WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.120 Amen. Thank you, Kirsty. Well, good morning, everyone. As has been mentioned, my name is Alistair. I'm the assistant pastor here at the church. 00:00:07.200 --> 00:00:13.859 And this morning, it is my joy to help us think through this passage for the next bit of our service. 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:21.080 So please do have that passage open in front of you. It's key that everything we do here at church is rooted in God's word. 00:00:22.679 --> 00:00:29.879 Do as I say, not as I do. This defines hypocrisy with words but a few. 00:00:30.579 --> 00:00:36.240 That's a little poem that I stumbled across this week as I was reflecting on our passage from this morning. 00:00:36.579 --> 00:00:41.240 Now, most of us, if not all of us, would agree that we hate hypocrisy. 00:00:42.620 --> 00:00:47.799 We get really riled up, don't we, when we see someone who makes the rules break the rules. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:55.320 Whether that's a policeman speeding down the motorway without any sirens on or a park attendant with his scooter on a double yellow line. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:57.620 We hate hypocrisy. 00:00:57.619 --> 00:01:05.799 Those who should be leading as examples, we hate to see them doing the exact opposite of what they say everyone else should be doing. 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:12.140 We hate the idea of one rule for the majority and another for the few. 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:17.980 And I don't think I need to give many examples of the last few years and how that has played out. 00:01:18.060 --> 00:01:19.700 We'll all have a few in our minds. 00:01:20.700 --> 00:01:24.540 But we hate hypocrisy when it happens in our day-to-day lives as well, don't we? 00:01:24.540 --> 00:01:26.920 And I think that's a good thing. 00:01:27.740 --> 00:01:31.360 And believe it or not, God hates hypocrisy too. 00:01:32.320 --> 00:01:40.880 This morning, as we turn to John chapter 2, verses 13 to 25, we walk into the courtyard of the temple in Jerusalem. 00:01:41.500 --> 00:01:45.800 The central place of worship for the whole nation of Israel. 00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:49.019 And the Jews, they knew their Old Testament, you see. 00:01:49.340 --> 00:01:55.399 They knew that their Messiah was coming, the promised one of God who would come to save God's people. 00:01:56.179 --> 00:01:57.000 They didn't know when. 00:01:57.939 --> 00:01:59.579 They didn't know exactly how. 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:04.039 But they should have been waiting for God's king. 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:06.700 But they weren't. 00:02:07.720 --> 00:02:12.060 In fact, they weren't being anything like the Old Testament said they should have been. 00:02:12.140 --> 00:02:14.280 They'd become comfortable in their faith. 00:02:15.240 --> 00:02:17.860 They were not living as God wanted them to. 00:02:17.960 --> 00:02:24.860 They were saying one thing, saying that they were the faithful people of God, but in reality doing the other. 00:02:25.719 --> 00:02:28.360 Neglecting God and neglecting his word. 00:02:28.360 --> 00:02:36.460 Now, last week in the first half of John 2 with Archie, we saw that the promised king, Jesus, has arrived. 00:02:36.740 --> 00:02:42.920 Jesus is on scene, showing himself as the one who fulfills the Old Testament prophecies. 00:02:43.640 --> 00:02:47.260 Pointing to the fact that he is God's king. 00:02:48.000 --> 00:02:51.640 The one with power over creation and the ultimate bridegroom. 00:02:52.300 --> 00:02:55.660 In the first half of John 2, we saw the king in all of his glory. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:59.979 And now in the second half of John 2, we see that same theme continue. 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:03.560 This is God's king in all of his glory. 00:03:04.780 --> 00:03:12.919 But this time the perspective here is that this king burns with zeal for the Lord and comes in judgment. 00:03:13.719 --> 00:03:22.800 To unsettle the religious status quo, to shake the religious establishment and to call people back to faithful worship of God. 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:31.860 Here we see Jesus, the revolutionary king, who comes in all of his glory to judge with authority. 00:03:32.640 --> 00:03:35.020 We'll see that Jesus hates hypocrisy. 00:03:35.560 --> 00:03:39.760 That he has all authority and we'll see two responses to him. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:46.980 So the first thing we see in this passage is Jesus hates hypocrisy in verses 13 to 17. 