals meant for trading purpose. He also overturned the tables of the money changers.

- It is clear that it was not so much the physical force that was used as a moral power to empty the courts. One commentator (H. E. W. Turner) said it was the blazing anger of the selfless Christ rather than the weapon which really cleared the temple courts of their noisiness and the mixture of all other goods.

- Who was Jesus who dared to do it? On what ground, what authority he could do it? Who asked him to do it? Was he not afraid of the consequence of his action?

- Simply put, what is the purpose of Jesus clearing the temple? The answer is found in verse 16 and the verses that follow. In verse 16, Jesus said to those who sold doves, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market?”

- What Jesus objected was the practice of trading at the temple courts. His motive was the reverence for my Father’s house. The temple court was supposed to be a place where Gentiles might go to pray or meditate in the temple. They could do it with peace. But now, it had been turned into a market place, which certainly affected the atmosphere of temple worship.

- Upon seeing the action of Jesus, His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 which says, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” It is very clear again and again throughout the gospel of John, the writer’s aim is to show Jesus to be the Messiah. John wanted to show Jesus’ actions throughout the gospel as having a special relationship with God. John wanted to show that Jesus behaved like that because of His calling as Messiah. John is showing the readers, may be all the more, the Jews, at that time, that in Jesus, God is working out His purposes of salvation for mankind.

- So, in theological term, Jesus clearing the temple was a messianic action.

- In verse 18, we see the Jews demanded that Jesus authenticated His action with a miraculous sign. The Jews expected their Messiah to perform mighty miracles to prove that He was Messiah!

- But Jesus was to be manipulated by the Jews at their timing. He had his own timing to prove so. So He said in verse 19, “Destroy the temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

- Brothers and sisters, you see again and again, in Jesus’ ministry, He is all the time focused on His mission of salvation on earth. It is number one thing we need to give ourselves priority also.

- The Jews had mistaken what he said to refer to the physical temple which took 46 years to build.

- But, after the death of Jesus, His disciples knew then came to understand what Jesus meant by the statement he made, “Destroy the temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

- They knew that the temple referred to his body. His body was to be a sacrifice for man’s sin once and for all, to bring about forgiveness of our sins.

- Jesus’ word for temple denotes the shrine, the sanctuary, the very place where a deity, a god lives. It may be applied to us as believers also. It is advocated by apostle in 1Corinthians 6:19, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” For this reason, today, I preach to you in the name of Jesus, your bodies are temple of God. Do not sin with your bodies. Your bodies are holy temple of God.

- No matter what, Jesus’ use of the word, temple probably implies that God lives in him in a very special way.

C. Applications

- a. John Wesley’s special relationship with God is like that of Jesus’ special relationship with God. Please do not misunderstand me. I mean John Wesley modeled after Christ’s relationship with God, the father. Can you also do the same? Take a look of Wesleyan movement on holiness through class, society and bands. He mobilized Christians to strike personal relationship with God through these means.

- B. Your body is a temple of God just like Jesus’ body is a temple of God. Do you see how sacred is your body. If only realize it more and more, otherwise, we will sin more and more using body. Sometimes, we treat our body like a pig treats its body. A pig, after it is washed, it will literally gets itself dirty again and again.

D. Conclusion

- Do you see how precious and important are you in the sight of God? Do you still want to sin with your body, mind and soul?

What is the big deal about Jesus changes water into wine?

16th May, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

John 2:1-12

Main Idea: Water is changed to wine revealed the glory of Jesus.

Objectives: a). To teach that miracle always reveals the glory of Jesus. b). To challenge the congregation to do the mission that Jesus has done on earth.

A. Introduction

- I believe we are all attracted by miracles. We believe in miracles, otherwise, we cannot be here praying to God in the name of Jesus and listening to sermons and worshipping God. We believe in the miracles of the resurrection of the dead, the resurrection of Jesus, for example.

- For us Christians, as disciples of Jesus, all miracles must lead us to believe in God in the person of Jesus and obey Him and He is glorified.

- By no means, miracle performers are glorified. If we do so, then, we face the danger of making a person God/ deify a person/ make a person deity. This is against the first and second commandments.

- Let us take a close look at the miracle of Jesus changes water into wine and how it glorifies Him.

