TEMPLE IS CLEANSED

SUNDAY APRIL 15, 2012

THEME:                JESUS' POWERFUL WORDS

TOPIC:                 TEMPLE IS CLEANSED

TEXT:                   JOHN 2:13-22.

MEMORY VERSE: “To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” — John 2:16 (NIV)

LESSON AIMS: After participating in this lesson, each student will be able to:

1.   Summarize the reactions of Jesus’ disciples and enemies to Jesus’ cleansing of the temple. 

2.   Compare and contrast the literal temple with Jesus’ reference to his body as “this temple.” 

3.   State one way he or she submits to Jesus’ authority as demonstrated by his cleansing of the temple.

INTRODUCTION

Have you ever found yourself in any of these situations?

A friend offers a strange reason why you need to be in a particular place at a particular time. When you arrive, you find out a surprise party has been planned for you.

A co-worker begins acting differently on the job. You learn later that the person is experiencing a personal crisis.

You hear strange sounds from the walls or attic of your home. You eventually discover that a wild animal has decided to make your home its home.

Most of us have witnessed or otherwise experienced something that seemed strange but later made sense. Life often presents riddles that we can solve only as time passes. This is the way Jesus appeared to the people of his time, even to his closest followers. His words and actions were often unexpected, strange, even offensive. To his opponents, he appeared to be degrading everything that was sacred. To his disciples, he seemed to be a mystery, a speaker of riddles.

Because Jesus did what people did not expect—and he did not do what they did expect—his words and actions appeared mysterious. But the mystery disappears when we grasp what God was in the process of bringing about. Viewed from the end of Jesus’ story, his mysterious deeds and words become astonishing indicators of what he accomplished. Things about Jesus that seemed incomprehensible become clear signs that God was at work to bring his saving work to its conclusion. Today’s story, about Jesus’ actions in the temple, is just such an indicator.

[Please note that you are free to reproduce this lesson for your Sunday school classes. The talk points (in red prints) are to help your discussions.]

A.    CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE – John 2:13-17

1. When was a time when one of the following helped you perform “a cleansing” in your life? A friend; a specific event; a sermon, lesson, or book. How did things turn out?

2.  What brought about the buying and selling in the temple? What are your views about the issue of buying and selling in the Church today? How can we guard against this sinful act? (Convenience for worshippers; distraction to worshippers; wrong business priorities; God’s house is a place of worship.)

3. From the Scripture, what other thing(s) can we consider as God’s Temple? What are those things that can help us to consistently keep it sacred for God’s worship? (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Ephesians 2:20-22.)

B.    THE RAISING OF A NEW TEMPLE – John 2:18-22

1.   Why did the Jews in the Temple demand for signs from Jesus? Why was it difficult for them to accept Jesus’ response to their demand? (Need for proof; Doubt; lack of understanding of Scripture.)

2.  When was a time that a significant event made a Scripture clearer to you? What dangers lurk in relating modern events to Scripture? (A world or national event; a personal or family crisis; an issue in the church.)

CONCLUSION

Jesus challenged some of the most powerful people and most entrenched practices of his day. He asserted authority over all of them, authority as the one who was fulfilling God’s promises. Whatever people had sought from the temple and its leaders, Jesus actually delivered.

Today, people around us accept various authorities and look to various sources to supply what they need. But Jesus is the one who can supply what they actually need. To regard Jesus as having such authority and power may seem strange, even foolish, to many. But if he is truly the one whom God raised from the dead, then we have nowhere to turn but to him.

Where do we look to be supplied with what we need? Perhaps we rely on jobs, achievement, family members, and friends. All of those are good in proper contexts. But there is only one who gives what we truly need. That fact should be reflected in our thoughts and actions.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we thank you that you have fulfilled your gracious promises to us through Jesus. We ask that you strengthen us to live as those who have been touched by that amazing, surprising grace. In his name we pray; amen!

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER

Purity in our worship expressions is still important.

NEXT WEEK: NEXT WEEK: APRIL 22, 2012: WOMAN OF SAMARIA - John 4:1-42