1. Jesus Drives Out the Business (verses 12-17).
2. Jesus Says, “Destroy This Temple” (verses 18-22).

We live in a transactional world. We go to Starbucks with a $5 bill, we give it to cashier. In return, we get a coffee. We go to Walmart with our credit card. We fill up our carts with household goods and food, swipe our credit card, and leave with a full trunk. We logon to Amazon, click a few buttons, enter our credit card information, and in a few days have what we selected on our doorstep. These are but a few of the transactions that we make in our lives.

We also experience transactions at work. We put in our hours of good labor. In exchange, our employer rewards us financially. That’s a transaction. We hire out a roofing service. The crew comes and takes off the old roof, and replaces it with a new roof. We pay the roofing company. That’s a transaction.

We experience transactions when we purchase a home. We go into the bank. We ask for a loan. We sign a lot of papers, and make a promise to return the money over the next few decades, with interest. and get a loan. That’s a large financial transaction. We pay tuition to a school, and expect in return that classes will be taught, and knowledge gained in return. Then a diploma given at the end, which will help with the job market. We purchase insurance, and expect that when illness or damage happens, we will be helped with our bills.

We live in a transactional world. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.” Some business relationships are transactional as well. You have friendships with those who work in other businesses, who can help your business. You refer business to your friend. They refer business to you. At times, this transactional mindset enters friendships as well. Proverbs 19:4 says "Wealth attracts many friends." There is a reason why rich people lack no friends, because they have much to give others. People can be friends with the wealthy, in hopes of enjoying their wealth, or being given some of their wealth as well. Friends that are transactional are really no friends at all. They are users of people; only in it for their own good. They are in the friendship, only as long as the friendship benefits them. But if the benefit is no longer there, the friendship will disappear.

There are times when a marriage is transactional. The husband does his job. The wife does her job. All should be happy, right? But you show me a transactional marriage, and I will show you a troubled marriage. Because, at some point, there will be disappointment.

Now, unfortunately, when it comes to God, many view God as a transactional being. They think that merely God wants us to perform our duties. Go to church. Sing the songs. Mouth the words on the screen. Listen to the sermons. Give to the church. Be friendly with everyone you meet at church, especially the visitors. That’s it. Almost as if God wants us to check the boxes. We do our duties, and God is satisfied. That’s what the religion of many is all about. It all becomes so regular. It all becomes so routine. Because it is. It’s because we live in a transactional world, and many think that God is equally as transactional.

Well, today, as we open our Bibles, we will see Jesus dealing with those who had come to regard God as a transactional being. We will see how Jesus responds to such people. So, open in your Bibles to John, chapter 2. Last week, we looked at first half of the chapter, which tells us about the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine, and John called it, “The first of his signs.” Here’s the picture that we have been using of chapter 2.

The number “2” looks a little bit like a husband and wife kneeling in prayer. In the background, you can see a picture of the temple, which is the topic of our text today, that comes in the second half of chapter 2, in verses 12-25. So, if you haven’t yet opened your Bibles to John 2, I would encourage you to do so now. Let me read the text for you.

John 2:12-25
After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Again, as is our custom, let us remind ourselves why these things are written. "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31).

Our text begins in verse 12, with a brief geographical reference. The first half of chapter 2 takes place in Cana. In verse 12, we read,

John 2:12
After this he went down to Capernaum, with his mother and his brothers and his disciples, and they stayed there for a few days.

Capernaum was 10 miles or so from Cana. But it was also about a two-thousand foot descent (from 1,300 feet above sea level to 660 feet below sea level). It’s why John says that they “went down to Capernaum.” Fun fact: the Sea of Galilee is 660 feed below sea level! Anyway, Jesus was with “his mother and brothers and his disciples.” His mother and disciples were at the wedding. We don’t know if his brothers were at the wedding as well. We simply know that they were with him in Capernaum. These brothers were probably the children of Joseph and Mary. They stayed there a few days. Probably hanging out and working and getting back into the routine of life after a week-long wedding in Cana.

In verse 13, we have another geographical reference.

John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was about 90 miles south of Capernaum, it would have taken a few days for Jesus to travel there. Again, the directions are referring to altitude. Jerusalem is up in the hills, and you always “go up” to Jerusalem. Whether you come from the north, south, east or west, you always, “go up” to Jerusalem. In this case, Jerusalem is about 2,500 feet above Capernaum.