00:03:47.260 --> 00:03:49.240 Jesus hates hypocrisy. 00:03:49.240 --> 00:03:53.379 Now John sets the scene for us wonderfully in verse 13. 00:03:53.500 --> 00:03:54.260 Read that with me. 00:03:55.000 --> 00:03:59.640 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 00:04:00.500 --> 00:04:08.040 Now according to Jewish law, in Deuteronomy 12, it says that during a national festival like Passover, 00:04:08.400 --> 00:04:12.900 which celebrated Israel being saved by God from Egypt out of slavery, 00:04:12.900 --> 00:04:20.860 the whole nation of Israel was supposed to gather in Jerusalem, was supposed to go to the temple and worship God. 00:04:22.459 --> 00:04:24.579 So you can imagine that scene, can't you? 00:04:25.519 --> 00:04:26.540 Not much space. 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:30.439 Jerusalem would be absolutely jam-packed to the full. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:32.399 No space to move around. 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:35.139 Crowds hustling and bustling, running around. 00:04:35.139 --> 00:04:41.479 The noise of hundreds upon hundreds of different conversations taking place all around you. 00:04:42.339 --> 00:04:46.399 It would make the Royal Mile during the Fringe Festival look like a walk in the park. 00:04:47.639 --> 00:04:50.500 And then throw verse 14 into the mix. 00:04:50.500 --> 00:05:07.879 So on top of the base level noise of a hustle and bustle of a busy city and temple, 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:11.600 you hear animals all around making their respective noises. 00:05:12.319 --> 00:05:14.540 And you can imagine the smell, can't you? 00:05:14.540 --> 00:05:21.800 On the one hand, this market made it easier for the worshippers of God to buy their sacrifices 00:05:21.800 --> 00:05:23.760 so that they can worship accordingly. 00:05:24.840 --> 00:05:29.439 People often travelled big distances to get to the temple. 00:05:29.560 --> 00:05:30.680 And so this was convenient. 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:35.240 But people probably paid more for this convenience. 00:05:36.040 --> 00:05:40.720 See, the market owners weren't doing this out of a good sacrificial worship of God. 00:05:40.820 --> 00:05:42.080 They were in it to make money. 00:05:43.080 --> 00:05:44.240 It was a business. 00:05:44.540 --> 00:05:48.580 And by conducting their business in the temple courts, 00:05:48.960 --> 00:05:53.780 they are disrupting the purpose of the temple and disrupting people's worship. 00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.720 So imagine Jesus standing in the midst of this crowd, 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:01.040 looking at everything going on. 00:06:01.340 --> 00:06:03.960 Marketplace owners shouting out the newest offer. 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:05.660 Buy one calf, get one free. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:09.900 Money changers offering the best exchange rate, 00:06:09.939 --> 00:06:12.500 better than the kiosk just around the corner. 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:18.920 People bartering over how much that lamb is going to cost so that they can sacrifice it in the temple. 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:24.220 Just imagine the place Jesus finds himself in. 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:29.080 And then Jesus finds a quiet spot, I imagine. 00:06:30.020 --> 00:06:33.420 He sits down and as verse 15 says, he makes a whip. 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:38.220 Jesus proceeds to drive them out of the temple. 00:06:38.379 --> 00:06:39.620 Read verse 15 with me. 00:06:40.199 --> 00:06:47.480 So he, that's Jesus, made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. 00:06:47.640 --> 00:06:51.660 He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 00:06:51.840 --> 00:06:54.980 To those who sold doves, he said, get these out of here. 00:06:55.060 --> 00:06:58.240 Stop turning my father's house into a market. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:01.060 Now imagine the chaos. 00:07:02.780 --> 00:07:08.480 Imagine the scene out into, it's gone from people being everywhere. 00:07:09.379 --> 00:07:10.660 Animals being everywhere. 00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:12.759 They're now being driven in all directions. 00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:14.400 People scattering. 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:19.500 Money changers scrambling on the floor, picking up the coins because Jesus flipped the tables. 