WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.679 God, we come before you to be addressed by you, 00:00:05.740 --> 00:00:07.560 knowing that this is the word of God. 00:00:09.439 --> 00:00:13.000 And we ask now that by your spirit, the breath of God, 00:00:13.060 --> 00:00:14.980 you would carry this word into our hearts 00:00:14.980 --> 00:00:18.199 so that we may be changed, 00:00:19.480 --> 00:00:21.620 so that we may become more like you, 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.900 so that we may worship you rightly. 00:00:25.899 --> 00:00:31.820 In a manner that befits the only true God. 00:00:33.219 --> 00:00:35.600 Lead us now, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 00:00:39.179 --> 00:00:43.200 Nowadays, church services come with a lot of bells and whistles. 00:00:43.820 --> 00:00:47.879 I've been to some church services where they had a light show 00:00:47.879 --> 00:00:52.480 that really a lot of rock concerts couldn't hold a candle to. 00:00:52.539 --> 00:00:54.439 It was so elaborate and well done. 00:00:54.439 --> 00:00:59.979 And I've been to services where they have the slides 00:00:59.979 --> 00:01:04.019 with the background being like a magnificent nature video. 00:01:04.599 --> 00:01:08.519 You know, as you're singing, it makes you feel like you're out of nature. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.439 And I've seen churches with professional quality theatrical performances 00:01:12.979 --> 00:01:16.420 that wow you and amaze you. 00:01:16.579 --> 00:01:21.640 And a band that's so talented, there's Jimi Hendrix-esque solos, 00:01:21.640 --> 00:01:25.599 as well as, you know, complete with the headbanging and everything. 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:28.780 And even our corporate worship service, 00:01:28.960 --> 00:01:32.460 which is relatively speaking and intentionally so modest, 00:01:33.219 --> 00:01:36.040 still requires a lot of thought and preparation. 00:01:36.040 --> 00:01:39.820 So some of you serve so diligently. 00:01:40.520 --> 00:01:42.080 Some of you are here by 8 a.m. 00:01:42.580 --> 00:01:46.280 Actually, people have to, you know, come up on the stage at the right time. 00:01:46.360 --> 00:01:47.800 They have to make sure they do the right reading. 00:01:47.960 --> 00:01:50.460 They have to make sure they go through the right elements of the liturgy. 00:01:50.980 --> 00:01:53.520 They have to make sure the lyric slides are changed at the right time. 00:01:53.580 --> 00:01:55.340 The mic is muted at the right time. 00:01:55.340 --> 00:02:02.180 People have to step-less volunteer all of their time and effort to serve the church, 00:02:02.579 --> 00:02:04.040 to facilitate our worship. 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:10.680 But the very activities that are intended to facilitate worship 00:02:10.680 --> 00:02:16.719 can instead hamper, impede, debilitate our worship. 00:02:17.860 --> 00:02:19.740 Unfortunately, this is all too common. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:25.860 And even 2,000 years ago, before the advent of all this technology, 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:31.740 Jesus faced a similar situation where people were distracted from worship 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:35.000 and things detracted from the worship of God. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:39.040 And so Jesus in this passage calls us back to the heart of worship. 00:02:39.700 --> 00:02:44.660 And we learn here that Jesus is the new temple through whom we must worship God. 00:02:45.200 --> 00:02:48.400 That Jesus is the new temple through whom we must worship God. 00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:52.460 And we learn this truth in two radical actions that Jesus performs here. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:02:54.480 And first, he cleanses the temple. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.379 And then second, he replaces the temple. 00:02:57.700 --> 00:02:59.400 That's going to be the outline there if I'll... 00:02:59.400 --> 00:03:01.960 He's going to cleanse the temple and replace the temple. 00:03:02.240 --> 00:03:05.400 And so if you look with me at verse 12, I'll just read along. 00:03:05.819 --> 00:03:08.920 After his first sign of the wedding, at the wedding in Canada, 00:03:08.980 --> 00:03:10.759 he turned the water into wine. 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:14.319 And then Jesus, his family, and his disciples traveled to Capernaum. 00:03:14.620 --> 00:03:17.120 But only for a few days, it says in verse 12, right? 00:03:17.120 --> 00:03:19.920 And presumably because the Passover was at hand. 00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:24.719 And they had to make their way to Jerusalem where the temple was to celebrate the Passover. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:30.539 And the Passover, it took place at full moon near the end of March or beginning of April. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:35.580 And it celebrated, of course, the night when the angel of death went through Egypt 00:03:35.580 --> 00:03:37.819 and killed all the firstborns of the Egyptians. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:45.400 But spared, passed over the homes of the Israelites because they had smeared the blood of the unblemished lamb 00:03:45.400 --> 00:03:48.519 on the doorposts as God had instructed. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:52.079 So this was the culmination really of God's judgment on Egypt. 