Sunday March 8th, 2015 3rd Sunday in Lent John 2:13-22
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (verse 19)
Jesus again confuses his listeners. His message is two-fold. They are destroying what the temple stands for with their greed. They will destroy him through their jealousy. Listeners thought that he would physically rebuild the temple in three days, an impossible task. But he was speaking in metaphors, a metaphor of resurrection. Jesus was saying to those who believed, “I am the temple.” “I will rise again.”
I found one of the most profound descriptions of the impact of Jesus’ life in a little book entitled Jesus CEO. (L.B. Jones, New York: Hyperion, 1995) “Everything bloomed or healed or came to life in his presence.”
The life of Jesus is a series of unbelievable events, usually misunderstood by detractors as well as disciples, and encompassed by “I Am.” He never doubted his mission: teaching in the temple, blessing of water into wine, walking on water, healing the sick, raising the dead, then suffering, dying, living again, always and forever. He never turned aside from doubters and detractors. He stayed the course. Jesus is the new Temple.
Dear Lord, through the blessing of the resurrection you have given us hope. Let our faith grow in the acceptance of what Jesus has built for us, a new temple in him. Amen. — BG
Contributed by The Gift of the Resurrection
Jesus again confuses his listeners. His message is two-fold. They are destroying what the temple stands for with their greed. They will destroy him through their jealousy. Listeners thought that he would physically rebuild the temple in three days, an impossible task. But he was speaking in metaphors, a metaphor of resurrection. Jesus was saying to those who believed, "I am the temple." "I will rise again."
I found one of the most profound descriptions of the impact of Jesus' life in a little book entitled Jesus CEO. (L.B. Jones, New York: Hyperion, 1995) "Everything bloomed or healed or came to life in his presence."
The life of Jesus is a series of unbelievable events, usually misunderstood by detractors as well as disciples, and encompassed by "I Am." He never doubted his mission: teaching in the temple, blessing of water into wine, walking on water, healing the sick, raising the dead, then suffering, dying, living again, always and forever. He never turned aside from doubters and detractors. He stayed the course. Jesus is the new Temple.
