2. The Lenten Pilgrimage
During Lent we walk with Jesus to his death in Jerusalem.
Today’s passage points us to Jesus as the only way we can experience God’s intended victory, even in the midst of worldly suffering.

3. The Lenten Pilgrimage
What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth; What though the darkness gather round! Songs in the night He giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth, How can I keep from singing?
What though the tempest round me roars I know the truth it liveth What though the darkness round me close Songs in the night it giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that rock I'm clinging Since love is lord of Heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?

4. The Lenten Pilgrimage
What though my joys and comforts die? The Lord my Savior liveth; What though the darkness gather round! Songs in the night He giveth. No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that refuge clinging; Since Christ is Lord of Heav’n and earth, How can I keep from singing?
What though the tempest round me roars I know the truth it liveth What though the darkness round me close Songs in the night it giveth
No storm can shake my inmost calm While to that rock I'm clinging Since love is lord of Heaven and earth How can I keep from singing?

5. Jesus’ cleansing and replacement of the Jewish Temple.
John 2:13-22
Jesus’ cleansing and replacement of the Jewish Temple. 
Preceded by his turning of water to wine
“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.”
John 2:11
Followed by his encounter with Nicodemus

6. John 2
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

7. John 2
15 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.

10. John 2
15 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.
A prophetic sign-act
God’s judgment on the Jews’ perversion of the Temple system.

11. 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.” 
In the synoptic gospels, a focus on Gentile inclusion and Jewish presumption.
“Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

12. John 2
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”*
*Psalm 69:9

13. Psalm 69 “For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” (69:9)
Psalm of David, a prophetic “type” of the Messiah
Psalmist is in a deep, personal struggle
Confesses his own sin, guilt, and failure
Is being severely persecuted by enemies
Trusts in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness

14. Psalm 69
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

15. Psalm 69
16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. 17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. 18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

16. Psalm 69 “For zeal for your house has consumed me,
and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.” (69:9)
In the midst of great suffering and discouragement, David’s consuming passion is to guard and experience the powerful presence of God.

17. John 2
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
John presents Jesus as one like David whose consuming passion is for God the Father’s presence.
This passion for the Father will lead to Jesus’ Passion (death).

18. John 2
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 
John 2:11
This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

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

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?”

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

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.
Jesus’ resurrection was a sign that he had foretold, and that revealed his identity as God incarnate.
Jesus himself is the very dwelling place of God, the One to whom we direct our zeal.

23. John 2 and Us An expected question: A unexpected answer:
How zealous are we for God’s presence?
A unexpected answer:
It is not our zeal that is at the center of the Story. It is Jesus’ zeal.

24. John 2 and Us
The Good News of the Gospel is that it is Jesus’ life, consumed with passion for the Father, in which we live.
Jesus’ perfect, God-pleasing life is given as gift of grace to those who believe.
This gift, rightly received by faith, leads us to the peace and gratitude we long for.

25. Psalm 69
13 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. 14 Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.

26. Psalm 69
16 Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. 17 Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. 18 Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

27. 1 Corinthians 1
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.

28. 1 Corinthians 1
22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

29. How Can We Keep from Singing?
I lift mine eyes; the cloud grows thin; I see the blue above it; And day by day this pathway smoothes Since first I learned to love it: The peace of Christ makes fresh my heart, A fountain ever springing: All things are mine since I am His— How can I keep from singing?