WEBVTT 00:00:00.200 --> 00:00:08.700 Good morning, church. Our sermon text today is John, chapter 2, verses 12 through 22. 00:00:10.099 --> 00:00:17.780 Let me invite you to turn there with me. John, chapter 2, verses 12 through 22. 00:00:18.660 --> 00:00:24.140 Let me pray for us, and then I'll read the text. Let's pray together. 00:00:24.140 --> 00:00:34.079 Father, our Father in heaven, we pray that your name would be hallowed, that your kingdom would come, and that your will would be done on earth as it is in heaven. 00:00:35.020 --> 00:00:45.900 God, we ask that in this time as we turn to your word, that your Holy Spirit would come and give us the grace of illumination so that we might understand the things that you have recorded for us. 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:58.679 Lord, not just so that we might gather new information, but so that we might see Christ more fully and be more transfigured and transformed into his image, conformed to his likeness. 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:00.719 We pray this in his name. Amen. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:06.200 John 2, verse 12. 00:01:07.799 --> 00:01:14.079 After this, he, that is Jesus, went down to Capernaum with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days. 00:01:14.079 --> 00:01:18.599 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 00:01:19.739 --> 00:01:24.799 In the temple, he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money changers sitting there. 00:01:25.799 --> 00:01:31.519 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and oxen. 00:01:32.539 --> 00:01:35.939 And he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 00:01:37.079 --> 00:01:39.959 And he told those who sold the pigeons, take these things away. 00:01:40.560 --> 00:01:43.319 Do not make my father's house a house of trade. 00:01:44.079 --> 00:01:48.519 His disciples remembered that it was written, zeal for your house will consume me. 00:01:50.179 --> 00:01:54.859 So the Jews said to him, what sign do you show us for doing these things? 00:01:55.900 --> 00:02:01.259 Jesus answered them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:08.639 The Jews then said, it has taken 46 years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.299 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 00:02:13.639 --> 00:02:18.319 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:23.159 and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:35.099 Well, one of the wonders of living in the time that we do is that so many of the things that a generation or two ago would have been almost unthinkable 00:02:35.099 --> 00:02:38.079 have now become incredibly convenient. 00:02:38.080 --> 00:02:48.260 For example, if I want a new book, a simple online order will drop it at my door in a day or two. 00:02:49.660 --> 00:02:54.620 If I need a bag of groceries, I can do curbside pickup, and the store will put it right in the trunk of my car. 00:02:55.080 --> 00:02:57.840 I don't even have to get out of my car to do grocery shopping. 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:08.159 If I want to talk to my extended family, a simple tap of a button on my phone, and I can see and hear their faces from hundreds of miles away. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:12.980 It's all so massively convenient. 00:03:14.980 --> 00:03:17.860 And that, in many ways, is a good thing. 00:03:19.240 --> 00:03:22.800 But convenience can sometimes come with a price. 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:28.719 Social media makes sharing ideas and photos with my friends very convenient, 00:03:29.200 --> 00:03:38.380 but it also creates, at times, a social echo chamber where I never really meaningfully engage with people outside of my tribe. 00:03:40.560 --> 00:03:45.360 Ordering a book through Amazon puts it conveniently at my doorstep, maybe even the next day, 00:03:45.360 --> 00:03:50.600 but it also forces many local bookstores to dwindle and perhaps close, 00:03:50.599 --> 00:03:57.099 and neighborhoods lose places where new ideas can be shared and real relationships formed. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.939 Convenience comes with a price. 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:08.219 Now, what our passage today puts before us is a very bracing question. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:20.439 Am I, are we, allowing our worship of God to be marred or even lost? 00:04:20.600 --> 00:04:24.020 In the name of convenience. 00:04:27.080 --> 00:04:29.280 Let me show you from our text what I mean. 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:33.220 This event in Jesus' life is often called the cleansing of the temple. 00:04:33.840 --> 00:04:37.240 And here, in this episode, we see two things. 00:04:38.040 --> 00:04:42.900 First, we see Jesus confront convenient worship. 00:04:42.899 --> 00:04:49.259 And then second, we're going to see Jesus cure convenient worship. 00:04:51.819 --> 00:04:56.500 So first, we see Jesus confront convenient worship in verses 12 through 17. 00:04:56.620 --> 00:04:57.779 Let's look at those verses again. 00:04:58.219 --> 00:05:00.539 Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the Passover feast. 00:05:00.539 --> 00:05:04.319 Now, John mentions the Passover a number of times in his gospel. 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:11.759 And Jesus, in obedience to the law, participates in this annual worship gathering in the capital of Jerusalem. 00:05:12.980 --> 00:05:15.719 Now, the Passover feast commemorated what? 00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:19.719 It commemorated Israel's liberation from slavery in Egypt. 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:23.519 The Exodus, the great act of rescue in the Old Testament, 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:30.120 where God, remember, judged the Egyptians in a series of judgments called plagues. 00:05:30.500 --> 00:05:37.539 And the sort of climactic judgment of all was putting to death all of the firstborn in the entirety of Egypt. 00:05:38.199 --> 00:05:42.219 And that was a judgment that would have come to the Israelites as well 00:05:42.220 --> 00:05:48.000 had not God provided a way for that judgment to pass over them. 00:05:49.960 --> 00:05:56.480 And that way that God provided for his judgment to pass over was for a lamb to be sacrificed. 00:05:56.780 --> 00:06:01.120 And in every household, as a substitute for the firstborn, 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:05.720 the lamb would die instead and God's judgment would pass over that house. 00:06:07.100 --> 00:06:11.820 So this was what the nation remembered year after year after year. 00:06:11.819 --> 00:06:14.639 And so Jesus goes up to Jerusalem for the annual feast. 00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:21.439 And the center of worship in Jerusalem, the heart of the festival, was the temple. 00:06:23.099 --> 00:06:29.639 Now, the temple in the Old Testament was the place where God met and dwelt with his people. 00:06:31.600 --> 00:06:35.879 You know, this longing, this urge to commune with God, 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:39.199 you see it in almost every human culture, don't you? 00:06:39.199 --> 00:06:45.159 And so in most human cultures, we see temples of some kind. 00:06:46.259 --> 00:06:52.959 A place where finite humans can try to meet what is infinite and what is transcendent. 00:06:53.599 --> 00:06:57.000 A place where finite humans can get in touch with ultimate reality with God. 00:06:57.000 --> 00:07:06.500 But those temples that are strewn across the ancient world were but shadows and distortions of the real thing. 00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:13.339 Do you remember when Paul walked into Athens and Acts and he saw the massive number of idols and altars there 00:07:13.339 --> 00:07:15.839 and how it broke and upset his heart? 