Session 3 John 2:11-23

WORSHIP EXPECTED (JOHN 2:13-17)

consider what caused Jesus’s reaction to what He saw taking place in the temple in Jerusalem.

13 The Jewish Passover was near,
and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves,
and he also found the money changers sitting there.

15 After making a whip out of cords,
he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen.
He also poured out the money changers’ coins
and overturned the tables.
16 He told those who were selling doves,
“Get these things out of here!
Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
17 And his disciples remembered that it is written:
Zeal for your house will consume me.

CLARIFY:

Jerusalem’s elevation is about 2,600 feet above sea level,
therefore Jesus went “up” to Jerusalem.

Briefly address the timing of this event in John’s Gospel as compared to the other Gospels.
Emphasize that John did not always organize events chronologically,
but presented events theologically.

EVALUATE:

• What reason did Jesus give for His actions?
• How do verses 13-15 support His assessment of the situation?

ASK:

• What are some ways people show disregard for worship today? (p. 31)

TRANSITION:

Everything Jesus did and said pointed to His role as Messiah.
And while He would put an end to the sacrificial system
through His death and resurrection,
He still wanted to make sure people had an opportunity to focus on God and worship Him.
But that wasn’t an acceptable motive for everyone.