00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:57.079 And as a result of the night of that Passover, Israelites were able to leave. 00:03:57.319 --> 00:04:01.959 They were able to have the exodus from Egypt and be freed from their slavery. 00:04:01.960 --> 00:04:03.460 And so that's what they celebrate. 00:04:03.560 --> 00:04:04.800 This is the Passover festival. 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:09.900 And the Passover festival was followed immediately by the festival of the unleavened bread, 00:04:10.040 --> 00:04:12.879 which is about seven days afterward. 00:04:13.180 --> 00:04:16.800 And those two festivals are used interchangeably throughout the gospel sometimes. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:21.620 And so as it was customary for Jews, Jesus makes his way. 00:04:21.819 --> 00:04:25.900 He went up to Jerusalem, it says, verse 13, because that's where the temple was. 00:04:26.199 --> 00:04:29.280 And when he arrives, he finds an interesting situation. 00:04:29.420 --> 00:04:30.860 Verse 14, read with me. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:37.660 He found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money changers sitting there. 00:04:38.860 --> 00:04:45.800 So the presence of merchants and the money changers in and of itself is actually not all that remarkable 00:04:45.800 --> 00:04:49.879 because those three animals, the oxen, sheep, and pigeons, 00:04:49.879 --> 00:04:52.939 were all animals that were used in the sacrifice at the temple. 00:04:53.620 --> 00:04:57.460 So it makes actually a lot of sense for them to be selling those animals there. 00:04:57.459 --> 00:05:04.659 And especially in the case that because the temple was in Jerusalem and worshipers were coming from all over the place, 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:11.219 some traveling quite a long distance, it would be really difficult to bring those sacrificial animals 00:05:11.219 --> 00:05:13.839 because, I mean, they have to be alive and you have to bring them over. 00:05:14.419 --> 00:05:20.299 And so they were actually providing an invaluable service to the worshipers that were coming for the festival of the feast, 00:05:20.659 --> 00:05:21.939 festival of the Passover. 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:26.379 In the same way, the money changers, too, they were providing a valuable service, right? 00:05:26.779 --> 00:05:31.120 Because worshipers are coming from all over the different parts of the empire, 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:33.600 and they use different currency. 00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:39.659 And the only currency that the temple tax was accepted in was the Tyrian coinage, 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:41.699 which because it's pure silver. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:43.600 It had the higher degree of silver. 00:05:43.600 --> 00:05:46.580 And because of that, they had to convert the money, 00:05:46.660 --> 00:05:49.080 or they were not going to be able to pay the required temple tax. 00:05:49.720 --> 00:05:54.680 And so these money changers were there to provide another, again, service that the worshipers needed. 00:05:56.820 --> 00:06:02.840 But if the animal merchants and the money changers were just offering a necessary service to the temple worshipers, 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:04.900 then isn't Jesus kind of overreacting? 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:06.720 It seems that way. 00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:08.240 If you read verse 15, it says, 00:06:08.680 --> 00:06:13.800 And making a whip of cords, he drove them out all out of the temple with the sheep and oxen, 00:06:13.880 --> 00:06:18.500 and he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 00:06:19.520 --> 00:06:22.100 A whip of cords sounds kind of over the top, 00:06:22.300 --> 00:06:28.500 but really you wouldn't be able to drive out oxen, what's heavy and strong, without a whip of cords. 00:06:28.500 --> 00:06:32.860 So really it's forceful, but Jesus is not being cruel or violent here. 00:06:32.860 --> 00:06:38.000 And so Jesus pours out the coins of the money changers and overturns their tables. 00:06:38.520 --> 00:06:44.300 But why does Jesus react so strongly to these merchants and money changers? 00:06:44.580 --> 00:06:46.860 Because they're providing a necessary service. 00:06:48.920 --> 00:06:54.720 Some commentators assert that these annual merchants and money changers were charging an exorbitant fee, 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:58.360 that they were really participating in graft. 00:06:59.300 --> 00:07:02.460 But there's no evidence of that, you see, in this passage. 00:07:02.860 --> 00:07:09.480 Because Jesus' indignation, his anger, doesn't stem from the fact that they were engaging in a greedy, unethical business practice. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:16.240 Because if you look at verse 14, the objection seems to stem from the fact that all of this business practice that was necessary 00:07:16.240 --> 00:07:19.360 was taking place in the temple. 00:07:20.420 --> 00:07:21.840 It begins in verse 14. 00:07:21.840 --> 00:07:22.040 Right? 00:07:22.040 --> 00:07:27.379 The selling of animals and exchanging currency were not bad practices in and of themselves, 00:07:27.660 --> 00:07:33.000 but they were bad in this case because they were taking place in the temple complex. 