Continuing with Chapter two, we come to verse 13 when it is almost Passover and Jesus heads to Jerusalem.
In our Soul Inspiring Commentary from the Gospel of John, Part 5, we learn a little bit about righteous anger.
Jesus shows us that anger over injustice and sin is appropriate, but we do need to remember that we are not to get angry over trivial personal offenses.
Matthew 5:22 tells us that unjustified anger with someone is the same as murder.
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.
16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”
17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[a]
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”
21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body.
22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
It has been said that it is possible that Jesus cleared the Temple as He did, not only because it was being desecrated by the money changers, but also to show that the act of animal sacrifice will become irrelevant.
When we read the story of Jesus clearing the Temple courts, it will remind us when someone asks “What would Jesus do?” that taking a whip and turning over tables is not out of the bounds of possibility.
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.
24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.
25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.
Jesus knew that the people only believed in Him for what they could get out of Him.
We must not look to Jesus for what we can get out of Him. We still see people in our world today “believing” in Jesus for this reason.
One example of this would be when politicians say they believe in Jesus in some form or another to get a vote out of people.
The prosperity Gospel is very popular today.
This is where if you believe in Jesus your life will be wonderful and blessed and successful and have everything you ever wanted.
In reality, the Bible teaches the opposite. That you will have tribulation. You will be hated by the world.
Unfortunately for those here in verses 23-25 and those today that have accepted Jesus superficially, Jesus knows it.
We cannot trick or fool Jesus. He knows our hearts.
It should be noted that Jesus did not give up on those who believed in Him for superficial reasons. They gave up on Him.
Jesus is in a league of His own spiritually, yet He was patient with His disciples. As He taught them, they understood more and more and grew more and more.
When we know someone who is not quite as spiritually mature as ourselves, are we patient with them? Do we continue to build them? To invest in them? To help them grow?
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.
2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.
7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’
The story of Nicodemus tells us so many things.
First, Nicodemus was a Jewish leader. He could easily have sent and underling, some assistant to visit Jesus in his place, but he didn’t. He went to visit Jesus himself.
Just like Nicodemus, we cannot have others examine Jesus for us. We must experience Jesus for ourselves.
Second, the story of Nicodemus shows us that God specializes in finding and changing people that we may consider out of reach.
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, both of which wanted to do away with Jesus.
Third, we learn that God does not expect perfection from us immediately, but He does expect us to grow steadily.
In the first mention of Nicodemus he is coming to Jesus under cover of night for fear of being seen visiting Jesus.
The next time he is mentioned in the Gospel of John he is speaking up for Jesus when the Jewish Council is trying to get rid of Jesus.
Finally, after Jesus has been crucified, he joins Joseph of Arimathea in asking for Jesus’ body.
Are you growing?
Some concepts in the Bible can be difficult to grasp. But if our tiny three pound brains could comprehend everything about God He would not be worth worshipping. Now would He?
Like the Trinity, the “born again” concept can be difficult for some to understand, but it is critical for understanding the Gospel.
The Greek phrase can also mean “born from above.” As children inherit the attributes of their parents, so will those who are born again inherit God’s qualities.
When writing commentary, I tend to use the NIV Bible for its ease of reading for newer believers.
When reading or listening to the Bible myself, I use the KJV. The KJV can be helpful in many ways.
One way is that it does not omit many of the verses other versions tend to.
Another is for clarification on who is being spoken to. In the KJV, when a thee or thou is being used it tells us that the speaker is speaking to or writing to one individual or a specific group of people.
When ye is being used it tells us that it is referring to everybody.
Verse seven in the KJV reads, "Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.”
Here we can see that Jesus is speaking directly to Nicodemus when He says, “I said unto thee.” But then in the same sentence He says, “Ye must be born again.” Meaning that everybody must be born again.
Have you been born again?
More on Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus next time when we will discuss what is commonly referred to as the world’s greatest text.
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