00:07:16.079 --> 00:07:20.160 But he noticed there that there was one altar dedicated to an unknown God. 00:07:20.160 --> 00:07:25.260 And so Paul says, men of Athens, I see that you're religious in every way. 00:07:26.300 --> 00:07:32.720 But what you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 00:07:35.620 --> 00:07:40.120 People hunger for ultimate reality, for communion with God, but we don't really know how to get it. 00:07:40.120 --> 00:07:45.620 But the true God, the God of the Bible, has made a way for us to do that. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:53.500 And in the Old Testament, when his people were living in tents in the wilderness after the Exodus, 00:07:54.620 --> 00:07:58.939 God said, I'll come and I'll live in a tent right there in your midst. 00:07:58.939 --> 00:08:05.420 So he commanded Moses to build a tabernacle, which was a tent, 00:08:05.680 --> 00:08:08.839 where he would dwell in the midst of his tent-dwelling people. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.980 And when his people lived in houses in the promised land, 00:08:13.040 --> 00:08:14.660 after they had settled in the promised land, 00:08:15.000 --> 00:08:17.399 God said, I'll live in a house right there in your midst. 00:08:18.100 --> 00:08:20.860 And so he commanded David and Solomon to build the temple, the house, 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:23.259 where God would dwell in the midst of his house-dwelling people. 00:08:24.899 --> 00:08:28.159 And when in judgment Solomon's temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, 00:08:28.160 --> 00:08:31.560 and then when in grace God brought them back to the land after the exile, 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:34.639 nearly the first thing that God tells the people to do is what? 00:08:35.620 --> 00:08:36.279 Build the temple. 00:08:37.700 --> 00:08:41.420 Build the place that will signify my dwelling right in your midst, 00:08:41.480 --> 00:08:42.740 your creator and your redeemer. 00:08:42.960 --> 00:08:45.040 Because that's why I've made you, God says. 00:08:45.100 --> 00:08:46.740 That's why I've rescued you. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:50.440 I've made you and I've rescued you to dwell with me. 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:53.660 And in dwelling with me to bear my image. 00:08:53.659 --> 00:08:58.699 And in bearing my image to spread joy and glory through the whole creation. 00:09:02.779 --> 00:09:06.899 So Jesus, on the Passover, goes up to the temple. 00:09:09.939 --> 00:09:13.500 Now the temple complex in Jesus' day had been greatly expanded. 00:09:14.299 --> 00:09:16.579 There's mention of that in verse 20 of our passage, 00:09:16.679 --> 00:09:17.699 when the Jewish authorities say, 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:19.980 it's taken 46 years to build this temple. 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:24.940 Now what's being referred to there is the sort of constant construction in Jesus' day 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:29.539 that had built and rebuilt the courts and greatly sort of repaired the temple proper. 00:09:29.980 --> 00:09:33.279 So the temple was really not just sort of one sort of temple proper, 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:37.840 but a whole complex of courts and courtyards and colonnades. 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:42.120 So when it says in verse 14 that Jesus entered the temple, 00:09:42.240 --> 00:09:45.060 it means sort of the temple area or the temple complex. 00:09:46.580 --> 00:09:50.300 The massive courts that surrounded the actual sort of temple building itself. 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:52.940 And when Jesus enters the temple area, 00:09:53.840 --> 00:09:57.200 he finds something there that greatly disturbs him. 00:09:59.420 --> 00:10:03.440 In the outer court, there are animals being sold. 00:10:03.440 --> 00:10:07.320 And there are money changers exchanging currency. 00:10:09.400 --> 00:10:10.980 Now why was that going on? 00:10:12.220 --> 00:10:13.340 Well, think about it. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:18.720 People had to travel, sometimes multiple days, 00:10:19.260 --> 00:10:22.700 to get to Jerusalem for the annual feasts. 00:10:23.720 --> 00:10:28.020 So rather than sort of take your sacrifice with you on that long journey, 00:10:28.380 --> 00:10:30.700 this is sort of how I imagine them taking their sheep with them. 00:10:31.000 --> 00:10:32.220 It's probably not how they would have done it. 00:10:32.220 --> 00:10:34.460 And you have to feed it, and you have to water it, 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.720 and you have to clean up after it. 00:10:36.220 --> 00:10:38.340 Instead of doing all that, you could just arrive in Jerusalem. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:40.420 You just buy your sacrifice when you got there. 00:10:42.800 --> 00:10:45.019 And the money changers were also providing, 00:10:45.320 --> 00:10:47.879 I think, what we would have thought of as a helpful service. 00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:52.480 Again, people were coming from all over for the annual feasts. 00:10:52.800 --> 00:10:56.040 And all these different locations where people were coming from, 00:10:56.120 --> 00:10:58.720 it wasn't like today where there were like one or two currencies 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.800 that kind of enveloped whole continents. 00:11:02.220 --> 00:11:06.240 No, all these different locations had their own forms of little local currencies. 00:11:06.420 --> 00:11:10.240 So the money changers would allow you to kind of take your petty little local currency 00:11:10.240 --> 00:11:12.360 and exchange it into the local money. 00:11:12.460 --> 00:11:13.920 So you could do all your transactions. 00:11:14.200 --> 00:11:16.300 So you could pay your taxes and do all that good stuff. 00:11:17.960 --> 00:11:18.899 So think about it. 00:11:18.920 --> 00:11:19.940 It was a pretty good setup. 00:11:20.600 --> 00:11:21.940 People are coming from far away. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:24.940 Don't bother them with bringing their own animals 00:11:24.940 --> 00:11:27.600 or searching all over to find a currency exchange. 00:11:27.660 --> 00:11:28.560 Let's set it up right here. 00:11:28.559 --> 00:11:30.619 You come to the temple. 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:32.119 You buy your sacrifice. 00:11:32.379 --> 00:11:33.319 You exchange your money. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:34.419 You're good to go. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:40.359 And bonus, rather than any of the kind of modest profit that's made 00:11:40.359 --> 00:11:43.039 going to benefit someone else, it goes to the temple. 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:44.339 It's a win-win. 00:11:45.019 --> 00:11:45.959 You get your cows. 00:11:46.219 --> 00:11:47.099 You get your coins. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:48.579 And the temple is supported. 00:11:48.859 --> 00:11:50.119 What could be better than that? 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:56.019 Why wander the streets of Jerusalem looking for what you need? 00:11:56.220 --> 00:11:57.720 Just put it right here in the temple courts. 00:11:58.120 --> 00:12:00.360 It is the ultimate inconvenience. 00:12:05.480 --> 00:12:07.220 But Jesus will have none of it. 00:12:08.299 --> 00:12:09.060 None of it. 00:12:10.259 --> 00:12:13.620 He makes a little whip of reeds or cords, 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:16.299 and he uses it to start driving the animals out. 00:12:16.299 --> 00:12:19.299 And if you've ever tried to get an ox to move, 00:12:19.719 --> 00:12:21.620 you know why Jesus had to build a little whip 00:12:21.620 --> 00:12:23.439 to get the animals to leave. 00:12:25.199 --> 00:12:26.639 And he walks up to the money table, 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:27.919 and he flips it over. 