00:07:20.540 --> 00:07:23.240 People shouting after cows as they're running away. 00:07:23.240 --> 00:07:27.639 People dodging out of the way of those lambs running between their feet. 00:07:28.079 --> 00:07:35.160 Doves flapping like mad in their cages because of the noise and chaos going on around them. 00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:38.920 But Jesus doesn't just get annoyed. 00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:41.680 He isn't seeing red. 00:07:41.780 --> 00:07:42.879 He hasn't lost it. 00:07:42.939 --> 00:07:44.180 He hasn't flipped a lid. 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.600 He isn't flying off the handle. 00:07:46.600 --> 00:07:51.600 But this is the righteous anger of God against hypocrisy. 00:07:52.860 --> 00:07:55.340 Look at what Jesus says in verse 16. 00:07:56.180 --> 00:07:59.879 Stop turning my father's house into a market. 00:08:01.480 --> 00:08:07.140 Now growing up as a teenager with a few anger issues myself, I loved this passage. 00:08:07.540 --> 00:08:10.500 Because I thought it showed Jesus was a pretty cool guy. 00:08:10.640 --> 00:08:12.879 Who like me, got angry every once in a while. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.800 Enjoyed flipping tables and enjoyed generally making chaos. 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:18.719 But that's wrong. 00:08:19.779 --> 00:08:30.839 Because Jesus doesn't have anger issues but he is burning with righteous anger because the Jews have created barriers for people to come and worship the one and only God. 00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:37.259 They'd created barriers so people can't get into the temple. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:40.860 Jesus shows righteous anger at hypocrisy. 00:08:40.860 --> 00:08:44.399 This is the eternal king in all his glory. 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:48.080 Come to shake up the religious status quo of his day. 00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:55.539 Come to call people back into a relationship with God so that they can live as he wants them to. 00:08:56.279 --> 00:08:59.639 Come to usher in a new era for God's people. 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:08.000 Come as the revolutionary Messiah who will not stand by as people say one thing and do another. 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:11.480 So what exactly was the problem? 00:09:12.840 --> 00:09:18.799 Well Jesus clears the temple courts of merchants and cattle not because he was bothered by the noise. 00:09:19.279 --> 00:09:23.639 Not because it disturbed those who wanted to have a bit more of reflection time. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:25.480 Not because it was an inconvenience. 00:09:25.480 --> 00:09:26.200 Not because it was an inconvenience. 00:09:26.200 --> 00:09:32.340 But because Jesus is deeply concerned with God's glory and God's honour. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:38.539 In verse 17 it says that the disciples remember Psalm 69. 00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.539 You'll see that in the footnotes of your Bibles. 00:09:40.680 --> 00:09:49.379 Which is speaking about God's chosen king who would come and it says that zeal for your house, that's God's house, will consume him. 00:09:49.379 --> 00:09:54.340 Jesus clears the temple because he cares about the worship of God. 00:09:56.019 --> 00:10:03.580 Because the area that this makeshift marketplace was in was the part of the temple known as the court of the Gentiles. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:10.679 It was the place in the temple, a large open space dedicated for Gentiles, for non-Jewish people. 00:10:10.679 --> 00:10:13.859 For them to be able to gather and pray to God. 00:10:15.179 --> 00:10:18.939 It was the place they could enter into God's presence and worship him. 00:10:20.299 --> 00:10:29.599 God describes himself in Isaiah 56 that the temple should be a place where all nations, all peoples can gather and pray to him. 00:10:30.359 --> 00:10:36.839 It should be a place where all peoples were able to raise their voices in worship to and adoration of God. 00:10:36.840 --> 00:10:49.280 And yet the hypocrisy of the Jews is that while they were busy doing things in God's name, their hearts were very far from God. 00:10:50.040 --> 00:10:52.100 They were not obeying his commands. 00:10:53.080 --> 00:10:59.560 They put barriers in the way stopping Gentiles from even coming close to worshipping God in the temple. 00:10:59.559 --> 00:11:07.239 Creating a marketplace for profit and material wealth in expense of the Gentiles' spiritual well-being. 00:11:09.479 --> 00:11:13.500 The problem is that these people were very busy doing things in God's name. 00:11:13.619 --> 00:11:16.439 They were in the temple preparing for Passover. