6. John 2:13-25 Jesus, the True Temple of God

 

13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore 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. 23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

What does this passage tell me about God?
a. Jesus deeply values worship that is pure and free from corruption. His anger at the temple shows that God does not tolerate people misusing what is meant for His glory (v. 14-16).
b. Jesus refers to Himself as the true temple, pointing to the fact that God’s presence is no longer confined to a physical building but is fully revealed in Christ(v. 19-21).
c. Jesus could see beyond outward actions or words and knew the true intentions and beliefs of people. Even though many believed in Him because of the signs, He understood that their faith was often shallow, rooted in miracles rather than a deeper trust in who He truly was (v. 23-25).  

What does this passage tell me about man?
a. People often turn what is meant for God’s glory into something self-serving, as seen in the temple being turned into a marketplace (v. 14).
b. Even when confronted with truth, people tend to demand more proof instead of trusting Jesus at His word (v. 18).
c. Many may be drawn to Jesus because of what He can do (miracles, signs), but true faith requires genuine trust in who He is (v. 22-23).

What did this passage mean to its original audience?
At that time, the Jewish people saw the temple as the most important place for worship. They were focused on the physical building and didn’t realize the deeper meaning of what He was saying—that He Himself is the true temple where people would meet God. When Jesus talked about destroying the temple and raising it in three days, they didn’t understand that He was talking about His resurrection. Later, after He rose from the dead, His disciples finally understood what He meant. 

How does this passage impact my attitude? 

Jesus’ actions in the temple show how much He cares about honoring God. This challenges me to reflect on how I approach worship. Am I focused on truly honoring God, or do I sometimes come to Him distracted, with selfish motives, or out of routine? I want to develop a deeper reverence for God, ensuring that my worship—whether at church or in my daily life—is sincere and centered on Him.

How does this passage challenge my actions?
Since Jesus is the true temple, and as a believer, my body is now a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), I need to ask: Is my life a place where God’s presence is honored? Just as Jesus cleansed the temple, I need to allow Him to cleanse my heart of anything that dishonors Him—whether that’s sinful habits, selfishness, or distractions that take my focus away from Him. I will invite Jesus to reveal anything in my life that needs to be "cleansed".

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for showing me what true worship looks like. Help me to honor You in the way I worship—not just in church, but in my daily life. Cleanse my heart of anything that distracts me from fully loving and obeying You. I don’t want my faith to be based only on what You can do for me, but on who You are. Give me a heart that seeks You sincerely and desires to glorify You in all I do.

Teach me to live as a temple of Your presence, where You are honored and welcome. May my thoughts, actions, and words reflect Your holiness. I love You, Lord, and I want my life to bring You glory.

In Your name, I pray. Amen.