But more important than these geographical references here is the time reference. Verse 13 tells us that

John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand,

This puts is sometime in the Spring. Passover is always celebrated in the same season as we celebrate our Easter. It’s the time when things come alive. It’s a time of hope. It’s a time of joy for the Jews. Now, for the Jews, the Passover was a big deal. It was arguably the most important and the most loved of all of the holidays. It’s like our Christmas and New Years and Fourth of July all combined together for a great celebration. It’s like Christmas, in that it was focused upon the children. The Seder meal, on the evening of the Passover sacrifice, was loved by the children, as they heard the stories, and played the games at dinnertime, perhaps even coming home with some cash. It’s like New Years, in that the Passover was celebrated at the turn of the year. in fact, the Passover began the Jewish calendar.

In Exodus 12, the LORD instructs Moses of what to do during the Passover celebration. He begins with an explanation of how the Jews should start their calendar year based upon the celebration of the Passover. In Exodus 12:1-2 we read, "The Lord said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, 'This month shall be for you the beginning of months. It shall be the first month of the year for you"' (Exodus 12:1-2). Then, the LORD proceeds to explain what should take place during the Passover.

The Jews were to select a lamb without blemish on the 10th day of the month of Nisan (which is the first month of the year). They were to keep the lamb until the 14th day of the month. Then, at twilight, they were to slaughter the lamb. and take the blood, and apply it to the door frames of their houses, as a sign for God to pass over them during the final plague. They were to roast this lamb and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, with their loins girded, with sandals on their feet, and staffs in hand, signifying readiness for travel.

God told Moses, "This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast" (Exodus 12:14). On that first Passover night, the tenth of the plagues struck all of the firstborn in Egypt. The devastation was so great, that Pharaoh cast the Hebrew slaves out of the land!

This feast was a yearly celebration of their freedom from slavery and independence as a nation. In this way, it was like our Fourth of July. Our Fourth of July marks the day of American independence from British rule. And the Passover commemorates the day when the Jews gained their freedom from slavery in Egypt. The Passover was a big deal for the Jews. So when John writes in verse 13,

John 2:13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, his readers had a vision in their minds of all that was happening in Jerusalem.

Throngs of people would travel to Jerusalem. They would offer their sacrificial lambs. They would feast and party! They would remember the day when they were redeemed from slavery in Egypt.

Certainly, Jesus had been to this feast many times before. The gospel of Luke highlights Jesus at this feast, as the one thing that Jesus did as a child. Perhaps you remember the story. Jesus was twelve years old, and he traveled to Jerusalem with his parents to celebrate the Passover. as Mary and Joseph left to return home to Nazareth, they were unaware that Jesus stayed behind. So, the concerned parents travel back and find him three days later sitting in the temple among the teachers, listening and asking questions. Jesus said in Luke 2:49 “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

That’s how Jesus viewed the temple. He viewed it as his Father’s house. In fact, that is the title of my message this morning: “My Father’s House.” because Jesus will use that phrase in verse 16. It is the main application for us this morning.

John 2:16
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

Our first point is this:

1. Jesus Drives Out the Business (verses 12-17).

This is the core of how Jesus reacted to all that he saw in the temple. Verse 14 describes the scene.

John 2:14
In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

Now, there was good reason for these people to be selling these things. Jews from all around would travel long distances to Jerusalem for the Passover. Jesus traveled some 90 miles to be there on this occasion, perhaps 3 or 4 days of travel. Selling oxen and sheep and pigeons was a matter of practical necessity and convenience. According to the Jewish law, those coming to the temple to worship were required to bring a sacrifice. Depending upon their wealth, they could offer up a bull, a lamb, or a few pigeons.

Can you imagine traveling long distances with your own live animal to sacrifice? Traveling with it for several days? It would have been far easier and far more convenient for visitors to purchase these animals on-site rather than bringing them from home. Furthermore, these animals would facilitated the smooth functioning of temple rituals, as these animals would have been pre-selected and screened as proper sacrificial animals. this helped the sacrifices in the temple to run smoothly and efficiently.

