John 2:17-22

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes) 



2) Scripture Reading: John 2:17-22

His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 

Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous 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.” T 

he Jews 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.

 3) Devotional 
Now here's another example of where the Gospel of John differs from the other gospels.  With the addition of yesterday's passage of Jesus clearing the temple - John has depicted this event happening at the beginning of Jesus' ministry.  In the other gospels, it's described toward the end of Jesus' ministry.  So why is it different here?  Remember that John is writing just to keep a record, but there reasons behind each detail and event he describes.  Here we see Jesus being challenged to perform a miracle to prove his authority.  The way Jesus answers ties in with how he is introduced in the Gospel of John - that He is the new way.  And that the authority they wish to see will be shown through Jesus' death and resurrection.  Jesus came to turn the world as it was known upside down.  That the way people worshipped in temples then was the old way and through the resurrection of Jesus, there is a new temple for the people of God.  And as Christians today, according to 1 Corinthians 3:16, you are God's temple and God's Spirit lives in you.

4) Questions to Consider:

How has Jesus come in my life to do away with the old, to bring in the new?  What needs to be transformed within me so that God's Spirit may dwell in me?

5) Prayer:

Father God, may my life be a temple for you.  Dwell in me and may I dwell in you.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)

John 2:12-16

1) Silence, Stillness and Centering before God (2 minutes)

2) Scripture Reading: John 2:12-16
After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.  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!”

3) Devotional
One of the struggles in the Christian life is that we keep veering away from a life of total worship to Jesus, and end up worshipping false, poser gods.  The Bible calls them idols.  These idols can be the worship of our jobs (and not taking a Sabbath), worshiping our anger (and becoming violent), worshiping sex (and committing adultery), worshiping things (and stealing them), or worshiping success (and coveting what other people have).  Periodically, Jesus has to drive these false god's out of our lives.  Through the conviction of the Holy Spirit, our circumstances, and struggles Jesus will identify your idols, drive them out, and replace them with more of His Spirit.  His peace.  His joy.  and His Victory.  Until our worship of Jesus can be pure, whole, and complete.

4) Questions to Consider:
What is it that I give my time, energy, body, money, focus, devotion, and passion to the most?  Is this object of my worship Jesus, or someone or something else?  How is Jesus driving out all other devotions, until He is left?

5) Prayer:
Father, help us to be sensitive to what you are doing in my life today.  Right now, you are getting rid of my idols, help me to be responsive to what your spirit is doing.  Amen 

Conclude with Silence (2 minutes)