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:30.479 And he goes to the pigeon sellers, 00:12:30.579 --> 00:12:30.879 and he says, 00:12:30.959 --> 00:12:32.599 pick up your cages and get out of here. 00:12:34.659 --> 00:12:37.379 What others saw as this beautiful convenience, 00:12:37.899 --> 00:12:39.740 Jesus sees as a complete tragedy. 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:43.039 Why? 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:46.579 Didn't Jesus want the pilgrims in Jerusalem 00:12:46.579 --> 00:12:48.679 to be able to offer sacrifices according to the law? 00:12:48.919 --> 00:12:50.699 Didn't Jesus want people to have the right currency 00:12:50.699 --> 00:12:53.120 to pay their taxes and get their sacrifices and all that? 00:12:55.459 --> 00:12:57.779 Well, Jesus didn't have a problem with any of that, actually. 00:12:57.919 --> 00:13:00.240 It wasn't the activity that he had a problem with. 00:13:00.319 --> 00:13:01.360 It was the location. 00:13:03.740 --> 00:13:07.159 You've made my father's house a house of trade. 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:13.439 The courts are supposed to be places of prayer, 00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:15.419 of reverence. 00:13:16.339 --> 00:13:18.159 These courts are meant to be set apart, 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:21.659 a place that's set apart for worship. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:26.159 And instead, you've made it a barnyard and a bank. 00:13:29.699 --> 00:13:31.379 Just imagine what this would have been like. 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:34.720 Now, I know a lot of us like to grab a cup of coffee 00:13:34.720 --> 00:13:36.679 or a quick breakfast before coming to church. 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:39.779 You'll often see the Lauer family at Brueger's 00:13:39.779 --> 00:13:43.600 around 845 when we're on our way, right? 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:47.039 But, you know, we could make it really easy for people 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:50.079 if we just set up right in the back of the church, 00:13:50.319 --> 00:13:52.620 right behind the soundboard, a coffee shop. 00:13:53.319 --> 00:13:55.179 You know, right next to Jess, right next to Kevin, 00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:57.480 maybe where that book's little pamphlets are. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:59.459 We'll just stick a coffee shop, bam, right there. 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:02.500 We'll put an espresso machine back there. 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:03.779 We'll put a barista there. 00:14:03.939 --> 00:14:05.480 We'll put some breakfast sandwiches there. 00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:07.620 And then after you check in with the ushers, 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:10.139 you can just walk right over there whenever you want. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.759 Get a coffee, get an egg and cheese sandwich. 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:13.720 How sweet would that be? 00:14:14.659 --> 00:14:16.840 You get your coffee, you get your breakfast sandwich. 00:14:17.580 --> 00:14:19.220 Maybe the church gets a little proceeds. 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:19.899 Win-win. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:22.659 The sermon starts to bore you. 00:14:23.159 --> 00:14:24.460 It goes a little long. 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:26.240 You can get up and get an espresso 00:14:26.240 --> 00:14:29.060 and make it through points five and six of the sermon. 00:14:29.059 --> 00:14:32.539 How sweet would that be? 00:14:34.459 --> 00:14:35.619 Not that sweet, right? 00:14:36.659 --> 00:14:37.500 Not that sweet. 00:14:38.239 --> 00:14:39.459 Because while we're trying to worship, 00:14:39.599 --> 00:14:43.179 we'd be constantly interrupted by the whirl of the coffee machine, 00:14:43.839 --> 00:14:47.219 by the casual conversation of the clients, 00:14:47.899 --> 00:14:50.859 the rattle of the coffee mugs going into the dishwasher. 00:14:50.979 --> 00:14:51.479 It would be a mess. 00:14:51.480 --> 00:14:55.680 But think of how much worse it would have been 00:14:55.680 --> 00:14:57.159 for the worshipers in Jesus' day, 00:14:58.500 --> 00:15:01.720 worshiping not just next to the aroma of a coffee machine, 00:15:02.220 --> 00:15:04.399 but next to the aroma of a cattle stall. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:09.980 Most of us who live in the city 00:15:09.980 --> 00:15:11.399 don't really know what that's like, do we? 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:16.639 But here's the real hitch. 00:15:19.139 --> 00:15:22.240 This only impacted some of the worshipers. 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.179 If you were a Jew, 00:15:26.379 --> 00:15:28.860 you didn't have to stay in those outer courts 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:32.159 with the clinking coins and the bleeding sheep. 00:15:33.340 --> 00:15:35.379 You were actually allowed to go into the next courtyard 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:37.159 and get away from all that stuff. 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:40.279 But if you were a Gentile, 00:15:40.279 --> 00:15:41.480 if you were an outsider, 00:15:41.980 --> 00:15:44.339 you had to stay outside in the outer court. 00:15:45.419 --> 00:15:47.600 You had to pray next to the banks in the barnyard. 00:15:50.539 --> 00:15:51.639 So do you see what was happening? 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.179 Not just had a place reserved, 00:15:56.919 --> 00:15:58.159 set apart by God, 00:15:58.199 --> 00:16:00.939 a place set apart by God for prayer and awe, 00:16:01.500 --> 00:16:03.819 not just had that been turned into a noisy marketplace, 00:16:05.059 --> 00:16:08.559 but the place where outsiders 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:11.699 could actually connect with the true God 00:16:11.699 --> 00:16:12.959 in a world of idols, 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.479 the place where outsiders could connect with the true God 00:16:16.479 --> 00:16:18.039 had been overrun 00:16:18.039 --> 00:16:21.259 for the sake of the convenience of the insiders. 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:27.840 The religious folk, 00:16:27.840 --> 00:16:28.740 the insiders, 00:16:28.879 --> 00:16:29.500 the haves, 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:31.059 had done all sorts of things 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:33.340 to make their worship experience easier. 00:16:34.500 --> 00:16:36.059 But who paid the cost? 00:16:37.279 --> 00:16:38.539 The irreligious folk, 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:39.919 the outsiders, 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:40.759 the have-nots. 00:16:44.279 --> 00:16:46.439 And that gets right down to the heart of the matter. 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.000 However, 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:50.580 the impulse to put cows and coins 00:16:50.580 --> 00:16:52.420 in the courtyard of the temple 00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:54.740 is driven by a heart 00:16:54.740 --> 00:16:57.020 that wants to make worship 00:16:57.020 --> 00:17:00.020 a convenient religion for some 00:17:00.020 --> 00:17:03.540 instead of a gospel message for all. 00:17:08.120 --> 00:17:09.940 So we need to check ourselves. 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:14.080 I'm sure that the first person 00:17:14.080 --> 00:17:14.820 who had the idea 00:17:14.820 --> 00:17:16.279 of putting a money-changing table 00:17:16.279 --> 00:17:17.140 in the temple courts 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.180 was not thinking, 00:17:18.400 --> 00:17:20.100 you know what will really dishonor God 00:17:20.100 --> 00:17:21.340 and exclude the very people 00:17:21.340 --> 00:17:22.519 we're supposed to be evangelizing? 