Cleansing You His Temple
John 2:13-22
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Our text for today is a very important lesson for all of us to remember, it is the cleansing of the temple. I first want to give you some technical information. Second tell you about the actual sign Jesus gives them. Third tell you why this important for our baptismal life, since you are baptized into Christ.
Every year for the celebration of the Passover there were requirements that everyone was supposed to have. They were supposed to bring forth and sacrifice a choice lamb. We often remember that we are supposed to give first to the Lord. But first, really means the best of what you have. So this means we are supposed to not just purchase some second hand thing, or outsource our giving, but give the first, and the best of our time, talents, and money.
But now the real technical stuff. I am going to talk about the difference between the Temple and the temple or this temple. Jesus enters the Temple of God and he drives out the money changers and cattle sellers from the House of his Father. This is because the house of his Father is supposed to be a house of prayer. Jesus shows that he is consumed by zeal, adoration, and respect for his Father's house.
Similarly, we often enjoy this text because we have reverence for our church, and place of worship. We recognize that we have holy space here, where we hear the word of God and receive forgiveness of sins. So this place is holy, and where God has promised to be with us.
In contrast, "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.”" Jesus the word changed, did you notice? Of course not, but in the original there is a different term for temple being used. This temple is no longer the house or structure where his Father has promised to be and dwell with his people. "this temple" is something different. Thankfully, John tells us, "But he was speaking about the temple of his body."
St Paul tells us, "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you." St Paul uses the same word John records, for destroy "this temple." Because we gather together as the people of God in the house of our heavenly Father, but we are all temples of God, or the Holy Spirit. So on one hand the cleansing of the temple is about designating a holy space for us to gather together, and on the other hand it is about cleansing you of all the filth and iniquity in your life.
This is Jesus' sign. This is the same sign, mystery, or sacrament that we celebrated today. It is about Baptism. The disciples remember this conversation about the temple being destroyed and raised on the third day after Christ dies and three days later rises from the dead. They recognize that as being the actual sign that gives all of Jesus words, teaching, and acts validation.
Christ death and resurrection is connected to you through the waters of Baptism. You die with Christ in those waters. You are raised to new life in those waters. St Paul even writes, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."
Jesus cleanses the actual house of his Father, and the sign he gives is that he cleanses you of all your sins. He does not just have zeal for his father's house, but he has zeal for you. This is why he calls you to the waters of Baptism, in order to join you with his death and resurrection. There he has provided you with new life.
Thus, the question for you to ask yourself is how clean is your life? Do you have a dusty corner in your life for God? Do you have a prominent place for God? Do you view the world through the lens of God's word, noticing when scripture comes true in your own life? The disciples remembered what the Psalmist wrote, about zeal consuming the Messiah. The disciples remembered what Jesus says, even after his resurrection and believe. We might even say it affirmed their faith or strengthened their faith.
It is difficult for us to view the world around us, through the lens of Holy Scripture if we don't know it. So do you do your daily devotions? Have you read your bible cover to cover? Do you just have it as another book on your shelf? Maybe take it out and read it every once and a while.
This is all about how we live out our baptismal life. You have been cleansed in Baptism. You have been crucified with Christ, drowning the Old Adam. God has raised you to new life, just as he raised Christ from the dead. Now what? Are you going to squander this life you have been given? Are you going to help other people to see the glorious gift you have been give in Baptism? Maybe would should focus a little less on Materialism, Rationalism, and justifying ourselves, and look to the cross of Christ.
So let me leave you with the words of St Paul as he encourages us to live out our Baptismal life, "We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
"Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness."
The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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