The animals that were offered up on the altar were to be without blemish or defect (see Leviticus 22:20-22). Can you imagine, bringing a lamb from home for sacrifice, traveling several days, arriving at the temple, only to have it rejected by the priest, as having a blemish. Perhaps it was injured along the way? Perhaps it developed some sickness along the way! This whole arrangement of purchasing animals in Jerusalem was a practical arrangement to insure that the temple sacrifice you offered was an acceptable sacrifice. It was helpful for money-changers to be present, as those traveling from long distances would have different currencies they brought. It helped to make the entire operation run smoothly.

However, I think that the main problem here is that it was “in the temple.” According to verse 14, it was “in the temple” that Jesus found all of this business taking place and Jesus hated it. He did something about it. Verse 15 describes his response:

John 2:15
And making a whip of cords, [Jesus] drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.

[At this point in the sermon, I walked off the stage to where a small table with clipboards and pencils on it, and flipped it away].

That's what Jesus did because he hated what was happening! Though it's appropriate to laugh at my example, when it happened it wasn't a laughing matter. I did this to stir up within you what was taking place. Now you have to picture the violence and the chaos of this scene. Jesus made a whip of cords, that he could sling around as a weapon. As he swung this whip around, the sheep and oxen would stampede in all directions, the people would be in confusion, seeking the nearest exit.

The sounds of the frightened animals would fill the air. Above all of this, many in the temple would be shouting, trying to coral the animals or to keep the calm. You might hear the clanking of the coins on the temple floor as they are scattered all about. You would see the vendors on their hands and knees, trying to gather in their scattered coins. It was all pandemonium, as 1. Jesus Drives Out the Business (verses 12-17) from the temple.

The key comes in verse 16. It’s where Jesus tells us why he did what he did.

John 2:16
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

Now, you need to be careful here in your interpretation of these events. You might have in your minds a similar event as recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke. They all record a time when Jesus comes into the temple and drives out the those who were selling in the temple. Matthew, Mark, and Luke each record this at the end of their gospel accounts, not at the beginning as John does. This raises the question: Did Jesus do this once or twice? In other words, did John take the event that happened at the end of the ministry of Jesus and bring it to the beginning of his gospel account?

Some have argued this, as the events are thought to be too similar to describe two separate accounts. Further, John, himself said that his gospel account is not trying to be exhaustive in describing the life of Jesus, but rather thematic, in leading you to believe in Jesus. It may be the case. But I doubt it. especially as John clearly presents the wedding at Cana as the time he did his first sign, which would have been early in his ministry. then, John ties the timing of the wedding with this event in verse 12, as seemingly taking place a few days later.

I think that Jesus did this twice, once at the beginning of his ministry and once at the end of his ministry. Each time there is a slightly different emphasis. Listen again to the interpretive key of the event:

John 2:16
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

While in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus points out how the money changers were robbing people as they extorted high commissions on their changing of money, calling the whole practice, “robbery.” Here, Jesus comments nothing about their unfair practices, and how the system was robbing people. Instead, Jesus focuses upon the whole transactional aspect of the system that was established. The temple was a business! People would come “to worship” with their money. They would purchase what was needed. They would offer the sacrifices required. They would go on their way. But Jesus said, “Do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

The application to us is right here. Church is not a business. Church is not transactional. This isn’t some religious system. You don’t come here each week to pay your dues, to fulfill your religious obligation. So that you can get back some services in return. The pastor will come and visit you. The people will serve you in times of need. You will learn about the Bible.

That’s not what Rock Valley Bible Church is about. We aren’t a business. We are a family. This is “The Father’s house.” It’s where his people love to gather. It’s where people love to be. It’s where people meet with their heavenly Father. It’s where people are taught to follow in his ways. I think that the best way for your all to examine your hearts is to ask yourself the question: “Why do I come here?” “Why do I come to Rock Valley Bible Church every Sunday?” Am I coming to fulfill a duty, making some religious transaction with God. Or am I coming because it’s my delight? only the unusual circumstances will keep me away from this place.

Perhaps it’s helpful to ask yourself how you feel when you can’t come on Sunday morning. Do you feel guilty? Or do you feel sad? Those who feel guilt at not coming to church have this transactional mindset. God expects me to be at church, but I didn’t go! Surely I have sinned. God is mad at me. I feel guilty. Those who feel sadness have a family mindset. Church is where my family is. Church is where I feel love. Church is where I can give love. Church is a place where I can meet with God. In our day and age in America, we live in a day where church is viewed as a transaction. When people come into a town, and are looking for a church, what term do we use? We say that they are “church shopping.”

