January 16, 2026 | Be Connected
Jesus Clears the Temple
Scripture: John 2:12-25(NIV)
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 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. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 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.
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
Devotional
Let’s face it, this is a packed piece of scripture, one which is not just about the cleansing of the Temple. In my opinion, one must always approach scripture from the big picture. What is John trying to say and, specifically, what is this portion of scripture telling us? In broad strokes the book of John is about who Jesus is. It is written to prove He is the Son of God, the Messiah. Every story, every moment in this book is bent on showing exactly WHO Jesus is. Therefore, according to William Barclay, John is less concerned with timelines and specifics, but with underlining everything Jesus did or said that indicated he was the Messiah. According to Mr. Barclay, John uses the word “semeion” when he speaks of Jesus’ miracles. This word means “sign”. A sign tells people about the person who did it. Jesus’ miracles were about WHO He is, and that is John’s point.
Thus, his telling of the story of Jesus Clearing the Temple has this focus. Jesus is angry because there is no reverence in the Temple. Reverence is “deep respect for someone or something” (Oxford Language Dictionary). What with the selling of animals and the changing of money, it was a noisy, irreverent place. All of this occurred in the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus is telling the Jews that no sacrifice or money can put man right with God. And, if there were a visitor to the Temple, would they be able to find or worship God there? Was all this selling and buying reverent? Did it bring anyone closer to God?
The Jews response (and let’s remember who profited from all of this) was to ask Jesus WHO gave him the authority? John underlines that Jesus is telling them that he has the authority Because He is the Messiah. His response, “Destroy this Temple and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19), is not talking about the actual Temple, though the Jews misunderstood. It is talking about Jesus and his resurrection. He is telling them that He has come to open true worship with God. Nothing man made, no sacrifice, no money, no beautiful windows, no comfy seats, no amazing music, NOTHING man has made, allows entrance to God. But He does, Anywhere, Anytime. There is much to talk about in the cleansing of the Temple, but at the root of it, John says, is the confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah and true worship is through him.
Are we guilty of missing the point? Are we too busy with how worship should be done rather than Who we are worshiping?
