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Lesson 10: John 2:13-25

John 2:13-25
And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

Background Information
To understand the presence of what looks like a cattle market in the temple, please remember that temple worship involved animal sacrifices. These animals that Jesus felt cheapened the temple were being sold for religious purposes. Sadly the attitude had changed from worshipful to commercial. 

The disciples remembered that something was written about Jesus. What they remembered was a quote from the Old Testament part of the Bible.

Related Scriptures
Exodus 12:1-20 (The origin of the Passover feast that Jesus observed.)
Exodus 23:14-17 (The law requiring temple attendance at this season.)
Psalm 69:9
1 Corinthians 6:19-20

1. Why did Jesus object to those trading in the temple?
2. a. Whose house was the temple? b. By calling the temple His Father’s house, whom was Jesus calling Himself?
3. Over Jesus’ life, at least three things set Him apart from ordinary humans. We see those three things mentioned in this text. a. What book did the disciples feel described Jesus? b. Why did the people at the feast believe on His name? c. What happened after Jesus died? (Hint: Question c. is not about the disciples remembering.)
4. If a temple is where God lives and is worshiped and Jesus’ body was a temple, where was God? (He is also everywhere.)
5. If a Christian’s body is also a temple, where is God? (He is also everywhere.)
6. In this portion of John 2, we learn that Jesus knew what people were like without being told. a. Can you think of a situation in one of our previous lessons in which Jesus knew a person’s character without being told?  b. What did that person say when He learned that Jesus knew his character?

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