The Temple

March 8, 2018

Opening Hymns:
Come Sinners to the Gospel Feast (http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh339.sht)

Scripture Reading:
John 2:13-22
2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2:14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

2:15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

2:16 He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"

2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

2:18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?"

2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

2:20 The Jews then said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"

2:21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.

2:22 After 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.

Message:
In this scripture we see one of the few times that Jesus becomes angry. He is upset because not only are people taking advantage of others (the money changers were making some good profits from the people who were buying there), but they were doing it in His Father’s temple.

Throughout the New Testament we can see Jesus becoming upset with religious leaders. People who claim to be following God’s Word, but are falling short. They judge others, when they should be looking at their own actions instead. In today’s scripture they are sinning right in a house of worship.

Even though Jesus gets upset, by the end of this scripture he speaks of His own death and resurrection. We are reminded that though He is upset by the sin, he is forgiving of the sinner. He still sacrificed Himself so that we might live.

We as Christians can still sin. We can judge others while ignoring our own impurities. We can take advantage of one another. We might not always show others the love that God would want us to show. However, remember that we are forgiven and loved.

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank you for sending Your Son down to forgive us of our sins. Please help us change our own actions when we go astray, that we might draw closer to You. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Closing Hymn
O Perfect Love (http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh645.sht)

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.
Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God