1. “Sticking with the theme” John 2:12-25
Gospel of John Series #9
Grace Baptist Church 7/31/16

2. So Far… Jesus is God. John 1:1,2 Without Him – Nothing! John 1:3-5
Chosen to Bear the Torch John 1:6-9
Rejecters and Receivers John 1:10-13
He Came, My Gain John 1:14-18
Ask Me About My Savior John 1:19-34
Three Generations Born in Three Days John 1:35-51
The Blessings of Obedience John 2:1-11
AND TODAY…

3. we are “sticking with the theme”
John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

4. John 2:12-17
12 ¶ After this He went down to Capernaum, He, His mother, His brothers, and His disciples; and they did not stay there many days. 13 ¶ Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!" 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

5. Because he was god He… Practiced His Father’s Reverence
Explanation
John 2:13-17
This is the 1st temple cleansing at the 1st Passover of His public ministry
This is an act of the Messiah and a fulfillment of prophecy – Psalm 69:9; Mal.3:1,3
This is a sign in and of itself – no other sign was needed
Illustration
Hospital cleanliness
The Lord’s Prayer - Hallowed (revered, holy, sanctified, pure) be Your name…
Another Lord’s Prayer - John 12:28- Father, glorify Thy name…

6. Application
Reverence grows the more we know Him – we learn, therefore we praise and worship
Reverence flows as we grow in our love for Him – we yearn, therefore we praise and worship
Reverence shows in our actions – Just as faith produces works, Reverence produces actions. How does a lack of reverence show itself?
Reverence slows the growth of many “ism” viruses – egotism, materialism, externalism, popularism
John 8:29 - I do always the things that please my Father

7. John 2:18-22
18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

8. Because he was god He Predicted His Own Resurrection
Explanation – This became a misunderstood riddle. A “Triple Double” occurs here. 3 times one thing was meant and another thing was (mis)understood
What sign do you show us seeing you do these things
His action in the temple was a Messianic sign – they wanted a sign for His sign
You destroy this temple
He said “destroy” speaking of Calvary – They of their temple
He said “temple” meaning His body - They of their temple
In three days I will raise it up
46 years from 19 BC to now 27 AD the temple was being remodeled and would not be completed until 62 AD!!!
Later they misused this riddle three X. (trial, crucifixion, stoning of Stephen)
He was speaking of His resurrection - They of their temple
Psalm 16:9-11

9. Illustration – I tell people I will do their hip replacement for half price – but they choose a doctor that’s “good at it.” God is good at prophecy!
Application
What sign are you waiting for?
Unbelief is “unbelievable” blindness and darkness.
Christ died and was raised again for your salvation.
Believe the Scriptures and the Words of Christ today – don’t wait.
He has given you enough to believe AND to obey
“It is enough that Jesus died, and that HE DIED FOR ME.”

10. John 2:23-25
23 ¶ Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did. 24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men, 25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

11. Because he was god He Perceived his hearers responses
Three types of belief found in this passage
No Belief – The Temple Authorities
One more sign is never enough for an unbeliever.
The only sign an unbeliever will believe is judgment, and then it is too late.
Slow Belief – The Disciples
Later, after the resurrection, after a slow process the disciples believed the Scriptures and His Word.
Where-Did-It-Go-Belief – The Crowd
Many believed when they “fixed their gaze upon” His signs
A fickle, “milk faith” belief, a belief of sight and not heart.

12. we are “sticking with the theme”
John 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Do you believe?