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:20.479 Getting ready for this religious celebration. 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:25.379 Busying themselves with the things of God but in their hearts far from God. 00:11:25.379 --> 00:11:35.000 They weren't worshipping God as he commanded and instead using the temple as they wanted to, not as God wanted to. 00:11:36.539 --> 00:11:41.120 And so Jesus sees it and he sees the hypocrisy and he hates it. 00:11:43.399 --> 00:11:47.779 The Jews knew that the Messiah would come to bring in a new era for God's people. 00:11:47.899 --> 00:11:50.000 God makes that abundantly clear in the Old Testament. 00:11:50.000 --> 00:11:54.720 The Jews knew that God's king would come and purify the temple. 00:11:55.279 --> 00:11:56.879 Call them back to right worship. 00:11:57.100 --> 00:11:58.360 Right all wrongs. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.139 But they'd lost their way. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:03.960 They'd wandered from God in their hearts. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:06.299 Jesus sees the hypocrisy and he hates it. 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:08.720 And so out of zeal for the Lord. 00:12:09.419 --> 00:12:14.980 Out of a deep desire to see God honoured, glorified, worshipped properly. 00:12:15.440 --> 00:12:16.679 He clears the temple. 00:12:16.679 --> 00:12:22.419 Now aren't we glad that Jesus acts like this? 00:12:23.459 --> 00:12:26.139 Aren't we glad that he hates hypocrisy? 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:32.639 I think we are because we get that feeling of disgust, don't we? 00:12:33.179 --> 00:12:40.859 When we see people claiming to do God's work, living completely contrary to what they say throughout the week. 00:12:40.860 --> 00:12:48.279 We hate it when we hear stories of well-known Christians who have been in places of power and influence. 00:12:49.320 --> 00:12:54.180 Use that power and influence to abuse and hurt people. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:58.419 That should disgust us. 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:01.719 Because that's not what Christians are called to do. 00:13:02.659 --> 00:13:13.579 And we also hate it because it can often bring the watching world to think that the gospel and the church is just a structure designed by man to inflict pain on others. 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:16.220 That is not what we see in the Bible. 00:13:19.300 --> 00:13:26.540 But we also need to ask ourselves, are we zealous for God's honour and for the right worship of God? 00:13:27.120 --> 00:13:30.820 Are we hypocrites or are we zealous? 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:36.820 Are we zealous for God's honour in our own lives because we can't be both? 00:13:40.080 --> 00:13:45.820 Are we zealous for God in our workplaces where all sorts of things are said and done on a daily basis? 00:13:47.320 --> 00:13:53.060 Are we zealous for God's honour and praise in our own lives? 00:13:53.059 --> 00:14:01.819 As we live in a world that dishonours and sidelines God all the time, are we zealous about it or are we indifferent to it? 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:09.699 We hate hypocrisy and so we rightly say in this church, have your Bible open. 00:14:10.719 --> 00:14:14.459 Check what we say is in line with what the Bible says. 00:14:14.539 --> 00:14:17.799 Don't take what we say for granted and also check our lives. 00:14:17.799 --> 00:14:27.319 Hold each other accountable, invest in each other so that we know that our words match the way we live. 00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:36.179 As a church family, we should all be helping one another, living the lives that God has created us to live in accordance with God's word. 00:14:37.699 --> 00:14:39.199 And there's a warning here. 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:45.939 Because we can all appear to be doing the right things, saying the right things on the surface. 00:14:45.940 --> 00:14:49.020 And yet in our hearts, be far from God. 00:14:51.640 --> 00:14:56.640 Friends, reflect on how you are living in relation to Jesus this morning. 00:14:56.740 --> 00:14:59.480 Not just on Sundays, but every day of the week. 00:15:01.180 --> 00:15:03.600 Are you zealous for God? 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:06.380 This is the King in all His glory. 00:15:06.380 --> 00:15:11.860 A revolutionary King who came and made people uncomfortable with His message. 00:15:11.860 --> 00:15:19.659 A King who burns with zeal for the Lord and comes to call people back to faithful worship. 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:23.879 And that faithful worship should be a witness to the watching world. 