B. The first powerful miracle of Jesus – Changes water into wine.

- The context was a Jewish wedding feast. It was a custom even among poor people because the guests brought gifts, including provisions. Jesus and his disciples would have been viewed as family for this purpose. However, they had no gifts to bring along. That would have caused Jesus’ mother, Mary to draw his attention to the situation. It was hardly a plea for a miracle, but he had some responsibility for it, and surely he could do something to meet it!

- Jesus’ reply was in verse 4, “Dear woman, why do you involve me?...”My time has not yet come.” This is probably Jesus also shares his mother’s concerns. And here, the hour refers to his task of bringing the kingdom of God, which will climax in his death and resurrection. The work of bringing God’s kingdom has been given by his Father, and the Father alone can determine when it begins, not his mother.

- The instrument used in meeting the need of wine is clearly significant in a Jewish setting. Jars of water originally designed for the purpose of ritual cleansing for people who come to the wedding feast, now, after Jesus prayed over them, they become jars of wine for the purpose of celebrating the mercies of God. Among the holy, pious Jews, wine was almost exclusively used for religious purposes.

- As I meditate on the passage, I asked the question, “What is the big deal about Jesus changes water into wine?” The answer is found in verse 11, “This, the first of his miraculous signs, Jesus performed at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.”

- What is the big deal? The miracle of changes water into is to manifest the glory of Jesus. This great account of the first display of glory of Jesus by miraculously providing enough wine in an embarrassing situation may point to the full salvation that Jesus come to bring. As people were distressed from the situation of embarrassment, from no wine, John, the author wanted to use the provision of wine to testify for Christ’s saving mission in the world. This, Jesus knew right from the beginning. And He focused on it and he even used this miracle to show it.

- Please take note that the result of the miracle, the wine, is for everybody, all the peoples who come to the wedding feast. The wine here symbolizes the kingdom of God, the eternal life, which Jesus offers is for everybody. Eventually, this eternal life is made known to Nicodemus in Chapter 3.

C. Applications

- Let us not just become amazed by this miracle, by all means, let it impacts our life.

- Firstly, you can see that miracles have their godly purpose. A miracle that is performed by God must glorify Him, not any other human being. This is our Christian theology. It must always draw people to God in the person of Jesus, especially salvation in Christ. In this wine miracle, verse 11 says, “…Jesus disciples put their faith in him.” Otherwise, all miracles will remain as mere satisfaction of our human desire for entertainment, not more than a cinema show!

- Secondly, the wine miracle shows that Jesus is glorified in order to show mission in this world. He showed the miracle to demonstrate God’s power in providing salvation. Right from the beginning, he had this mission in his mind. He is full of strong sense of mission. All his miracles recorded and not recorded point all human beings to salvation in God; get people to worship God; get people to become disciples of Jesus. Will the choir presentation; choir ministry which we want to begin again show people the path to God; salvation in God?

- The wine miracle must help us to be like Jesus to be full of strong sense of missions on earth. Do you live for Jesus sense of mission on earth? If you do, you will great transformation in life. If you live for yourself, and yourself only, you will have no answers for your problems of selfishness, greed, hatred, anger, etc.

- Thirdly, “your life can change water into wine.” I put this sentence in quote and unquote. What it means is this, our lives can impact others life as hold dear the mission of Jesus to your heart. As you sacrifice for Jesus, people will be impacted by your life, as you give yourself to others. As you give yourself to others, you become a miracle, you change water into wine.

D. Conclusion

- Can all that you achieve in life be attributed to Jesus? If so, you are a miracle.

Accountable Parents Raise Accountable Kids

2nd May, 2010

Written By Rev Law Hui Seng

Posted By Teresa Han

Ephesians 5: 31

Main Idea: To be accountable to our children

Objective: To teach the congregation to use their life example to impart in their children’s life the character of accountability.

A. Introduction.

- Today I do not preach as if I am there and I already master the subject. I am very much working towards it.

- Do you find any trouble in getting your children to tidy up their rooms; throw the garbage; clean dishes and plates after eating; getting them to do their homework; training them to put back the items used, etc?

- This is actually to do with responsibility, also called accountability.