00:07:34.140 --> 00:07:38.740 The animal merchants and merchants are used to, in history prior to this point, 00:07:39.160 --> 00:07:45.240 have stalls set up on the slopes of Mount Olives across a valley separating from Jerusalem. 00:07:45.420 --> 00:07:46.480 That's where they used to do it. 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.100 But by this time, when Jesus is approaching the temple, 00:07:49.819 --> 00:07:53.480 they had taken residence in the temple complex itself. 00:07:55.100 --> 00:08:00.319 And moreover, this is problematic because the animal merchants and merchants were undoubtedly 00:08:00.319 --> 00:08:03.600 in what they called the court of the Gentiles. 00:08:04.160 --> 00:08:07.700 In the temple structure, the outermost part of the temple complex, 00:08:08.040 --> 00:08:11.000 just inside the walls, was called the court of the Gentiles. 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:16.600 And that was the furthest Gentile believers were allowed to go in that temple structure. 00:08:17.279 --> 00:08:20.879 So that was the place where the Gentiles were supposed to worship God, 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:28.879 but the Jews had set up stalls to conduct business at the place where the Gentiles were supposed to commune with God 00:08:28.879 --> 00:08:30.060 and worship Him. 00:08:30.220 --> 00:08:35.000 So Jesus is here confronting a selfish, ethnocentric practice. 00:08:35.000 --> 00:08:42.159 Because even in the Old Testament, before God's mission was officially universalized to all nations through Jesus Christ, 00:08:42.419 --> 00:08:44.980 God had made provisions for the Gentiles to come and worship Him, 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:47.539 for Gentile God-fearers to come to Him. 00:08:47.820 --> 00:08:51.740 Yet the Jewish temple authorities were blatantly disregarding this provision 00:08:51.740 --> 00:08:54.580 and the concern of the non-Jewish worshipers, 00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.240 and they had set up shop to meet their own needs there. 00:08:59.419 --> 00:09:02.240 So that's definitely something that's going on in this passage. 00:09:02.240 --> 00:09:07.600 But the issue at hand is even more fundamental than that ethnic discrimination. 00:09:08.500 --> 00:09:10.240 Because verse 16 says this. 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:11.080 Follow along with me. 00:09:12.039 --> 00:09:13.799 And he told those who sold the pigeons, 00:09:14.320 --> 00:09:15.779 Take these things away. 00:09:16.620 --> 00:09:19.919 Do not make my father's house a house of trade. 00:09:21.060 --> 00:09:23.799 The phrasing of the verse is intentionally dramatic, 00:09:23.960 --> 00:09:26.120 because the phrases are identical. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:30.159 The house of my father has been turned into a house of trade. 00:09:30.159 --> 00:09:30.719 Right? 00:09:30.860 --> 00:09:32.899 The house that belongs to God the Father, 00:09:33.039 --> 00:09:36.199 now is a house that belongs to business, to trade. 00:09:36.379 --> 00:09:36.500 Right? 00:09:37.079 --> 00:09:42.019 And so instead of the utterance of contrite, sincere prayers being lifted up to God, 00:09:42.179 --> 00:09:44.399 instead we now hear the bellowing of cattle, 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:45.740 the bleeding of sheep, 00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.779 the clinking of change. 00:09:48.079 --> 00:09:49.860 That's what's taking place in this temple. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:52.559 There is instead of the smell of incense, 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:53.000 right, 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:55.159 and sacrifice being lifted up to God, 00:09:55.159 --> 00:09:59.379 now there is the smell of cow dung and pigeons in the temple complex. 00:09:59.899 --> 00:10:02.759 Instead of people's impassioned worship of God, 00:10:02.860 --> 00:10:05.019 there is now dispassionate business, 00:10:05.539 --> 00:10:07.199 changing of money of hands. 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:11.019 So Jesus implores them, 00:10:11.179 --> 00:10:12.519 Take these things away. 00:10:12.759 --> 00:10:16.839 Do not make my father's house a house of trade. 00:10:16.840 --> 00:10:19.840 And by cleansing the temple, 00:10:19.980 --> 00:10:22.879 Jesus demonstrates his zeal for the worship of God. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:23.120 Right? 00:10:23.420 --> 00:10:26.280 Because it's not that the temple in and of itself is so significant. 00:10:26.500 --> 00:10:26.600 Right? 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.500 But because God had chosen to reside in that temple, 00:10:29.820 --> 00:10:30.460 and he had set, 00:10:30.680 --> 00:10:33.660 designated a temple as the place where he communes with his people, 00:10:34.040 --> 00:10:38.259 and that's why it was so important that the temple be cleaned, 00:10:38.700 --> 00:10:41.680 the temple be reserved for the purpose of worship. 00:10:42.540 --> 00:10:43.460 And so verse 17, 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:43.820 it says, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:45.680 His disciples remember that it was written, 00:10:46.020 --> 00:10:48.860 Zeal for your house will consume me. 00:10:49.540 --> 00:10:51.360 That's a quotation from Psalm 69. 