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:26.440 Reaching out for everyone to see. 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:31.180 And there's a challenge, isn't there as well, for how we worship God. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:33.879 Yes, we must worship God with all of our lives. 00:15:34.060 --> 00:15:35.419 Romans 12 makes that clear. 00:15:35.419 --> 00:15:41.860 But it's also important for how we worship God as a church gathering like this on a Sunday morning. 00:15:43.719 --> 00:15:46.479 Our desire should be to glorify Jesus. 00:15:47.439 --> 00:15:50.519 He should be the center of everything we do here. 00:15:51.699 --> 00:15:53.919 It's not about having the best music. 00:15:55.379 --> 00:15:58.299 It's not about being moved emotionally. 00:15:58.299 --> 00:16:01.879 It's not about going away from a Sunday morning sermon. 00:16:02.019 --> 00:16:04.559 Being encouraged and uplifted every single time. 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:06.559 And none of those things are bad. 00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:12.699 But our main focus, our main desire should be the glory and honor of God. 00:16:13.839 --> 00:16:18.379 Lifting His name above every other name and giving Him all the praise. 00:16:19.639 --> 00:16:24.079 For Him to be the center and focus of everything we do here at Bronzefield. 00:16:24.080 --> 00:16:27.879 And to be witnesses to those around us. 00:16:29.680 --> 00:16:32.660 How many of our neighbors know what we do here on a Sunday morning? 00:16:33.980 --> 00:16:38.200 How many of your friends and family know what we do when we gather to praise the Lord? 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.139 Is He the center? 00:16:41.300 --> 00:16:43.740 Jesus hates hypocrisy and so should we. 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:49.200 The second thing we see in this passage is that Jesus has all authority. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:51.500 In verses 18 to 21. 00:16:51.640 --> 00:16:53.200 Jesus has all authority. 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:57.000 Now how would you expect the Jews to respond? 00:16:57.820 --> 00:16:59.379 So remember that they're in the temple. 00:16:59.520 --> 00:17:02.139 They should be worshiping God according to His word. 00:17:02.520 --> 00:17:08.000 They should have been expecting the Messiah, God's King to come and change things. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:13.079 And so you kind of hope, don't they, that they'd respond in humility and repentance? 00:17:14.900 --> 00:17:17.779 But instead of reflecting on their practices. 00:17:18.660 --> 00:17:21.840 Instead of recognizing the barriers that they've created. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:24.819 And realizing the sins that they've done. 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:29.259 They turn to Jesus in verse 18 and basically say, 00:17:30.039 --> 00:17:33.240 What gives you the right to stand as judge over us? 00:17:34.220 --> 00:17:36.740 What gives you the authority to do this? 00:17:36.819 --> 00:17:38.299 Read verse 18 with me. 00:17:38.299 --> 00:17:40.599 The Jews then responded to Him. 00:17:40.680 --> 00:17:45.319 What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all of this? 00:17:46.759 --> 00:17:50.539 You can hear a little bit of a childish tone in their voices, can't you? 00:17:51.619 --> 00:17:53.240 I'm the middle of three sons. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:55.720 Yes, my mother did not have a very easy life. 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:58.620 And I remember times when we were living at home. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.819 We all lived together. 00:18:00.160 --> 00:18:03.019 Then my little brother would do things or say things. 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:04.420 And I would tell him off. 00:18:05.420 --> 00:18:07.299 Sometimes a little bit too harshly. 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:10.539 But I would say, you can't do things like that. 00:18:10.620 --> 00:18:11.799 You shouldn't speak like that. 00:18:11.860 --> 00:18:12.920 You shouldn't act like that. 00:18:12.940 --> 00:18:16.860 And what's the response that the younger sibling always barks back? 00:18:17.360 --> 00:18:18.660 Who made you the boss of me? 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.779 You're not my mom and dad. 00:18:20.779 --> 00:18:23.819 What gives you the right to tell me what I can and can't do? 00:18:24.559 --> 00:18:27.119 I can see all the parents nodding along and laughing. 00:18:29.039 --> 00:18:32.319 That's the kind of thing these Jewish leaders say in verse 18. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.200 They arrive. 00:18:33.559 --> 00:18:34.579 They hear the commotion. 00:18:34.700 --> 00:18:36.359 They arrive and says, what gives you the right? 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:42.859 What proof do you have that you have the authority to do this? 00:18:43.920 --> 00:18:45.420 Their concern is not their sin. 00:18:45.539 --> 00:18:48.039 Their concern is not even with their corporate worship. 00:18:48.039 --> 00:18:51.159 Their concern isn't if they've done something wrong. 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:55.599 Their concern is who is this guy and how dare he? 00:18:57.480 --> 00:19:01.359 But Jesus doesn't pull out a passport or an identity card that says, 00:19:01.519 --> 00:19:02.460 this is the son of God. 00:19:02.539 --> 00:19:03.259 Listen to him. 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:06.879 But his response is maybe a little bit odd. 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:09.700 Look at verse 19 with me. 00:19:10.700 --> 00:19:15.519 Jesus answered them, destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days. 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:21.220 See, the Jewish leaders want a sign to prove for Jesus, 00:19:21.619 --> 00:19:24.960 to prove his identity to them, to prove his authority. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:30.559 And he responds by saying, destroy the temple and I will raise it again in three days. 00:19:31.099 --> 00:19:36.680 The very center of the worship of God, that would be unthinkable for a Jew. 00:19:36.680 --> 00:19:44.400 The place where mankind can meet with God and Jesus says, destroy it in three days. 00:19:45.259 --> 00:19:45.720 Why? 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:52.539 Well, because as verse 21 clarifies with a little narration comment from John, the gospel writer, 00:19:53.100 --> 00:19:56.620 the temple that Jesus had spoken of was his body. 00:19:56.619 --> 00:20:05.339 Jesus is basically saying to the Jewish leaders, you will see a sign that will prove to you that I am God's king, 00:20:05.500 --> 00:20:06.939 but it won't be like you think. 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:10.339 It won't be me sitting on a throne. 00:20:10.859 --> 00:20:14.000 It won't be me bringing in an army to kick out the Romans. 00:20:14.259 --> 00:20:20.879 The sign you will see to prove my identity and that I have the authority of God is that a day is coming 00:20:20.880 --> 00:20:25.740 where all of you will conspire against me and you will put my body to death. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:29.040 But three days later, I will rise again. 00:20:30.840 --> 00:20:34.960 Now, here's where we need to think, where we need to think a little bit more about what this means. 00:20:35.860 --> 00:20:40.160 See, the temple was the place where people met with God. 00:20:40.900 --> 00:20:44.200 It was the symbol of God's dwelling place with his people. 00:20:44.200 --> 00:20:51.380 A daily reminder of how God cannot fully dwell with his people because he is perfect and we are not. 00:20:51.940 --> 00:20:56.779 And so they had to go make sacrifices every day almost. 00:20:58.660 --> 00:21:03.559 A constant reminder of their need for forgiveness because we rebel against God all the time, don't we? 00:21:04.759 --> 00:21:07.140 Jesus says all of that will be changed. 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:12.340 Because the moment he dies on the cross, taking the sins of the world on himself, 00:21:13.460 --> 00:21:17.020 Jesus fulfills what the temple was supposed to do. 00:21:18.940 --> 00:21:23.640 Jesus' death was the moment that the whole temple worship was pointing towards. 00:21:25.520 --> 00:21:27.259 So do you see what Jesus is saying? 00:21:28.280 --> 00:21:33.420 The place where God now dwells with his people, the place where forgiveness can be found, 00:21:33.420 --> 00:21:39.000 isn't in a building, but it is in the body and completed work of Jesus Christ 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:42.279 through his death and resurrection. 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:50.400 Brothers and sisters, this is precisely why the cross and resurrection of Jesus are key to the Christian faith. 00:21:51.360 --> 00:21:55.080 If you're here this morning and you're still on the fence about Christianity, 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:59.039 the place I would encourage you to start investigating is the resurrection. 00:21:59.039 --> 00:22:06.059 Because if the resurrection didn't happen, the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:14.039 that the Christian faith is futile and Christians should be pitied above everyone else. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:21.079 The greatest proof for the identity and authority of Jesus is the resurrection. 00:22:21.220 --> 00:22:24.000 That's why we as Christians make such a big deal out of it. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:29.299 Because without the resurrection, our faith means nothing. 00:22:31.799 --> 00:22:36.619 If the resurrection didn't happen, we would serve a dead savior who is buried somewhere else, 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:39.259 like every other key figure in every other religion. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:46.140 With a gravestone somewhere in the world where pilgrims go to worship their God. 00:22:46.740 --> 00:22:50.960 But as Christians, we have no such grave because Jesus is alive. 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:57.940 As Christians, there is no such headstone because on the third day the tomb was empty. 00:22:59.240 --> 00:23:03.440 As Christians, we do not travel to a specific place to worship God 00:23:03.440 --> 00:23:08.400 or to be in the presence of God because Jesus promised that he would be with his people now 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:10.079 until the end of all time. 00:23:10.079 --> 00:23:18.480 We serve Jesus, the eternal king, who is alive and seated at the right hand of God. 00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:20.980 That is precisely what the temple was pointing to. 00:23:21.720 --> 00:23:26.000 Jesus has all authority and the ultimate proof of that is the resurrection. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:35.779 And then the third and final thing we see in this passage is two responses to this king in verses 22 to 25. 00:23:36.059 --> 00:23:37.559 Two responses to the king. 00:23:37.559 --> 00:23:41.500 Read the first response with me in verse 22. 00:23:42.679 --> 00:23:47.579 After he was raised from the dead, that's Jesus, his disciples recalled what he had said. 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:53.419 Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 00:23:54.559 --> 00:24:01.399 So after the resurrection, the disciples remembered everything Jesus had spoken to them here and they believed. 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:09.400 Jesus told them that they would remember in John chapter 14, verse 26, that we'll get to in the coming months. 00:24:09.860 --> 00:24:13.920 Because the Holy Spirit would bring to mind the things that Jesus had taught them. 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:17.560 But what exactly did they believe in? 00:24:18.340 --> 00:24:23.500 Well, verse 22 says the scriptures and the words Jesus had spoken. 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:28.740 They believed the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus. 00:24:29.619 --> 00:24:39.140 They believed that there were things written in the Old Testament hundreds of years before Jesus' arrival on earth that point to him and the things that he would do. 00:24:39.140 --> 00:24:45.940 Just like they remembered in verse 17, that zeal for the Lord's house would consume him. 00:24:47.220 --> 00:25:01.400 Now there is no way that all of the Old Testament prophecies written hundreds of years before Jesus came could have been manipulated to make it seem like Jesus fulfilled them when he didn't actually. 00:25:01.400 --> 00:25:31.380 The disciples remembered what the scriptures said. 00:25:31.400 --> 00:25:32.200 Believe in him. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:36.000 They respond with lasting faith. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:42.100 They gladly submit to Jesus' teaching and abide in him, a key theme in John. 00:25:43.060 --> 00:25:48.980 They aren't drawn in or just simply excited by the miracles and good things Jesus was doing. 00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.960 They were excited about him. 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.860 Excited about who he is. 00:25:55.860 --> 00:25:59.600 And the truth of what he came to do, reconciling man with God. 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:02.539 The disciples had lasting faith. 00:26:03.679 --> 00:26:06.139 But the second response is in verse 23. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:07.059 Read that with me. 00:26:08.219 --> 00:26:16.679 Now while he, Jesus, was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 00:26:16.680 --> 00:26:22.500 See, the response of the crowd is superficial faith. 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:26.680 They see the signs and believed in his name. 00:26:26.680 --> 00:26:31.039 But the basis of their belief is the signs, not Jesus himself. 