Jesus the Authority of God

The Power and the Authority of Jesus

Book of John Chapter 2

We know that the first recorded miracle that came by the hands of Jesus was in the City of Cana during a marriage in which His whole earthly family and His disciples had taken part in. His family also continued with Him as they went with Him to Capernaum.

Capernaum had become the place where Jesus and His disciples had made the home base of His ministry. Both Cana and Capernaum were cities in what was called Galilee, but Capernaum was a city on the Sea of Galilee about 18 miles downhill from Cana.

It was in the city of Capernaum where Jesus taught in a synagogue that was probably built by a Roman Centurion.

In fact so many miracles happened in the city of Capernaum that God placed a curse upon this city because the people failed to see Jesus as the Messiah.

Mat 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Mat 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

We will see this city mentioned many times as we seek to study the Book of John.

*****Joh 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

Joh 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

After this means, after the wedding that all the earthly family of the Lord and all the disciples of the Lord attended, they all then went to Capernaum. Capernaum was at a lower elevation or downhill from Cana and their next trip would be up hill all the way to Jerusalem for Feast of the Passover.

We must understand that the pathway to Heaven is not always easy but the view from the top will be wonderful when we get to New Jerusalem.

The annual Passover was a Memorial to freedom but also a symbolic Memorial in memory of that first Passover night in Egypt much like our July the 4th celebration.

It is symbolic because the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover was Mount Calvary where the Lamb of God took away the sins of the entire world.

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus and those with Him could only stay a few days in Capernaum because it was a long walk up hill all the way to Jerusalem.

The Temple that sat on top of Mount Zion is believed to have covered 30 acres.

The Temple itself was a small ornate building near the center but there were several courtyards each courtyard was separated by its own wall.

There was the courtyard of the priests and only priest could enter there. Only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies and that only once each year.

There was the courtyard of the Israelites and only Jewish men could enter there.

There was the courtyard of women for Jewish women only but on certain occasions could these women worship with the men.

There was the courtyard of the Gentiles, which was the greatest court of all others in size and was intended for Gentiles who were converted to Judaism. These converted Gentiles could be put to death if they tried to enter into the other courtyards.

Remember the Apostle Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the place of the priest when He first went back to Jerusalem after his conversion to Christianity.

It was bad enough that oxen and sheep were found on the Temple grounds to be purchased for sacrifice. The people were to bring the best that they owned.

It was bad enough that there were money-changers who converted any money and revenue to Temple money for a profit. It was illegal for the Jews to charge ursury to another Jew in any way.

These things were bad enough but the priest, even the High Priest, shared in the profits of these things, including the High Priests who could have been the only one who sanctioned these things.

The Temple grounds had become like a carnival side show and King Herod loved it because even he was made richer when he collected the taxes.

The Temple brought in much revenue to Jerusalem.

We must understand that the Temple and the Church are to be for the glory of God and not for such things as these!

It was the priest who were rewarded as they collected their reward for allowing these merchants upon the Temple grounds.

They had made merchandise out of God's people!

The court of the Gentiles had been turned into an open market, a mall, a bazaar.

You know what is so sad? Many a so-churches have done the same thing today!

We hear of Coffee shops and donut shops and God forbid a tavern where even the preacher says he can preach much better after a couple of beers.

These high-ranking Jewish priests had forgotten what the House of the Lord was all about!

The House of God is set for the worship of Jehovah God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Spirit and Truth, a place for believers to gather to worship in the truth of God and fellowship in the Lord!

*****Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

How do we abuse the House of God?

1) We forget God's holiness while forgetting our duty to reverence God! It is not only our duty to gather in the House of God, but it is our privilege to worship in God's House.

2) We forget what worship is all about.

3) We misuse the facilities and the buildings of God's house.

4) We allow "questionable", non-worship activities in the House of God.

All these things have no purpose in God's House!

The House of God must be about worship of the Lord and the hospital for lost souls. Every activity at the church must keep these two things in mind!