00:10:51.960 --> 00:10:53.200 And in that context, 00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:56.520 David is the one that's being criticized by his enemies, 00:10:56.620 --> 00:10:57.740 opposed by his enemies, 00:10:58.000 --> 00:11:01.260 who do not have the same regard that David has for the temple of God, 00:11:01.440 --> 00:11:02.520 for the worship of God. 00:11:03.280 --> 00:11:05.680 So if you read the context of Psalm 69, 00:11:05.860 --> 00:11:06.140 it says, 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.720 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, 00:11:08.860 --> 00:11:10.940 that this honor has covered my face. 00:11:10.940 --> 00:11:14.420 I have become a stranger to my brothers and alien to my mother's sons, 00:11:14.740 --> 00:11:17.300 for zeal for your house has consumed me, 00:11:17.500 --> 00:11:21.200 and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. 00:11:22.300 --> 00:11:25.280 The temple was the focal point of worship. 00:11:25.920 --> 00:11:28.940 And so Jesus is zealous to purify that temple 00:11:28.940 --> 00:11:32.640 so that his people can rightly approach him and worship him. 00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:36.199 And as we think about that in our context, 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.860 as we're pulling together church service and whatnot, 00:11:38.980 --> 00:11:40.480 it's easy for us also, 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:45.199 just like Martha was distracted with serving food when Jesus came, 00:11:45.259 --> 00:11:48.419 while Mary was sitting by his feet to learn and to listen. 00:11:48.919 --> 00:11:49.860 In a similar way, 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.360 it's possible, 00:11:51.539 --> 00:11:55.620 it's very easy for us to be distracted by good and necessary things that we need to do 00:11:55.620 --> 00:11:58.080 for the service to be put together. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:05.259 And that's why it's important to pursue excellence, of course. 00:12:05.660 --> 00:12:07.940 We want excellence in our service 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:11.360 because the quality of speaking and reading and praying and singing, 00:12:11.660 --> 00:12:12.520 all of these things, 00:12:12.660 --> 00:12:14.520 the beauty of the presentation, 00:12:14.660 --> 00:12:16.080 the smoothness of the transitions, 00:12:16.460 --> 00:12:17.960 these are all important things. 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:19.340 Because if it's sloppy, 00:12:19.840 --> 00:12:22.520 it would very quickly drain the worship service 00:12:22.520 --> 00:12:24.340 of any sense of transcendence 00:12:24.340 --> 00:12:26.120 and awe before the presence of God. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:28.560 So it's important to have excellence. 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:32.100 But excellence in and of itself is not the ultimate goal. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:33.480 The ultimate goal is worship. 00:12:34.100 --> 00:12:36.759 So what we strive for is not excellence in and of itself, 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:38.639 but undistracting excellence. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.220 What does that mean? 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:43.539 Because if excellence itself was the goal, 00:12:43.940 --> 00:12:47.539 then we would hire professional rhetoricians to do all the speaking. 00:12:48.100 --> 00:12:51.340 We would hire the professional state managers to do all the managing. 00:12:51.820 --> 00:12:55.000 We could hire professional rock band or vocalists to do what they want to do. 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.679 But because excellence itself is not the goal, 00:12:58.779 --> 00:12:59.679 but worship is, 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:01.879 and we're seeking undistracting excellence, 00:13:02.220 --> 00:13:06.419 an amazing guitar solo can be just as unhelpful 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:08.320 and distracting as a muddled chord. 00:13:09.100 --> 00:13:10.679 In the same way, 00:13:10.840 --> 00:13:12.700 a really, really eloquent monologue 00:13:12.700 --> 00:13:15.039 can be just as unhelpful and distracting 00:13:15.039 --> 00:13:18.299 as a speaker who incessantly stammers or stutters. 00:13:18.620 --> 00:13:21.840 Because it distracts us from Christ. 00:13:21.840 --> 00:13:24.139 It distracts us from God, 00:13:24.280 --> 00:13:25.000 focused on Him. 00:13:25.720 --> 00:13:27.879 So our goal is not just excellence, 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:30.060 but undistracting excellence. 00:13:30.240 --> 00:13:31.360 But then do we then, 00:13:31.660 --> 00:13:34.580 with the same zeal that Jesus displays here, 00:13:34.660 --> 00:13:36.580 over-turning the tables of the money changers, 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:39.080 to seek to preserve worship, 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:42.300 to worship Him in a manner worthy of Him? 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.660 Do we prepare ourselves to come to approach Him 00:13:44.660 --> 00:13:46.680 so that when it's time to come, 00:13:47.060 --> 00:13:48.400 all else fades into, 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:49.420 recedes into the background, 00:13:49.560 --> 00:13:51.100 and we're focused on Him to worship Him? 00:13:51.100 --> 00:13:58.500 And when Jesus does this, 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:00.240 the onlookers, 00:14:00.800 --> 00:14:01.920 the Jews that are there, 00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:04.620 are unsurprisingly shocked, right, 00:14:05.360 --> 00:14:07.580 by His cleansing of the temple. 