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:24.059 Let's put a money-changing table right here. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:24.700 Let's do it. 00:17:25.400 --> 00:17:26.860 That's not what they were thinking. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.539 They were thinking, 00:17:28.960 --> 00:17:31.080 what will make it easier for us 00:17:31.080 --> 00:17:31.940 to worship? 00:17:33.720 --> 00:17:35.240 And what can be wrong with that, right? 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:38.080 But it's the wrong question. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.699 The question cannot be 00:17:40.699 --> 00:17:43.059 what will make it easier for us 00:17:43.059 --> 00:17:43.759 to worship? 00:17:44.819 --> 00:17:46.019 The question has to be 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.480 what will honor God 00:17:47.480 --> 00:17:48.639 and make it possible 00:17:48.639 --> 00:17:49.899 for them to worship? 00:17:53.199 --> 00:17:56.399 Worship isn't about serving my needs, 00:17:56.699 --> 00:17:58.259 but exalting God 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:00.319 and drawing all peoples to Him. 00:18:03.659 --> 00:18:06.619 And that's what gets Jesus fired up 00:18:06.619 --> 00:18:08.000 in our passage. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:11.319 His disciples then and now 00:18:11.319 --> 00:18:12.179 need to remember 00:18:12.179 --> 00:18:13.079 that it was written, 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:15.159 zeal for your house 00:18:15.159 --> 00:18:16.599 will consume me. 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:20.519 Jesus is passionate 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:22.039 about the honor 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:23.399 of the Father's name 00:18:23.399 --> 00:18:24.939 and the gathering 00:18:24.939 --> 00:18:26.179 of all nations 00:18:26.179 --> 00:18:27.119 to worship Him. 00:18:27.819 --> 00:18:29.319 And if our convenience 00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:30.819 gets in the way of that, 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:31.960 we need to be ready 00:18:31.960 --> 00:18:33.720 for Jesus to flip some tables. 00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:39.420 are we in danger of this today? 00:18:41.420 --> 00:18:43.039 What things do we do 00:18:43.039 --> 00:18:45.640 while maybe making it easier for us 00:18:45.640 --> 00:18:48.460 might inadvertently be making it harder 00:18:48.460 --> 00:18:49.920 for others to worship? 00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:54.880 You know, it's easier at times 00:18:54.880 --> 00:18:57.200 to use kind of insider language 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.660 or Christian-y jargon 00:18:58.660 --> 00:19:00.440 rather than attempting 00:19:00.440 --> 00:19:02.019 to explain things clearly. 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.960 You know, it's a comfort. 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:06.000 It can be a comfort 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.840 to insiders 00:19:06.840 --> 00:19:08.000 to hear certain phrases 00:19:08.000 --> 00:19:08.720 thrown around. 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:11.340 But that can be kind of confusing 00:19:11.340 --> 00:19:12.240 for the outsider 00:19:12.240 --> 00:19:13.000 or the newcomer 00:19:13.000 --> 00:19:14.660 who has no idea 00:19:14.660 --> 00:19:16.600 what a hedge of protection is 00:19:16.600 --> 00:19:16.880 or whatever. 00:19:16.880 --> 00:19:18.520 You know, these kind of phrases 00:19:18.520 --> 00:19:20.040 that we grow up using 00:19:20.040 --> 00:19:20.700 as Christians. 00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:23.040 And God certainly isn't honored 00:19:23.040 --> 00:19:24.920 by empty, jargony phrases. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.780 Or it can be easier at times 00:19:29.780 --> 00:19:32.240 to harp on the shortcomings 00:19:32.240 --> 00:19:33.080 or the failures 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:36.900 of the prevailing culture around us. 00:19:37.040 --> 00:19:37.800 It can be easier 00:19:37.800 --> 00:19:38.680 to just sort of harp 00:19:38.680 --> 00:19:39.760 on the shortcomings 00:19:39.760 --> 00:19:41.040 that we see around us 00:19:41.040 --> 00:19:43.240 rather than at the same time 00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:44.680 attempting to reform 00:19:44.680 --> 00:19:45.420 and renew 00:19:45.420 --> 00:19:46.080 and critique 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:47.179 the church's shortcomings. 00:19:48.259 --> 00:19:48.939 In other words, 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.799 it can be comforting 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:50.859 for the insider 00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:52.419 to hear a bold critique 00:19:52.419 --> 00:19:53.399 of this or that, 00:19:53.500 --> 00:19:54.720 but it can be confusing 00:19:54.720 --> 00:19:55.519 for the outsider 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.199 when it seems like 00:19:56.199 --> 00:19:57.159 the only social issues 00:19:57.159 --> 00:19:58.159 that are being critiqued 00:19:58.159 --> 00:19:59.859 are some and not others. 00:20:02.179 --> 00:20:03.559 We condemn this or that. 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:04.819 Why aren't we talking 00:20:04.819 --> 00:20:05.759 about our own shortcomings? 00:20:09.679 --> 00:20:10.720 It's easier to stick 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:12.039 to familiar patterns 00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:13.079 or rhythms in worship. 00:20:13.379 --> 00:20:14.319 It's more convenient 00:20:14.319 --> 00:20:16.039 to sing the same familiar songs 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:16.740 that's more comfortable 00:20:16.740 --> 00:20:18.059 to dress in a certain way, 00:20:18.220 --> 00:20:19.740 to sit in the same spot. 00:20:20.819 --> 00:20:22.879 It's so easy to slide 00:20:22.879 --> 00:20:24.159 or drift into doing 00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.139 all the things 00:20:25.139 --> 00:20:26.279 that will make it easy 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:27.059 and convenient 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:28.859 for the already religious folks 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:30.139 to practice their religion 00:20:30.139 --> 00:20:31.460 and go home affirmed 00:20:31.460 --> 00:20:32.180 in their performance. 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:35.779 It's so easy to do that. 00:20:35.779 --> 00:20:41.240 But throughout the Gospels, 00:20:41.399 --> 00:20:42.740 Jesus saves his most 00:20:42.740 --> 00:20:44.639 stringent critiques, 00:20:45.480 --> 00:20:47.819 not for the wayward pagan, 00:20:48.379 --> 00:20:51.119 but for the self-satisfied churchgoer. 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:55.819 I think this might be one reason 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.240 why John puts his account 00:20:57.240 --> 00:20:59.019 of Jesus cleansing the temple 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.240 at the beginning of his Gospel 00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:01.299 rather than at the end. 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:04.500 Matthew, Mark, and Luke 00:21:04.500 --> 00:21:06.659 recount Jesus cleansing the temple 00:21:06.659 --> 00:21:08.480 at the end of Jesus' ministry. 