Title: Christ is consumed with his zeal for you!
Text: John 2:13-22
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.”
We have seen the rebirth of the State of Israel and continue to witness the ingathering of the [Jews], exiles from the four corners of the world. For the first time in centuries Jerusalem is in Jewish hands, yet once a year, on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av, Jews fast, cry and mourn for the destruction of [their] Holy Temple … a building that was destroyed 2,000 years ago.
This article was posted on the website “Breaking Israel News” In August of last year – titled “We’re ready to rebuild the Temple.”
[For the Jews] the absence of the Temple [is important and] is seen in the stories reported on the nightly news and its void adversely affects [they believe] nations, geo-politics and global peace.
Director of the Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Rabbi Chaim Richman explains that the 9th of Av “is not about bemoaning the Temple. It’s about bemoaning the world without the Temple; a world that has lost its light, [lost] its color and [lost] its direction.”
Indeed, there is a growing “Temple Movement” in Israel today with thousands of Jews working to rebuild the Temple. According to a poll taken last year in a leading newspaper, one third of Israelis believe that Israel should erect the Temple on the Temple Mount. Israel’s Housing Minister called publicly for the rebuilding of the Temple, “We've built many little, little temples,” Uri Ariel said, referring to synagogues, “but we need to build a real Temple on the Temple Mount.”
http://www.breakingisraelnews.com/19539/ready-rebuild-temple/#K6mlI3UlXw6oqYSJ.97
In our gospel reading for today we move to the book of John. As we looked at our gospel lesson in Mark last week, Jesus explained that he must suffer, be rejected by the Elders, Chief priests and the scribes, be killed and after three day, rise from the dead. Mark 8:31
Jesus was zealous both for his Father’s House in driving out those who had made it a house of trade selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, [along with] the money-changers [who were] sitting there, just as he was with Peter last week, rebuking him for “not setting his mind on the things of God.”
The Jews now ask Jesus – what is the evidence that you can give us as to your authority for doing such things, by casting those out of the temple?
22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, Paul tells the Corinthians in our epistle lesson for today.
So Jesus tells them,
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
As you can imagine, the Jews that Jesus is talking to believe he is talking about “The Temple” the building that had taken 46 years to build, where all the daily sacrifices had taken place … the place where God dwells … where sin is atoned for.
You can see that not much has changed in the nearly 2000 years since the cross of our Lord. The Jews are still rebuilding the Temple … and the cross is still as Paul says:
23 … a stumbling block to Jews and folly [or foolishness] to Gentiles,
But we who have been blessed to be brought to the foot of the cross to see the savior and to trust in his work – where true temple worship is in the once and for all sacrifice for sin - by the working of the Holy Spirit in us
24 … are called, both Jews and Greeks, [to see] Christ [as] the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Because, Christ is consumed with his zeal for you!
25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
But many fall short. For some the stumbling … or foolishness, is just plain stubbornness.
Ill.
In 1937 architect Frank Lloyd Wright built a house for industrialist Hibbard Johnson. One rainy evening Johnson was entertaining distinguished guests for dinner when the roof began to leak. The water seeped through directly above Johnson himself, dripping steadily onto his bald head. Irate, he called Wright in Phoenix, Arizona. "Frank," he said, "you built this beautiful house for me and we enjoy it very much. But I have told you the roof leaks, and right now I am with some friends and distinguished guests and it is leaking right on top of my head." Wright's reply was heard by all of the guests. "Well, Hib, why don't you move your chair?"
Today in the Word, Moody Bible Institute, Jan, 1992, p.14.
A stumbling block or foolishness, Christ body is the Temple that has been destroyed and has also, after three days, been raised. It remains a problem for many still today. For the Jews the Temple remains something to be rebuilt and for many who are Gentiles the Cross of Christ remains folly, something to be seen as weakness and not the power of God.
The cross is an offence, so at times we shy away from it, especially in the midst of the world.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer in his book: Life together writes,
“Jesus Christ lived in the midst of his enemies. At the end all his disciples deserted him. On the Cross he was utterly alone, surrounded by evildoers and mockers. For this cause he had come, to bring peace to the enemies of God. So the Christian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloistered [or monastic] life but in the thick of foes [and enemies]. There is his commission and his work. 'The kingdom is to be in the midst of your enemies. And he who will not suffer this does not want to be of the Kingdom of Christ; he wants to be among friends, to sit among roses and lilies, not with the bad people but the devout people."
To this he adds this quote from Luther:
"O you blasphemers and betrayers of Christ! If Christ had done what you are doing who would ever have been spared' (Luther).”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Faith in Community
Christ is consumed with his zeal for you!
21 But [Jesus] 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.
In spite of our weakness and in spite of our failings God in Christ was focused on the cross for you. The Temple of his body that was destroyed for you is victory! It is victory because the full wrath of God was poured out on Jesus and as a result you have no fear of standing before our holy God.
God in Christ has taken your sin upon himself and has given you his righteousness in exchange for it – what wonderful good news – and as a result you are free of the bonds of sin, death and the devil and covered by Christ and made his child by faith.
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Christ is consumed with his zeal for you and just as he has been raised you too will rise!
May our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who has redeemed you, and called you through the power of the Holy Spirit to faith, complete this blessed good work in you now and forever!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit
Amen
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