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:08.460 So they ask, 00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:10.820 they demand an answer in verse 18. 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:15.620 What sign do you show us for doing these things? 00:14:15.620 --> 00:14:16.060 Right. 00:14:16.779 --> 00:14:20.060 The Jews at this time were known for eagerly seeking signs. 00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:21.340 Paul writes about that. 00:14:21.440 --> 00:14:22.399 The Greeks seek wisdom. 00:14:22.500 --> 00:14:23.419 The Jews seek signs. 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:28.560 And so they are asking for a sign to warrant Jesus' action. 00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:29.279 Saying, 00:14:29.419 --> 00:14:31.519 so who are you to cleanse the temple this way? 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.860 Show us that you have the authority to do this 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:36.139 by performing a sign for us. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:36.419 Right. 00:14:36.419 --> 00:14:42.379 But that question really betrays the absence of self-reflection, doesn't it? 00:14:42.639 --> 00:14:46.099 Because they're not asking whether what they were doing was right. 00:14:46.500 --> 00:14:47.339 They're not asking, 00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:51.459 reflecting on whether their action of having business in the temple itself was right, 00:14:51.819 --> 00:14:53.360 whether that facilitated worship. 00:14:53.799 --> 00:14:58.599 But they're simply wondering if Jesus had the proper authority to do what He did. 00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:01.600 And so Jesus answers in kind. 00:15:01.700 --> 00:15:04.159 And He offers actually a really incredible sign. 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:05.320 It says in verse 19, 00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:06.500 destroy this temple, 00:15:06.740 --> 00:15:09.340 and in three days I will raise it up. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:11.340 I mean, that's just brilliant. 00:15:11.600 --> 00:15:11.700 Right. 00:15:11.740 --> 00:15:14.180 I mean, it's even humorous a little bit if you think about it. 00:15:14.200 --> 00:15:17.120 Because Jesus knows that they're not going to call His bluff. 00:15:17.440 --> 00:15:17.680 Right. 00:15:18.399 --> 00:15:19.139 And they're not going to, 00:15:19.200 --> 00:15:20.840 they're not going to destroy that temple. 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:21.200 Right. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:22.580 They're not going to destroy that temple. 00:15:22.660 --> 00:15:25.000 But just destroy the temple and I'll raise it up in three days. 00:15:26.080 --> 00:15:27.320 And not only that, 00:15:27.320 --> 00:15:28.660 it's a particularly appropriate sign 00:15:28.660 --> 00:15:33.140 because if someone could raise up a destroyed temple in three days, 00:15:33.520 --> 00:15:36.620 well, yeah, that person can surely cleanse the temple. 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:36.920 Right. 00:15:36.940 --> 00:15:38.600 I mean, he should have the authority to do that. 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.220 So the Jews reply with incredulity in verse 20, 00:15:43.220 --> 00:15:46.260 It has taken 46 years to build this temple, 00:15:46.379 --> 00:15:48.220 and you will raise it up in three days? 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:51.060 Herod, King Herod, 00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:54.160 had begun construction of this temple in 20 or 19 B.C. 00:15:54.540 --> 00:15:56.980 And it was not completed until 63 A.D., 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:59.100 which means it's still under construction. 00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:03.480 It's been 46 years since the construction for the temple had begun, 00:16:03.720 --> 00:16:06.139 and they were using it, but it was still not complete. 00:16:06.139 --> 00:16:11.000 But their answer misses a very important point 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:14.240 because John frequently employs double meaning throughout his books. 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:17.819 And though the Jews who are interrogating Jesus here 00:16:17.819 --> 00:16:22.679 is thinking of the temple that's made of timber and stones and precious jewels, 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:25.460 Jesus is referring not to that temple, 00:16:25.740 --> 00:16:27.340 but to the temple of his own body. 00:16:27.819 --> 00:16:30.120 You see this in verses 21 to 22. 00:16:30.340 --> 00:16:31.059 Follow along with me. 00:16:31.059 --> 00:16:34.739 He was speaking about the temple of his body. 00:16:35.439 --> 00:16:37.919 When, therefore, he was raised from the dead, 00:16:38.119 --> 00:16:40.659 his disciples remembered that he had said this, 00:16:40.819 --> 00:16:45.079 and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:48.939 This is a radical statement. 00:16:49.099 --> 00:16:51.399 It's revolutionary, really. 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:56.199 If you'd imagine the understanding of the Jews and the worshipers up to this point, 00:16:56.459 --> 00:16:58.699 the temple, the tabernacle prior to the temple, 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:01.360 that was always the place you came to worship God. 00:17:01.620 --> 00:17:02.539 But now Jesus says, 00:17:02.740 --> 00:17:04.220 I am that temple. 