00:26:32.380 --> 00:26:37.039 The crowds were drawn in by the miracles rather than the one doing the miracles. 00:26:37.039 --> 00:26:47.420 And the whole purpose of signs or miracles in John's gospel is that they are displays of power that point to Jesus and his identity as the son of God. 00:26:47.420 --> 00:26:54.680 John puts these signs in his gospel in a way to build up a picture of who Jesus is. 00:26:54.680 --> 00:27:08.460 And as John says in the end of John 20, he did this so that we might believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and that by believing in him, we may have life in his name. 00:27:08.460 --> 00:27:27.220 But the response of the crowd is superficial faith because whilst they believe in his name here, later on in John chapter 6, we see many people who follow Jesus, some of whom maybe in this crowd walked away because they found his teachings were too difficult. 00:27:27.220 --> 00:27:33.460 It was too hard to live the Christian faith and so they walked away. 00:27:36.360 --> 00:27:40.920 Jesus knew the status of their heart, that they were attracted to the miracles and not to him. 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:45.980 He knew that their faith was superficial and that they would leave at the slightest difficulty. 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:57.079 That's why in verses 24 to 26, it says that Jesus didn't entrust himself to these people because he knew their hearts and he knew what the future would hold for them. 00:27:57.220 --> 00:28:04.600 Brothers and sisters, these same responses happen today, don't they? 00:28:08.100 --> 00:28:09.720 Which response will you have? 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:24.940 Will you be a faithful disciple who sees what the word of God says about Jesus, who looks at the death and resurrection of Jesus and responds to the king in lasting faith until the day that you die 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:28.200 and go to be in glory or the day Jesus returns? 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:38.759 Will you have lasting faith that despite all the difficulties that come your way, you will strive by the power of the spirit, by the power of God to stand firm 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:41.820 and humbly submit to all of the teachings of Jesus? 00:28:44.820 --> 00:28:46.620 Or will you respond like the crowd? 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:54.439 Will you have no faith or a superficial faith that's attracted to God's stuff rather than God himself? 00:28:57.219 --> 00:29:07.439 The glory of the king Jesus is revealed as he burns with zeal for the glory of God and judges the false religiosity of the people. 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:11.820 Do as I say, not as I do. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:15.259 This defines hypocrisy with words but a few. 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.440 We hate hypocrisy. 00:29:18.960 --> 00:29:27.860 We get riled up when we see someone who makes the rules, who should be leading as an example, doing the exact opposite of what they say others should be doing. 00:29:27.859 --> 00:29:36.859 When Jesus, God's king arrives in the temple, he isn't what people were expecting but he is exactly what everyone needs. 00:29:38.419 --> 00:29:44.779 Jesus is the revolutionary king who comes in all his glory to judge with authority. 00:29:45.579 --> 00:29:46.659 He hates hypocrisy. 00:29:47.299 --> 00:29:54.259 He has all authority and being confronted with him then and today requires a response. 00:29:54.259 --> 00:29:57.759 Let us pray together. 00:30:06.119 --> 00:30:10.900 Heavenly Father, we come before you this morning and we recognize that none of us are perfect. 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:16.500 We all make mistakes and sometimes we are hypocrites. 00:30:17.379 --> 00:30:19.700 We say one thing and do another. 00:30:19.879 --> 00:30:21.339 Father, we ask for your forgiveness. 00:30:21.339 --> 00:30:28.319 And we pray that you would help us never to focus on your stuff rather than you. 00:30:29.459 --> 00:30:33.599 Help us to burn with zeal for your honor, for your glory. 00:30:34.099 --> 00:30:37.619 And help us to praise your name above every other name. 00:30:38.299 --> 00:30:40.919 And help us be a light to those around us. 00:30:41.339 --> 00:30:47.159 That they may see the beauty of the gospel and respond with faith in Christ. 00:30:47.160 --> 00:30:54.259 Help us stand firm in our faith until the day when you call us home to glory or you return. 00:30:54.880 --> 00:30:56.100 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:30:56.660 --> 00:30:57.019 Amen.