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:13.339 But John, perhaps for some thematic reasons, 00:21:13.639 --> 00:21:14.879 or perhaps because Jesus 00:21:14.879 --> 00:21:16.079 actually just did it twice, 00:21:16.240 --> 00:21:17.319 wants to mention it here 00:21:17.319 --> 00:21:17.919 at the beginning, 00:21:18.700 --> 00:21:19.379 right here, 00:21:20.139 --> 00:21:21.480 after the wedding of Cana. 00:21:22.659 --> 00:21:23.779 Remember the wedding of Cana 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.819 that we talked about last week 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:25.319 where Jesus, 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.559 in a very sort of secular setting, 00:21:28.159 --> 00:21:29.480 rescues a wedding feast. 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:31.559 He turns water into wine. 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:33.279 And in so doing, 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:35.920 He rescues the reputation 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:37.420 of a young groom. 00:21:38.400 --> 00:21:40.660 A young groom who is on the verge 00:21:40.660 --> 00:21:42.380 of total social shame, 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:44.700 who gets all the credit 00:21:44.700 --> 00:21:45.759 for what Jesus did. 00:21:46.920 --> 00:21:47.259 Remember? 00:21:47.779 --> 00:21:48.880 The master of the feast 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:50.079 comes to this young groom. 00:21:50.460 --> 00:21:51.180 What does he say? 00:21:51.420 --> 00:21:52.460 Did you hear what Jesus did? 00:21:52.500 --> 00:21:53.420 No, he looks at the young groom 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:53.799 and says, 00:21:54.360 --> 00:21:55.440 you did something great. 00:21:55.799 --> 00:21:57.440 You saved the best wine until now. 00:21:58.319 --> 00:21:59.240 And there's the young groom. 00:21:59.240 --> 00:21:59.640 I'm thinking, 00:21:59.839 --> 00:22:01.299 what did I do? 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:03.140 He did nothing. 00:22:03.839 --> 00:22:05.079 And Jesus did everything. 00:22:07.460 --> 00:22:08.240 And the young man 00:22:08.240 --> 00:22:08.940 got all the credit. 00:22:10.039 --> 00:22:11.640 And that's how Jesus treats those 00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:13.240 who know that they've blown it. 00:22:14.000 --> 00:22:15.460 He rescues us from shame 00:22:15.460 --> 00:22:16.940 and gives us joy 00:22:16.940 --> 00:22:18.519 without our desert, 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:20.720 without doing anything 00:22:20.720 --> 00:22:21.440 to deserve it. 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:24.380 But here in the second half 00:22:24.380 --> 00:22:24.940 of John 2, 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:27.380 we see how Jesus treats those 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:28.620 who think they've got it all together. 00:22:29.779 --> 00:22:30.820 Who think they can use 00:22:30.820 --> 00:22:31.620 a religious system 00:22:31.620 --> 00:22:32.539 for their own convenience. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:35.600 And to the self-satisfied 00:22:35.600 --> 00:22:36.400 religious folk, 00:22:36.519 --> 00:22:37.600 Jesus gives them judgment. 00:22:37.599 --> 00:22:43.399 So which one are you? 00:22:46.199 --> 00:22:47.039 Are you the groom 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:48.699 who knows that unless someone else 00:22:48.699 --> 00:22:49.539 comes to the rescue, 00:22:49.679 --> 00:22:50.299 you're done for? 00:22:53.379 --> 00:22:54.619 Or are you trying to find 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:55.980 an easy, convenient religion 00:22:55.980 --> 00:22:57.139 that will tick the boxes? 00:22:57.140 --> 00:23:01.180 Do you want to just do 00:23:01.180 --> 00:23:01.800 the right thing, 00:23:01.920 --> 00:23:02.740 go through the motions, 00:23:03.000 --> 00:23:04.220 preferably without too much 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.220 inconvenience or cost 00:23:05.220 --> 00:23:05.980 so you can get back 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:06.600 to your life? 00:23:10.780 --> 00:23:11.840 And if we're honest, 00:23:12.600 --> 00:23:14.040 I think we all, 00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:15.720 at one point or another, 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.940 fall into that latter category. 00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:22.240 So what do we do? 00:23:22.520 --> 00:23:23.340 Where do we go? 00:23:23.339 --> 00:23:26.139 Well, thankfully, 00:23:26.299 --> 00:23:27.720 Jesus doesn't just confront 00:23:27.720 --> 00:23:28.599 convenient worship 00:23:28.599 --> 00:23:30.139 in this passage, right? 00:23:31.980 --> 00:23:32.859 He also, 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:34.439 in a little bit of a cryptic way, 00:23:35.159 --> 00:23:36.099 points us to the cure. 00:23:36.959 --> 00:23:38.139 In verses 18 through 22, 00:23:38.639 --> 00:23:40.279 Jesus points us to the cure 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:42.099 for convenient worship. 00:23:43.159 --> 00:23:44.480 Now let's look at those verses again, 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.299 18 through 22. 00:23:45.519 --> 00:23:47.000 And the first thing that happens here 00:23:47.000 --> 00:23:47.679 is that the Jews, 00:23:47.980 --> 00:23:49.579 now in John's gospel, 00:23:49.720 --> 00:23:50.539 the phrase the Jews 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.079 is going to come up 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:51.699 again and again and again. 00:23:51.700 --> 00:23:53.900 And that almost always means 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:55.259 the religious authorities 00:23:55.259 --> 00:23:55.920 in Jerusalem, 00:23:55.920 --> 00:23:57.440 not every single Jewish person. 00:23:57.539 --> 00:23:57.880 After all, 00:23:57.920 --> 00:23:58.600 Jesus was a Jew. 00:23:58.960 --> 00:24:00.259 So when John says the Jews, 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:00.940 he's talking about sort of 00:24:00.940 --> 00:24:01.900 the religious authorities 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.460 in Jerusalem. 00:24:02.759 --> 00:24:03.980 So these religious authorities 00:24:03.980 --> 00:24:04.880 come up to Jesus 00:24:04.880 --> 00:24:06.299 and they basically say, 00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:07.960 what gives you the right 00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:08.860 to tell us 00:24:08.860 --> 00:24:09.840 how to do things here? 00:24:11.340 --> 00:24:12.500 Show us some sign 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.819 that you have the right 00:24:13.819 --> 00:24:14.380 to do this. 00:24:15.660 --> 00:24:16.480 In other words, 00:24:16.680 --> 00:24:18.460 you better have a miracle 00:24:18.460 --> 00:24:19.240 up your sleeve 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:20.220 if you're going to start 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:21.759 telling us how to do things 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:23.240 in this house. 00:24:25.000 --> 00:24:25.819 And Jesus says, 00:24:25.900 --> 00:24:26.100 okay, 00:24:26.180 --> 00:24:27.000 I'll give you a sign. 00:24:27.720 --> 00:24:28.480 Destroy this temple 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:29.180 and in three days 00:24:29.180 --> 00:24:29.839 I'll raise it up. 00:24:30.779 --> 00:24:31.480 And of course, 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:33.000 they have no idea 00:24:33.000 --> 00:24:34.660 what Jesus is talking about. 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:35.660 And the disciples 00:24:35.660 --> 00:24:36.480 didn't get it either. 00:24:36.900 --> 00:24:37.799 It's taken 46 years 00:24:37.799 --> 00:24:38.660 to rebuild this place, 00:24:38.740 --> 00:24:38.880 Jesus. 00:24:38.940 --> 00:24:39.860 We can do it in three days. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:42.680 But Jesus wasn't talking 00:24:42.680 --> 00:24:44.259 about the stone temple 00:24:44.259 --> 00:24:45.759 that was around them. 