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:05.879 My body is that temple. 00:17:05.960 --> 00:17:08.539 So Jesus not only has the authority to cleanse the temple, 00:17:08.900 --> 00:17:10.539 he's saying something grander than that. 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:13.599 He's saying that he has the authority to replace the temple. 00:17:13.599 --> 00:17:17.619 He now replaces the temple that the people used to worship in. 00:17:19.079 --> 00:17:24.839 So this is amazing because before this point, right, 00:17:25.179 --> 00:17:28.599 the worship of God was really confined to a physical locale. 00:17:28.819 --> 00:17:30.079 In order to have communion with him, 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:33.139 you had to travel long distance to get to that temple in Jerusalem. 00:17:33.579 --> 00:17:35.699 But now that Jesus replaces the temple, 00:17:35.799 --> 00:17:38.119 the proper worship is given not through the temple, 00:17:38.500 --> 00:17:40.379 but through Jesus Christ. 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:42.940 And because Jesus and the Father, 00:17:43.060 --> 00:17:44.020 Jesus is the Son of God, 00:17:44.220 --> 00:17:46.060 has unique communion with the Father, 00:17:46.540 --> 00:17:50.640 and he is uniquely able to manifest the glory of the Father. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:52.900 In fact, Jesus is the living abode, 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:56.000 the home of the God, the Father, on earth. 00:17:56.480 --> 00:17:57.880 He's the new center of worship. 00:17:57.880 --> 00:17:59.380 He's a new temple. 00:18:00.520 --> 00:18:01.480 And in the same way, then, 00:18:01.560 --> 00:18:03.960 just like they had sacrifices going on in the temple, 00:18:04.780 --> 00:18:09.080 the ultimate sacrifice will take place in this new temple. 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:12.599 Jesus Christ will be crucified, right, 00:18:13.199 --> 00:18:17.279 as the unblemished Passover lamb to cover our sins. 00:18:17.819 --> 00:18:19.659 That ultimate sacrifice, 00:18:19.939 --> 00:18:23.220 one cent for all to deal with sin for all time, 00:18:23.419 --> 00:18:26.919 that took place in Jesus Christ as his body was crushed. 00:18:27.199 --> 00:18:29.819 That's what verse 17 is foreshadowing when he says, 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:32.619 zeal for your house will consume me. 00:18:32.939 --> 00:18:34.319 It will consume him. 00:18:34.740 --> 00:18:35.579 It will kill him. 00:18:35.899 --> 00:18:36.859 It will destroy him. 00:18:36.859 --> 00:18:39.819 His passion for God's worship. 00:18:42.039 --> 00:18:43.679 So, back then, 00:18:43.979 --> 00:18:46.479 people used to have to point people in the direction of the temple 00:18:46.479 --> 00:18:47.959 if they wanted to worship God. 00:18:48.000 --> 00:18:50.879 But now, we point people toward Jesus Christ 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:52.019 when people want to worship. 00:18:53.519 --> 00:18:55.659 Back then, people had to travel to Jerusalem. 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.919 Now, we tell people, 00:18:57.439 --> 00:18:59.579 you can worship God right where you are 00:18:59.579 --> 00:19:01.019 through Jesus Christ. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:05.420 And this is so radically different from all the other world religions. 00:19:05.759 --> 00:19:06.539 If you think about it, 00:19:06.720 --> 00:19:09.519 the Buddhism has its so-called eight great places 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:11.779 where they encourage Buddhists to go on pilgrimage. 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:15.079 Hinduism has the seven ancient holy towns 00:19:15.079 --> 00:19:16.500 that are considered sacred. 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:19.440 Islam has its three holiest mosques, 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:20.799 the Grand Mosque in Mecca, 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:22.240 the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, 00:19:22.559 --> 00:19:23.879 the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:25.740 and they don't even let non-Muslims in 00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:27.940 because they believe that that would profane the place. 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:30.799 Jews have the Temple Mount, 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.940 even though the Temple's no longer there. 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:35.900 And Jews who are serious about their faith 00:19:35.900 --> 00:19:39.200 will actually not even go up to the Temple Mount complex 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:41.059 because they believe that it's sacred. 00:19:41.620 --> 00:19:43.440 But not so with Christianity. 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:45.600 We don't have holy places like that. 00:19:45.960 --> 00:19:49.779 We commemorate Bethlehem as the place Jesus was born, 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.180 Nazareth as the place that Jesus grew up in, 00:19:52.460 --> 00:19:53.580 and Jerusalem, of course, 00:19:53.620 --> 00:19:56.220 the place where Jesus died, buried, and rose again. 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:59.360 But we don't hold these places to be intrinsically holy. 00:19:59.640 --> 00:20:01.140 They're not holy places. