John 2:12-24 MY FATHER'S HOUSE Not very often people in places the Lord visits in grace realize the potential blessings that could be theirs until it is too late. When Jesus moved into Capernaum, that community had a time of divine visitation. Times of visitation still happen today, but in many places the impact of being the object of God's special attention is either taken for granted or considered to be of little importance. When such times come, people talk about spiritual things, Christians pray differently than is normal, and the scriptures are turned to more often. The appropriate response to such times is to say what we believe, be consistent in our attention to divine things and be concerned with the needs of others and the glory of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ as a Jew would have been to Jerusalem each year after He had come to the age considered manhood. All males were to go to that city for the Passover. He was obedient to the ceremonial law as a man but He was not subject to it. It was subject to Him because His authority was behind it as God. The first sign of "The Word" being God incarnate was the miracle in Cana where Jesus was revealed as the God of creation. The second sign in Jerusalem was when He "cleansed the temple" revealing Him as the God of true worship. That place was His "Father's house."
As the temple was being enlarged and renovated under the authority of Herod after being built over 500 years before, inside the temple grounds the court of the Gentiles was made into a shopping center for exchanging Roman money (Caesar's image was not allowed to be used for the temple tax) to a local currency suitable for religious use. Also, unfit animals could be exchanged for a price, or those who came from a distance could buy sacrificial animals. So Gentiles who came to worship at the temple we shut out of the only place they could go because it was being used for business. The profiteers were using it as a place of merchandise. The Lord Jesus was not a sentimental person who would let everything go to please the people. In His passion for the will of His Father, righteous anger moved Him to stop this insult against God and disrespect for the Father's house. Holiness is to be expected in the house of God. Reverence and honor accompany the true worship of God. The whole purpose of the temple and temple-service was to glorify God. Any gathering place for God's people to meet is a representation of what is taught there and practiced by those who attend. But the place is not what is important. The Person who we gather to, and the reasons we gather for, are what really matters. Respect and dignity certainly belong in that building but not for the building itself. Rather for what we do there and with whom we meet.
In the strength of His zeal, the Lord Jesus acted quickly and decisively with authority to correct the wrong being done in the temple. His majesty and words would have convicted the guilty consciences of those who were satisfied with appearances as long as a profit could be made. Restoration to what God intended took place quickly but it had to be done again three years later. When the people of God fail to function in worship according to God's word and will, there is need of restoration in spite of what others may think or do. Of course, there will be challenges made and people will say today as they did when Jesus returned the temple worship to what God intended, "What right have you to do this?" We must remember the building is only a building. That structure is for the sake of the Owner and Master. Worship of Him and service for Him is to be done there.
The Lord had just given them the sign of fulfilled scripture and they missed the whole point of it. Now they were asking for a sign. The Savior gave them the option that in three years they would take, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." This introduction to the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, pointed to the victory of the cross. That was the sign of His authority that extends over all the world to this day. Even though the disciples heard His words, their memories were not awakened as to His meaning until after His resurrection. We may not understand all of God's ways with us at the moment of an event, but our memories can enlighten us later at a most opportune time and we will say, "Oh, now I understand why that happened." The reading and meditating on scripture places in our minds the "word that Jesus said," and when we are in certain situations it will all make sense to us.
Other miracles Jesus performed in Jerusalem at that time gave other opportunities for people to believe on Him. There are times when things happen that are out of the ordinary and they are actually opportunities for us to use for the advantage of furthering the Gospel. However, we must be aware that there is a kind of "believing" that is shallow even though it is real to a limited extent. Such kinds of affirmation create applause for what is done but is not saving faith. The people who believed in His name could see for themselves the reality of what had happened. It was right there to be seen in the city of Jerusalem. Saving faith is in the Person of Christ and who He is, and what He has done. Peripheral things that people can see and believe like supposed healings, unusual phenomena or even creation may make a person believe in the fact of God but not in the Person who redeems the sinner. For that reason, Jesus did not "commit" (believe; trust) in the people because He knew then, and He knows now, what is in the fickle heart of every person. Jerusalem was a privileged place, but just like Capernaum, social pressures can make people come or go. Until there is conviction of sin and repentance toward God, real faith will be missing.