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.259 Jesus was talking about 00:24:47.259 --> 00:24:48.620 the flesh and blood temple 00:24:48.619 --> 00:24:49.939 standing right in front of them. 00:24:51.739 --> 00:24:53.559 His own body. 00:24:55.879 --> 00:24:57.059 What gave Jesus the right 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:58.159 to exercise authority 00:24:58.159 --> 00:24:59.459 over the temple in Jerusalem? 00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:01.039 The same thing 00:25:01.039 --> 00:25:02.599 that gave Jesus the right 00:25:02.599 --> 00:25:03.919 to stand up 00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:04.839 in the synagogue 00:25:04.839 --> 00:25:07.279 and read Old Testament texts 00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:07.979 from Isaiah 00:25:07.979 --> 00:25:08.939 or Jeremiah 00:25:08.939 --> 00:25:09.979 or Moses 00:25:09.979 --> 00:25:10.599 and say, 00:25:10.679 --> 00:25:11.219 today, 00:25:11.399 --> 00:25:12.399 these things are fulfilled 00:25:12.399 --> 00:25:13.019 in your hearing. 00:25:15.319 --> 00:25:16.679 You search the scriptures 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:17.519 thinking that in them 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:18.060 you're going to find 00:25:18.060 --> 00:25:18.640 eternal life. 00:25:18.840 --> 00:25:19.539 But it's they 00:25:19.539 --> 00:25:20.720 that witness about me, 00:25:20.799 --> 00:25:21.980 he'll say later 00:25:21.980 --> 00:25:22.720 in John's gospel. 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:25.680 And just as the texts 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.900 of the prophets 00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:27.860 are fulfilled 00:25:27.860 --> 00:25:28.660 in Jesus, 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:30.400 so the temple itself 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:32.400 and all that it stood for 00:25:32.400 --> 00:25:34.039 is fulfilled 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.279 in Jesus. 00:25:37.180 --> 00:25:38.039 The temple 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:39.220 was the place 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:40.240 where God 00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:41.200 and humans 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:42.039 could meet. 00:25:42.039 --> 00:25:45.480 where God says, 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.159 I will dwell 00:25:46.159 --> 00:25:46.759 in your midst 00:25:46.759 --> 00:25:48.079 and you'll commune 00:25:48.079 --> 00:25:48.500 with me. 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:49.859 Remember? 00:25:50.599 --> 00:25:51.180 God says, 00:25:51.259 --> 00:25:51.859 you live in a tent, 00:25:52.059 --> 00:25:52.779 I'll live in a tent. 00:25:53.220 --> 00:25:53.819 You live in a house, 00:25:53.899 --> 00:25:54.039 okay, 00:25:54.119 --> 00:25:54.859 I'll live in a house. 00:25:55.319 --> 00:25:55.940 But when the fullness 00:25:55.940 --> 00:25:56.899 of time came, 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.579 the word became flesh 00:25:58.579 --> 00:26:00.180 and literally tabernacled 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:00.879 among us. 00:26:01.200 --> 00:26:02.039 God's desire 00:26:02.039 --> 00:26:03.180 to commune 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.859 with his people 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:04.899 reached its climax 00:26:04.899 --> 00:26:06.039 in the incarnation 00:26:06.039 --> 00:26:07.039 of Jesus Christ. 00:26:07.460 --> 00:26:07.879 Here, 00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:08.920 in the body 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.799 of Jesus, 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.940 God and humanity 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:12.599 meet once for all. 00:26:12.759 --> 00:26:13.759 You live in the flesh, 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.759 I'll come and live 00:26:14.759 --> 00:26:15.299 in the flesh. 00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:20.819 So the Old Testament temple, 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:21.879 the Old Testament temple 00:26:21.879 --> 00:26:23.039 was like a shadow 00:26:23.039 --> 00:26:25.059 cast backwards in time 00:26:25.059 --> 00:26:26.639 and the one 00:26:26.639 --> 00:26:27.899 casting the shadow 00:26:27.899 --> 00:26:29.779 was the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:26:32.019 --> 00:26:32.940 What gave Jesus 00:26:32.940 --> 00:26:33.579 the authority 00:26:33.579 --> 00:26:35.220 over the Jerusalem temple? 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.240 The temple was about Jesus 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:39.119 the whole time. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:40.599 It was his. 00:26:43.000 --> 00:26:43.980 And when he rose 00:26:43.980 --> 00:26:44.559 from the dead, 00:26:45.299 --> 00:26:46.940 his disciples got it. 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:48.599 They understood. 00:26:49.019 --> 00:26:49.940 The penny dropped. 00:26:51.399 --> 00:26:52.379 In the resurrection 00:26:52.379 --> 00:26:53.639 of Jesus from the dead, 00:26:53.720 --> 00:26:54.419 all the things 00:26:54.419 --> 00:26:55.279 that Jesus said 00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:56.859 finally had proven 00:26:56.859 --> 00:26:57.680 to be true. 00:26:58.500 --> 00:26:59.819 And all the scriptures, 00:27:00.500 --> 00:27:01.680 all the things 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:02.159 that the scriptures 00:27:02.159 --> 00:27:03.399 had said about the Messiah, 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:03.599 well, 00:27:03.639 --> 00:27:04.879 they proved true as well 00:27:04.879 --> 00:27:06.259 in him. 00:27:06.259 --> 00:27:09.379 And because Jesus 00:27:09.379 --> 00:27:10.259 is the true temple, 00:27:10.359 --> 00:27:10.859 the true place 00:27:10.859 --> 00:27:11.740 where God and humanity 00:27:11.740 --> 00:27:12.119 meet, 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.500 it means the cure 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:16.559 of our convenient religion. 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:18.900 Why? 00:27:20.599 --> 00:27:21.640 Well, think about it. 00:27:22.579 --> 00:27:23.440 The reason 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.539 why 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:25.799 we want to put 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.720 coins and cows 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.700 in the temple courts 00:27:27.700 --> 00:27:29.519 is because we're 00:27:29.519 --> 00:27:30.240 trying to make it 00:27:30.240 --> 00:27:32.039 easier for the insiders 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.880 to fulfill 00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:34.100 our religious obligations. 00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.600 We've got to try 00:27:37.600 --> 00:27:38.720 to lower the bar 00:27:38.720 --> 00:27:39.539 and help each other 00:27:39.539 --> 00:27:40.319 out here, right? 00:27:41.580 --> 00:27:42.539 Let's make it easier 00:27:42.539 --> 00:27:43.340 to keep the rules. 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.559 But Jesus 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.559 drives them all away. 00:27:47.519 --> 00:27:48.460 Don't make it easier, 00:27:48.600 --> 00:27:49.000 he says. 00:27:50.580 --> 00:27:51.319 Don't turn my 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.940 father's house 00:27:51.940 --> 00:27:52.640 into a place 00:27:52.640 --> 00:27:53.380 where you can 00:27:53.380 --> 00:27:54.140 simply execute 00:27:54.140 --> 00:27:55.000 an easy transaction 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.640 and go home. 00:27:57.799 --> 00:27:58.599 If you approach 00:27:58.599 --> 00:27:59.319 worship like that, 00:27:59.380 --> 00:28:00.059 you've missed the point 00:28:00.059 --> 00:28:00.539 altogether. 