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:06.319 In Christianity, there's no holy place cloistered somewhere away from us. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:09.079 The sacred rather invades the profane. 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:10.900 It's the holy one. 00:20:11.059 --> 00:20:13.839 It sanctifies and indwells sinful people. 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:16.759 And the Spirit of God fills the Spirit of man, 00:20:16.900 --> 00:20:20.140 and that could happen because the Son of God, 00:20:20.420 --> 00:20:22.059 Jesus Christ, became the Son of Man. 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:26.799 And that's why it's a misnomer to call a place we worship a sanctuary, 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:27.639 in any way, 00:20:27.940 --> 00:20:29.839 because sanctuary refers to holy places. 00:20:30.039 --> 00:20:31.220 It's not a holy place. 00:20:31.279 --> 00:20:32.339 It's not a sanctuary. 00:20:32.980 --> 00:20:35.519 It's Jesus Christ is the one who is holy. 00:20:35.619 --> 00:20:36.919 Jesus Christ is the new temple. 00:20:37.200 --> 00:20:39.059 It's through Him that we worship. 00:20:39.059 --> 00:20:43.919 So if you are not a Christian yet, 00:20:43.980 --> 00:20:44.599 and you are here, 00:20:44.879 --> 00:20:47.139 then this is really good news for you, right? 00:20:47.399 --> 00:20:50.179 Because that means you don't have to take a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:53.500 You don't have to go to a holy place in order to become holy, 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.659 to meet with God. 00:20:54.700 --> 00:20:57.419 You can come to Jesus Christ here and now, right? 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:59.599 And you can worship God here and now, 00:20:59.639 --> 00:21:00.859 because He is the new temple. 00:21:01.639 --> 00:21:03.000 And all you need to do, then, 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:05.200 is follow the example of the disciples in verse 22. 00:21:05.200 --> 00:21:09.980 They believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:15.299 So believe that Jesus is the new temple through whom we must worship God. 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:17.700 That's what He's calling you to, the faith for. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:20.180 So believe that the only way you can approach Him 00:21:20.180 --> 00:21:23.100 is not in any other design of human design 00:21:23.100 --> 00:21:25.140 or a place, a geographic location, 00:21:25.400 --> 00:21:27.100 but that it's through Jesus Christ. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:29.200 And when you make that decision to follow Him, 00:21:30.840 --> 00:21:33.400 then you are also indulged with the Spirit of God. 00:21:35.200 --> 00:21:37.640 And that's what it means to become a Christian. 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:38.840 If you are interested in that, 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:40.240 please talk to me after the service. 00:21:40.680 --> 00:21:42.880 And we have a baptism service next week coming up, 00:21:42.900 --> 00:21:45.980 which is the initiatory rite of becoming a Christian. 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:49.460 And so please talk to me afterwards about that if you are interested. 00:21:50.860 --> 00:21:53.700 And if you have come to believe that Jesus is the new temple 00:21:53.700 --> 00:21:54.920 through whom we must worship God, 00:21:55.000 --> 00:21:56.039 then you are a Christian. 00:21:57.080 --> 00:22:00.299 And Jesus, after His resurrection and ascension, 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:02.980 poured out His Spirit on all of His people. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:06.799 And so that with the Spirit of Christ in us, 00:22:06.860 --> 00:22:10.099 by extension, we also become temples of God. 00:22:10.700 --> 00:22:14.980 So Paul talks about this reality in 1 Corinthians 3, 16-17. 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:18.519 Do you not know that you are God's temple 00:22:18.519 --> 00:22:21.660 and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 00:22:22.140 --> 00:22:24.380 If anyone destroys God's temple, 00:22:24.539 --> 00:22:25.960 God will destroy him, 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.599 for God's temple is holy, 00:22:28.059 --> 00:22:30.400 and you are that temple. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:33.900 That's why where we meet for corporate worship 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:35.160 is ultimately not important. 00:22:35.240 --> 00:22:36.280 It's important practically, 00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:37.840 not important theologically. 00:22:38.019 --> 00:22:40.740 That's why we could meet at a Portuguese recreational club. 00:22:41.040 --> 00:22:43.100 That's why we could have a bar downstairs 00:22:43.100 --> 00:22:44.259 and we could still worship here. 00:22:45.480 --> 00:22:48.259 It's because Christ is that new temple, 00:22:48.440 --> 00:22:50.340 and through Him, we are extensions. 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:52.259 We become new temples of God as well 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.880 because the Spirit of God dwells in us. 00:22:54.860 --> 00:22:55.900 And this is significant 00:22:55.900 --> 00:22:58.460 because it radically alters our perspective on worship. 