- However, it is a great character for the practice of our life. It is not popular among our children. It is easier to do your own things and not have to answer to anyone. But that is not how life works.

- Without accountability, society would be chaotic. Without accountability, homes can degenerate into chaos. Many have this problem because a family member refuses to act responsibility toward the rest of the family.

- My sermon title this morning (evening) is accountable parents raise accountable kids. Can you be accountable to your children in order to use yourself as an example to train them to be accountable, as a character?

- The bible teaches us on the value and character of accountability.

B. Accountability involves submission and obedience.

- I agree with Josh McDowell and Dick Day in their book, “How to be a hero to your kids” that says, “Accountability is closely associated with 2 biblical concepts of submission and obedience. “ If I am willing to be accountable, that means I am humble enough to submit to others and obey, please or serve them. This is our reverence for Christ.

- Apostle Paul listed ways to live a lifestyle of being filled with the Holy Spirit, Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.” It is so spiritual, God fearing to be submissive to others. It is very spiritual to be accountable to others. It is a godly character.

- Becoming accountable and responsible is a crucial part of growing up and becoming a mature, balanced human being.

- To be accountable means submitting to others and ministering to their needs rather than always being worried about your own need.

- It takes a secure person who knows he is accepted, a person who feels significant because he has been show genuine appreciation. If we accept and appreciate our kids they can learn to be accountable.

- So, can you be accountable to your kids? The best way to teach accountability to your children is through your example. It is not them in charge and you have to be under them. It is about being humble and submissive enough to give your children permission to call you to account when you act in an unloving, irresponsible manner.

- Yes, they may not be always fair in what they think is “unloving,” and they may often see things from their child’s point of view, but making yourself accountable to your children provides an invaluable bridge of communication between the 2 of you. As your child or whoever you look after, watches you be accountable, he will learn to be accountable. You and I need to do effective role modeling before our children or those who are under us.

- My wife reminds me of my promise to my children and holds me accountable. My children observes it and learn. She reminds me not to promise something to my children and later I cannot fulfill it. Unless I am very sure it is going to happen, otherwise, do not say anything to promise.

C. Kids aren’t afraid to hold you accountable.

- My kids hold me accountable for what I do and say. I told them to practice orderliness in making beds and tidy up their room. There was one time I did not do my job, and I ask them to do it. They reply that I had not done either. They hold me accountable. I have to do it. I still struggle on this and sometimes I forget to do it.

- Every Monday, as long as I am around, my kids hold me accountable to bring one person out for special appointment. Praise the Lord most of the times I make it and I teach them accountability. Dad is responsible for what he says.

D. Good intentions don’t automatically become reality.

- However, how do I deal with the question of how can be a father, a husband, who is supposed to the head of the family, the leader in the family, and at the same time, be subjected myself to my wife and children.

- I believe I am a servant-leader who is strong, matured and humble enough to say to my wife and children, “I want you to hold me accountable.”

E. Accountability and role-modeling go together.

- Brothers and sisters, as you are accountable to your children or children who are under you, then, you are providing a very good example to your children or children who are under you. You may be a grandmother, an auntie, an uncle, a teacher, etc. You are in a position to influence the children who are under you for Christ as you give good modeling to them through your accountability.

F. Being accountable makes discipline easier.

- Being accountable to your kids or those kids who are under you, may put you in some tight spots, but it also lays groundwork for following through with discipline when it really counts.

- Because through your accountability, they really know that you are close with them and love them, you earn their respect; they will take your discipline positively.

- As I am accountable to my children, and when I ask them to say sorry to one another in the family, they do it. By the way, I also say sorry to my children to my wife and children. Nowadays, we practice like this: one has to say, “I am sorry and the other has to say, I forgive you.” This is to make sure each one of us mean it from our heart. We learn from Rev Thomas Lau.

G. Being accountable takes humility and patience.

- As you humble yourself in accountability, you need to be patient also with one another. And your family will grow in relationships and your family will be happy.

- Do you owe an apology to your family? Have you failed in anyway in your accountability to each of them? Have you been humble and patient with your children and wife and husband or those kids under you?

H. Conclusion.

- I pray that you will realize the big deal about accountability.

- If you are practicing it is your reverence for Jesus. It is living according to the word of God.

- It is a great character.