His disciples remembered that it was written,“Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:17
I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 2:13-22 using the Sword Bible Study Method, and tomorrow I will take another pass at the text and summarize my thoughts from both today and tomorrow by providing an outline/divisions and main point for the text.
- What do we learn from the passage about God?: It's not that Jesus despises trade or people making money, instead Jesus does not like it when people exploit a prominent Jewish holiday to serve their own interests. We must remember that we exist to glorify God - not the other way around. Passover served as a time of remembrance for what God did during the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. The text shares that the disciples remembered Psalm 69:9 where David writes how he was consumed with "zeal for [God's] house." This zeal is what God seeks from us - we should be consumed for zeal and love for God. God chooses those to whom He reveals Himself. He reveals Himself to His disciples but not the Jewish leadership (with exception to Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea). God alone hardens and softens hearts.
- What do we learn from the passage about people?: The disciples understood what Jesus was doing with His righteous anger over what was happening in the temple courtyard - v17; the Jewish leadership should not have allowed such activities in the temple but they did and unlike the disciples they were not consumed with "zeal for [God's] house." Instead they were consumed with zeal for their own interests - status, power, etc. Both the the Jewish leadership and the disciples (at the time) did not understand what Jesus was referring to when Jesus said that the temple will be destroyed and rebuilt in 3 days - v19; the disciples ultimately understood what Jesus was referring to - v21 - after Jesus crucifixion and resurrection, and this furthered their understanding and conviction in God's Word as Truth and as God (John 1:1, 2 Timothy 3:16).
- Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We should not seek our own glory above God's. We should claim God's Word as Truth, that "no word from God will ever fail (Luke 1:37 NIV)," and that scripture is perfect and God breathed. We should follow David and Jesus' examples to be consumed with zeal for both God and His house. We should bring glory to God in all that we do (1 Corinthians 10:31).
My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who saves! I am not deserving of how You choose who to save and who not to save - that You chose me. Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving. My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior. Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