00:22:58.460 --> 00:23:01.700 Worship is not confined to a physical locale, 00:23:01.799 --> 00:23:03.900 so it's not something that we do once a week 00:23:03.900 --> 00:23:06.240 when we come in the morning, on Sunday mornings. 00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:09.140 Instead, our whole life, 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:11.019 because we are the temples of God. 00:23:11.120 --> 00:23:13.200 Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, 00:23:13.480 --> 00:23:16.180 that becomes worship, 00:23:16.740 --> 00:23:17.720 a spiritual worship to God. 00:23:17.779 --> 00:23:19.860 That's what Paul talks about in Romans 12, 1. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:20.480 He says, 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:38.339 Of course, there is a special sense 00:23:38.339 --> 00:23:41.339 in which the corporate worship is important 00:23:41.339 --> 00:23:43.160 because it's when the body of Christ, 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:44.259 the temples of God, 00:23:44.360 --> 00:23:45.500 people who are indwelled by the Spirit, 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.220 are gathered, 00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:48.039 and we together worship Him. 00:23:48.039 --> 00:23:50.740 But this is not the only place 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:51.899 where worship takes place. 00:23:52.539 --> 00:23:54.819 When you're staying up late at night 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:56.700 studying for an exam 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:59.200 or preparing a lesson plan, 00:23:59.639 --> 00:24:02.240 when you're relating to your family members, 00:24:02.399 --> 00:24:04.139 trying to love them and serve them, 00:24:04.599 --> 00:24:06.399 when you're day-to-day 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:08.159 engaging in a mundane work, 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:11.039 perhaps with a difficult co-worker, 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:13.899 when you're watching football, 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:16.859 when you're rock climbing, 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:18.019 running, 00:24:18.659 --> 00:24:20.039 playing music, 00:24:20.539 --> 00:24:21.079 eating, 00:24:21.579 --> 00:24:21.960 drinking, 00:24:22.759 --> 00:24:23.740 even sleeping, 00:24:24.139 --> 00:24:28.819 every aspect of how we live 00:24:28.819 --> 00:24:31.440 is now our spiritual worship 00:24:31.440 --> 00:24:33.500 because we are the place, 00:24:33.819 --> 00:24:34.859 we are the temple, 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.279 indwelled by the Spirit of God. 00:24:37.279 --> 00:24:41.539 So let us worship then, 00:24:42.099 --> 00:24:43.059 Jesus Christ this way, 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:45.460 because Jesus is the new temple 00:24:45.460 --> 00:24:48.839 through whom we must worship God. 00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:50.980 So let's pray together. 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:59.799 God, 00:24:59.880 --> 00:25:00.620 this is indeed 00:25:00.620 --> 00:25:02.980 an unspeakable privilege 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:07.299 that people 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:09.160 of old 00:25:09.160 --> 00:25:10.519 could not even imagine 00:25:10.519 --> 00:25:15.039 that the Son of God 00:25:15.039 --> 00:25:15.539 would come 00:25:15.539 --> 00:25:16.779 to replace the temple 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:19.240 and that through Him 00:25:19.240 --> 00:25:20.720 Your Spirit would dwell 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:21.740 in us. 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.460 God, 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:23.960 thank You 00:25:23.960 --> 00:25:25.039 for Your grace. 00:25:26.460 --> 00:25:27.519 Now enable us 00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:28.599 by that same Spirit 00:25:28.599 --> 00:25:29.640 who indwells us 00:25:29.640 --> 00:25:31.539 to sanctify us, 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:32.640 to enable us 00:25:32.640 --> 00:25:33.299 to live 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:35.519 a life 00:25:35.519 --> 00:25:37.299 of sacrifice, 00:25:37.740 --> 00:25:38.220 a holy, 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:40.079 acceptable sacrifice 00:25:40.079 --> 00:25:40.539 to You. 00:25:41.099 --> 00:25:42.120 Our spiritual worship. 00:25:42.660 --> 00:25:43.620 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:25:44.200 --> 00:25:44.440 Amen. 00:25:49.240 --> 00:25:52.880 Amen. 00:25:58.859 --> 00:25:59.839 Amen. 00:26:03.839 --> 00:26:04.720 Amen. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.279 Amen. 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:05.779 Amen. 00:26:05.779 --> 00:26:06.000 Amen. 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:06.299 Amen. 00:26:06.299 --> 00:26:06.799 Amen. 00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:06.859 Amen. 00:26:07.640 --> 00:26:08.299 Amen. 00:26:08.299 --> 00:26:08.759 Amen. 00:26:08.759 --> 00:26:10.019 Amen. 00:26:10.019 --> 00:26:10.579 Amen. 00:26:10.900 --> 00:26:10.920 Amen. 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.200 Amen. 00:26:11.460 --> 00:26:11.779 Amen. 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:11.980 Amen. 00:26:12.620 --> 00:26:18.960 Amen.