00:28:00.779 --> 00:28:01.059 Why? 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.079 Because the point 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:02.539 of the temple 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.799 wasn't to lower the bar 00:28:03.799 --> 00:28:05.140 and make it easier 00:28:05.140 --> 00:28:06.299 for us to reach the mark. 00:28:06.779 --> 00:28:07.799 The point of the temple 00:28:07.799 --> 00:28:08.740 was to show us 00:28:08.740 --> 00:28:09.500 that we needed 00:28:09.500 --> 00:28:10.099 someone else 00:28:10.099 --> 00:28:10.720 to meet the mark 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:11.619 and pay the price. 00:28:12.579 --> 00:28:13.359 Because when you 00:28:13.359 --> 00:28:14.140 went to the temple, 00:28:14.460 --> 00:28:15.420 what did you see? 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:16.859 You saw a glorious 00:28:16.859 --> 00:28:17.960 building that represented 00:28:17.960 --> 00:28:18.660 God's presence 00:28:18.660 --> 00:28:19.279 in your midst, 00:28:19.440 --> 00:28:20.140 and then you saw 00:28:20.140 --> 00:28:20.819 a closed door 00:28:20.819 --> 00:28:22.400 and a thick curtain 00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:22.940 that said, 00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:23.920 you can't get in here. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:28.500 And then you would 00:28:28.500 --> 00:28:29.039 look around 00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:30.079 and you would see 00:28:30.079 --> 00:28:31.359 sacrifices taking place 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:32.440 morning and evening 00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:33.460 and monthly 00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.700 and at festivals. 00:28:42.460 --> 00:28:43.380 But friends, 00:28:44.140 --> 00:28:45.539 consider 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.319 what Jesus has done. 00:28:47.319 --> 00:28:56.720 Look at the inconvenience 00:28:56.720 --> 00:28:58.419 of our Savior. 00:28:59.079 --> 00:28:59.220 Yeah? 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.980 Leaving the riches 00:29:01.980 --> 00:29:02.480 of heaven, 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:04.019 Jesus takes on flesh 00:29:04.019 --> 00:29:04.779 and becomes poor. 00:29:05.399 --> 00:29:06.099 Living a life 00:29:06.099 --> 00:29:07.159 of perfect love 00:29:07.159 --> 00:29:07.639 and obedience 00:29:07.639 --> 00:29:08.220 to the law, 00:29:08.619 --> 00:29:09.859 amidst constant scorn 00:29:09.859 --> 00:29:10.519 and misunderstanding, 00:29:11.079 --> 00:29:11.759 Jesus lays down 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:12.259 his own life 00:29:12.259 --> 00:29:13.319 as a sacrifice for sin 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:15.000 and rises again 00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:16.019 to bring life 00:29:16.019 --> 00:29:17.319 to all who believe. 00:29:18.759 --> 00:29:19.079 You see, 00:29:19.160 --> 00:29:19.599 Christianity 00:29:19.599 --> 00:29:21.140 isn't some convenient 00:29:21.140 --> 00:29:22.019 religion that we have 00:29:22.019 --> 00:29:22.640 to perform. 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:24.559 It's news 00:29:24.559 --> 00:29:25.740 about the one 00:29:25.740 --> 00:29:27.160 who went to the depths 00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:28.039 of inconvenience 00:29:28.039 --> 00:29:28.680 and shame 00:29:28.680 --> 00:29:29.980 because he loved 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:30.799 sinners like you 00:29:30.799 --> 00:29:31.200 and me 00:29:31.200 --> 00:29:32.619 and wanted us 00:29:32.619 --> 00:29:33.279 to have fellowship 00:29:33.279 --> 00:29:34.000 with God. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.880 At the center 00:29:36.880 --> 00:29:37.799 of our worship 00:29:37.799 --> 00:29:38.579 is no longer 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:39.119 a temple 00:29:39.119 --> 00:29:40.720 and a sacrificial system, 00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:42.440 but the Lord Jesus 00:29:42.440 --> 00:29:43.640 who is the true temple 00:29:43.640 --> 00:29:45.660 and the true Passover Lamb 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:47.160 who takes away 00:29:47.160 --> 00:29:48.059 the sin of the world. 00:29:51.180 --> 00:29:51.980 You see, friends, 00:29:52.000 --> 00:29:52.779 you don't have to search 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.559 the world over 00:29:53.559 --> 00:29:55.240 to find a temple 00:29:55.240 --> 00:29:56.860 where maybe you can 00:29:56.860 --> 00:29:57.940 get in touch with God. 00:29:59.259 --> 00:30:00.620 The temple came to you. 00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.819 And you don't have to find 00:30:03.819 --> 00:30:04.660 elaborate rules 00:30:04.660 --> 00:30:05.140 and rituals 00:30:05.140 --> 00:30:05.940 and sacrifices 00:30:05.940 --> 00:30:07.339 to somehow get inside 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:08.539 that temple, right? 00:30:08.779 --> 00:30:09.579 Because that was the trick 00:30:09.579 --> 00:30:09.980 with temples 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.680 in the ancient world. 00:30:10.900 --> 00:30:11.779 Once you got there, 00:30:12.240 --> 00:30:13.259 you had to get in. 00:30:15.620 --> 00:30:16.319 But the temple 00:30:16.319 --> 00:30:17.299 didn't just come to you. 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:18.880 Sacrifice 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.200 came to you too. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:23.200 Behold the Lamb of God 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:23.740 who takes away 00:30:23.740 --> 00:30:24.519 the sin of the world, 00:30:24.640 --> 00:30:25.500 John the Baptist said. 00:30:26.620 --> 00:30:27.460 And right there 00:30:27.460 --> 00:30:28.180 on Passover, 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.640 Jesus drives out 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.420 the sacrifices 00:30:30.420 --> 00:30:31.680 and says, 00:30:31.880 --> 00:30:32.860 don't make my father's house 00:30:32.860 --> 00:30:33.519 a house of trade. 00:30:33.759 --> 00:30:34.900 Don't make this easier 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:36.980 because I'm the one 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.039 who's going to pay 00:30:38.039 --> 00:30:38.819 the price for you. 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:42.900 We don't meet with God 00:30:42.900 --> 00:30:44.339 in a place 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:46.620 but in the face 00:30:46.620 --> 00:30:47.220 of a person, 00:30:47.860 --> 00:30:48.880 the person of Jesus. 00:30:49.860 --> 00:30:50.240 And friends, 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:51.059 if he is the center 00:30:51.059 --> 00:30:51.799 of our worship, 00:30:52.579 --> 00:30:53.579 then the question 00:30:53.579 --> 00:30:55.059 can never become, 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:57.000 how can I make this 00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:57.700 more convenient 00:30:57.700 --> 00:30:58.279 for me 00:30:58.279 --> 00:30:59.319 and for those like me? 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.539 If the Lord Jesus Christ 00:31:02.539 --> 00:31:03.680 is the center 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:04.579 of our worship, 00:31:04.700 --> 00:31:05.519 then the question 00:31:05.519 --> 00:31:06.380 will never be, 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:07.220 how can I make 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:07.880 worship of Jesus 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:08.480 more convenient 00:31:08.480 --> 00:31:08.940 for me 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.740 and those like me? 00:31:10.360 --> 00:31:11.740 He died for me. 