What can be more transactional than “shopping.” I look at the items on the shelf. I look to see what they might offer me. I evaluate the price. Sometimes, standing there in the aisle, we try it out a little bit. If I think it’s worth it, I’ll pay the price. This is what people who are “church shopping” do. They visit the website and see what the church might offer. If the product looks good, they come for a visit. They look to see if the church has what they want. Whether it suits their needs or not. If they like it, they “pay the price” by coming to the church. If at any time the church doesn’t meet their needs, they leave, and they “shop” for another church, that will meet their needs.

Often in America it’s because we have this transactional mindset when it comes to church. “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. You provide a place where I feel comfortable, where my kids are taught the Bible, where I can learn about God, where I have a place to serve, and I’ll come and support the ministry. Until something changes and my needs aren’t met anymore.”

Woven into the fabric of our American Church culture is the idea of a “seeker friendly church.” Where church would be a place that “seekers” might like. Where they might come and see if church really is for them. I remember hearing Bill Hybels talk about founding Willowcreek in the Chicagoland area. He went door to door, surveying people, asking them what they would want in a church. Then, he set about to provide such a church for the people in the community. The wild success of that church has fueled countless other churches in the same methodology. See what the people want and then seek to give it to them. To this, Jesus says,

John 2:16
And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

Now, for us as a church, it’s tricky. We are a business. We are a 501(c)(3) corporation, which is tax exempt. We have a building, which has bills to pay. We have employees, who are compensated for their labor. But here’s the question, Do we feel like a business? Do we feel like you come here and give and get a service in return?

I was talking recently with a guy I play pool with. I asked him what he did for a living. He told me that he was a machinist. Then, he asked me the question I wanted him to ask. He said, “What do you do?” I said I’m a pastor of a church. He asked, “Where” and I replied. Then he said, “You know, I was recently invited to a big church in town. And the thing the really irked me was how they all about the money. They made a shpeel before the offering about how the church needs your money. Then afterwards, they spoke quite a bit about the bookstore and the resources that are there for you to purchase.” Then he said this, “Man, I thought that you were in the business of saving souls, not peddling your products.”

Here was a guy, who has little experience or involvement or engagement with “church.” If you would look at him, you would know that he isn’t a church-goer. And he saw it more clearly than did the hundreds of people who regularly attend the church.

John 2:16
“Do not make my Father's house a house of trade.”

It speaks volumes to us in America. Now, I don’t think that this means we can’t have a bookstore in our church. Nor does it mean that we can’t pass an offering plate. But what it does mean is that our focus must be upon loving God, and not making money. It means that we ought to be about worship, not about some religious transactional business.

Jesus saw the problem and did something about it. In his zeal, 1. Jesus Drives Out the Business (verses 12-17). Then, John brings in an explanatory comment for the readers (which he often does). He writes in verse 17,

John 2:17
His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

Are you familiar with this verse? Can you tell me where it comes from? The disciples were familiar. They knew where it came from. They were trained in the Scriptures and knew enough to quote this verse from Psalm 69:9, a messianic Psalm, in which David is lamenting the suffering he endures because of his intense devotion to God. He feels isolated and scorned by others, as he seeks the glory of God. His zeal has brought about personal suffering and hardship. Such will be the experience of the Messiah.

The disciples witnessed this in Jesus. His zeal for the house of the LORD brought trouble upon his life. The trouble comes in verse 18, when the Jews confronted him. They said:

John 2:18
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

At first glance, that might seem to be a strange question. I would have thought that they would have arrested Jesus, as a “disturbing the peace.” or for “destruction of property.” or for “assault.” or for “incitement to riot.” But they didn’t do that. Instead, they asked for a sign. They said,

John 2:18
“What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

I think that they were getting at the authority of Jesus. If you do this, by what authority are you doing this? There may have been some Messianic undertones with this question as well. Perhaps not only the disciples remembered the quote from Psalm 69. Perhaps others realized that such zeal was a Messianic fulfillment. So they ask, “Are you the Messiah? What signs will you show us?” Then, in verse 19, we read,

John 2:19
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

This is my second point:

2. Jesus Says, “Destroy This Temple” (verses 18-22).

Rather than giving a sign, Jesus gives a statement. What a statement it was! “Destroy this temple?” This temple was the pride and joy of the Jews! Do you remember what the disciples said to Jesus one day as they were leaving the temple grounds? Listen to Mark 13:1. "And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” This is how they saw the temple. It was wonderful! It was a wonderful building! For Jesus to say,

John 2:19
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

I think it was met with some good belly laughter from all who heard it! Really, it was an absurd statement, to all who heard it. The Jews pointed this out in verse 20.