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.319 The only question now 00:31:13.319 --> 00:31:14.319 is how can I take up 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:15.000 my cross 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.059 and follow him? 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:17.440 He laid down 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:18.500 his life for me. 00:31:18.860 --> 00:31:19.759 So the question now 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:20.660 is how can I lay down 00:31:20.660 --> 00:31:21.680 my life for others? 00:31:22.299 --> 00:31:23.019 Am I willing 00:31:23.019 --> 00:31:23.700 to be a little 00:31:23.700 --> 00:31:24.700 inconvenienced 00:31:24.700 --> 00:31:26.000 so the name of Christ 00:31:26.000 --> 00:31:27.120 can be honored 00:31:27.120 --> 00:31:28.559 and so the nations 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.599 can know the joy 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.120 of entering 00:31:30.120 --> 00:31:31.200 the kingdom of God? 00:31:31.200 --> 00:31:34.799 Am I willing 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:35.380 to be a little 00:31:35.380 --> 00:31:36.140 inconvenienced 00:31:36.140 --> 00:31:36.660 for that? 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.240 Huh! 00:31:38.920 --> 00:31:39.819 What seemed 00:31:39.819 --> 00:31:40.819 like an inconvenience 00:31:40.819 --> 00:31:41.240 before 00:31:41.240 --> 00:31:41.960 now becomes 00:31:41.960 --> 00:31:42.920 no inconvenience 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:43.519 at all. 00:31:45.380 --> 00:31:46.860 Like the apostles 00:31:46.860 --> 00:31:47.819 in Acts 5 00:31:47.819 --> 00:31:49.279 who rejoiced 00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:49.740 that they were 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.700 counted worthy 00:31:50.700 --> 00:31:51.620 even to suffer 00:31:51.620 --> 00:31:52.680 for Jesus' name. 00:31:53.000 --> 00:31:53.440 It wasn't 00:31:53.440 --> 00:31:54.380 an inconvenience 00:31:54.380 --> 00:31:54.819 anymore. 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:56.380 It was a privilege. 00:31:56.380 --> 00:32:00.820 The apostles 00:32:00.820 --> 00:32:01.520 were glad 00:32:01.520 --> 00:32:02.200 to be counted 00:32:02.200 --> 00:32:02.560 worthy 00:32:02.560 --> 00:32:03.400 even to suffer 00:32:03.400 --> 00:32:04.160 for his name 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:04.700 for the name 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.040 of the one 00:32:05.040 --> 00:32:05.880 who loved us 00:32:05.880 --> 00:32:07.360 and died for us 00:32:07.360 --> 00:32:08.020 and rose again 00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:08.560 in victory. 00:32:09.760 --> 00:32:10.660 What are we not 00:32:10.660 --> 00:32:11.660 willing to do 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.100 for him? 00:32:13.460 --> 00:32:14.320 What are we not 00:32:14.320 --> 00:32:15.080 willing to do 00:32:15.080 --> 00:32:15.720 so that others 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:16.740 might know him? 00:32:19.220 --> 00:32:19.980 If the church 00:32:19.980 --> 00:32:20.740 gets a little full 00:32:20.740 --> 00:32:21.140 are you willing 00:32:21.140 --> 00:32:22.060 to sit in the overflow? 00:32:23.740 --> 00:32:24.360 Willing to be 00:32:24.360 --> 00:32:25.140 a little inconvenient 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:25.840 so that others 00:32:25.840 --> 00:32:26.200 can know 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:26.920 the name of Jesus? 00:32:28.700 --> 00:32:29.420 If the service 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:30.299 starts to fill up 00:32:30.299 --> 00:32:31.000 would you be willing 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:31.920 to be inconvenienced 00:32:31.920 --> 00:32:32.900 to go plant a church 00:32:32.900 --> 00:32:33.539 so that others 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.019 can know 00:32:34.019 --> 00:32:34.860 the name of Jesus? 00:32:36.840 --> 00:32:37.840 But I like it here. 00:32:37.980 --> 00:32:38.519 I like the stained 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.059 glass windows. 00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:39.759 It's so great. 00:32:40.819 --> 00:32:41.259 Well yeah 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.000 it's pretty convenient 00:32:42.000 --> 00:32:43.279 to just walk across town 00:32:43.279 --> 00:32:43.819 and come to church 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:44.140 isn't it? 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:44.900 But would you be willing 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.980 to be inconvenienced 00:32:45.980 --> 00:32:47.600 so that other people 00:32:47.600 --> 00:32:48.620 can come and have a seat 00:32:48.620 --> 00:32:49.460 and hear about 00:32:49.460 --> 00:32:50.200 the name of Jesus? 00:32:50.200 --> 00:32:57.059 Friends, if the Lord Jesus 00:32:57.059 --> 00:32:58.519 incarnate, crucified, 00:32:58.840 --> 00:32:59.340 and risen 00:32:59.340 --> 00:33:00.519 is the true temple, 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:01.960 the true place 00:33:01.960 --> 00:33:02.920 where God and sinners 00:33:02.920 --> 00:33:03.220 meet, 00:33:04.220 --> 00:33:05.259 then we have found 00:33:05.259 --> 00:33:05.779 the cure 00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.720 of convenient 00:33:06.720 --> 00:33:07.819 self-serving worship. 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:11.080 And we can be a church 00:33:11.080 --> 00:33:12.340 that honors the name 00:33:12.340 --> 00:33:12.819 of God 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:14.539 and that exists 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:15.700 not for itself 00:33:15.700 --> 00:33:16.880 or our own comfort 00:33:16.880 --> 00:33:18.840 but for the good 00:33:18.840 --> 00:33:19.500 of our neighbors 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:22.800 so that they might know 00:33:22.800 --> 00:33:23.840 God and Christ as well. 00:33:25.300 --> 00:33:25.920 Let's pray. 00:33:33.040 --> 00:33:33.680 Lord Jesus, 00:33:33.820 --> 00:33:34.220 it's right 00:33:34.220 --> 00:33:35.260 to give you praise. 00:33:39.420 --> 00:33:40.320 So we praise you 00:33:40.320 --> 00:33:40.760 this morning. 00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:42.280 We thank you 00:33:42.280 --> 00:33:42.760 that we don't have 00:33:42.760 --> 00:33:43.280 to travel 00:33:43.280 --> 00:33:45.160 miles and miles, 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.200 days and days 00:33:46.200 --> 00:33:47.279 to find the place 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:48.039 where we can meet 00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:48.460 with you 00:33:48.460 --> 00:33:49.480 but you've poured 00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:50.180 out your spirit 00:33:50.180 --> 00:33:51.840 so that we can 00:33:51.840 --> 00:33:52.460 meet with you 00:33:52.460 --> 00:33:53.039 wherever. 00:33:55.340 --> 00:33:56.500 You are indeed 00:33:56.500 --> 00:33:57.640 the place 00:33:57.640 --> 00:33:58.480 where God and sinners 00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.039 meet, Jesus, 00:33:59.180 --> 00:33:59.880 and we praise you. 00:34:01.039 --> 00:34:01.779 Help us 00:34:01.779 --> 00:34:04.299 to have a growing 00:34:04.299 --> 00:34:04.819 zeal 00:34:04.819 --> 00:34:06.819 to see your name 00:34:06.819 --> 00:34:07.500 exalted 00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.199 and spread. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.199 We ask this 00:34:11.199 --> 00:34:11.619 in your name. 00:34:11.760 --> 00:34:11.940 Amen. 00:34:16.239 --> 00:34:17.519 Son of a 00:34:17.519 --> 00:34:17.739 ает 00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:31.659 A 00:34:31.659 --> 00:34:34.319 неб. 00:34:36.539 --> 00:34:36.960 ш mag Hei 00:34:36.960 --> 00:34:37.419 announcement