John 2:20
The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

Forty-six years! My goodness! What a long time to build! This speaks to the construction techniques in those days, as well as the magnificence and cost of the temple. It was a beautiful place, the pride and joy of the Jews! Jesus said that he would raise it up in three days? It certainly sounded strange to the Jews. It certainly sounds strange to us! Then in verse 21, John again, explains for the reader.

John 2:21
But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

When Jesus said, “Destroy this temple,” he wasn’t taking about the buildings! He was talking about his body! Now, nobody knew this. The story really ended in verse 20. Perhaps Jesus and his disciples merely walked away. I would suspect that the disciples were just as confused as everyone else. Because we read in verse 22:

John 2:22
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

In other words, the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was saying, even throughout all of his ministry, and all of their time with them.

It was not until he was raised from the dead that they thought back and remembered this day in the temple, from years before, and realized that Jesus wasn’t taking about the physical temple buildings. He was talking about the temple of his own body! Which was raised from the dead, after three days! He was prophesying of the resurrection! It's here we see the gospel of John hinting us toward what's important. It's hinting use toward chapters 19 and 20 when Jesus is on the cross and then raises from the dead.

I’m struck here by how unclear Jesus was. He could have made things very clear in the temple that day. He could have said it differently, “Destroy me, and in three days I will raise from the death.” He could have clarified himself. Instead, he just walked away, leaving scores of people in confusion. But that's how Jesus is! That's how he walks.

Just think about these disciples. Though they didn’t fully understand it all, they continued to follow after him. They saw enough to convince them.

John 2:11
His disciples believe in him.

Yet they were a bit apprehensive. They were following this strange man who made strange statements. They didn't understand it at all, but they continued to follow him because they knew enough.

This is our call as well. You may not fully that Jesus has said, or how exactly he saves us by his grace. But do you know enough to believe? Do you know enough to following after him. John is trying to tell us just enough so we follow after Jesus and have life in his name. This is the reality. Jesus did rise from the dead! He conquered death, that by our trust in him, we too can conquer death through faith in him. John is pointing us toward the resurrection, and though it may be fuzzy, there will be a time where it is made clear.

I close with one final observation: There is a greater undercurrent here about the temple. Jesus enters the temple and disrupts it and forty years after his death the temple is destroyed. Jesus is our temple. Jesus comes in and destroys this earthly temple because this temple is not where it's at! The temple of his body is where it's at. We have access to God through Jesus, not the Old Testament temple and sacrifices. In fact, in Revelation 21:22 it says "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." In eternity we won't need this earthly temple because we have a heavenly temple, which is Jesus. This is what he's getting at. Temples are necessary. We need a temple to have access to God. We need a mediator, a priest to bring us to God. That mediator and priest, that temple, is Jesus. He said to destroy the early temple because it wasn't useful. What's useful is him.

The emphasis here in verse 22 is also on faith.

John 2:22
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

The disciples believed what the scripture had told about the Messiah. They believed the word that Jesus had spoken. This is where John is heading. He's heading towards faith. He's heading towards believing. He's heading towards relationship. He's not heading towards transactions.

Are you thankful that worship to God is not transactional? I think you should be. If you try to meet God in a transactional way, you will fail. You will fail on your part of the transaction. That's why we need mercy! God's mercy covers everything. His mercy is more. It covers our sin. We have access to God, to our father, his house, and his people, through a person.

It can be easy to caught up in a transactional pattern at church, but let's push toward relationship because Jesus hates religion that's transactional. It's not genuine religion. It's with the father, through the son, understanding what he's done on the cross and then risen from the dead for our justification so that we might be right with him. Let's enter into his presence and be in a relationship with God and not try to do some religious transaction.

This sermon was delivered to Rock Valley Bible Church on August 18, 2024 by Steve Brandon.
For more information see www.rockvalleybiblechurch.org.