1) Jesus chased out all those who were buying and selling.

2) Jesus threw over the tables of the moneychangers.

3) Jesus threw over the chairs of the dove dealers.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Jesus called God "My Father" and Jesus called the Temple "My Father's House".

Once a place of worship is dedicated to the Lord it belongs to Him!

Every place that is made for the worship of Jehovah God then becomes a House that God built!

The Church is not to be a place for buying or selling. The Church is not to become a bazaar. The Church is not a place for commercial profit. The Church is not a place for stealing or cheating or going against the written Word of God.

The Church is to be a place set aside to worship and that worship directed at Jehovah God, the Lord Jesus Christ or it is not even a Church.

The Church is to be a place to train disciples to send out to make more disciples.

The activities that take place at the Church should be about these two things!

Psa 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

The disciples of the Lord did not ever forget this day when the Lord cleaned out the House of God!

These disciples remembered what was written in the Scriptures!

*****Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Psa 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Psa 119:138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psa 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Psa 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psa 119:141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

These disciples remembered what was written in the Scriptures, which showed that they were familiar with the Psalms, the song book of Jews!

They also realized that these Psalms were written of the Messiah.

If we are to be like Jesus Christ (Christian) then we to are to possess such zeal as He showed here in this passage for the House of God!

For instance, how can we expect our lost family members to come to Christ if we do not put forth a great effort, a great zeal, for their salvation and for the truth.

In fact our Pastor has a great zeal to reach the lost but not many members of our church are willing to go house to house to reach out to them. I am guilty of this myself!

Jesus Christ had a great zeal for the House of God, but He did not destroy those things in the Temple, He just stopped what was going on because the House of God has no place for these things.

As is always the case, those who made a profit off of the sales of these things were the true deceivers.

It is most always true that if a crime has been committed we only need to follow the money trail to find those who are the more guilty.

*****Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Jesus the Messiah had every right to do these things at a place set aside for worship of Jehovah God! This was His house!

These people who had witnessed these things then, showed they belonged to Satan as they tempted the Lord to show them some miracle for proof that He was the Messiah.

The Apostle Peter said that there is not greater proof than the written Word of God.

2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

As it is today, the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ is still the stumbling block of the Jewish people.

Jesus knew all these things, so He simply said "when this body I have taken is murdered then, I will raise again in 3 days and this would be the only sign that they needed.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

These who were probably Temple priests, representing the High Priest were ignorant of the truth of the Messiah, they would not accept this answer, nor would they have accepted a miracle had Jesus caused one to happen.

The Lord decided they did not deserve any other answer at all!

We are never to enter into discussions about the truth of the Scriptures. What God has said is the truth, period!

We do not have to answer the world because of their unbelief. They make this choice themselves and they had already decided that they could not be proven wrong.

There is very little doubt that Jesus was pointing to His own body when He said these things because the disciples clearly understood what He was speaking of.

*****Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

We know that the Temple of Solomon had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. We also know that those Jews who had returned from Babylon had rebuilt the Temple but not in the same splendor of that of Solomon because they were too poor.

Ezr 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

Ezr 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

King Herod had taken it upon himself to transform that Temple into a grand structure but only succeeded in making the Temple a worldly structure that God would later cause to be destroyed.

The work on the Temple had been going on for 46 years and this work would continue for 36 more years until it was within 6 or 7 years of the time when Titus completely destroyed the Temple again in 70AD.

Why did Jesus weep when returning to Jerusalem for the last time before He went to the Cross?

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Luk 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

We can trust the Lord to know the future of all things!

*****Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

The goal of our Father in Heaven was to provide an even newer Temple, a Temple that would last forever, a Temple built without the hands of man. This would be a new meeting place for God to meet with us, up close and personal.

For all those who would believe, the Holy Spirit would be the first to move in and we all would become the greatest Temple ever built.

Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We should also understand that it was this same statement that was twisted into a lie and used against Him, when Jesus was tried for insurrection.

Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

This was also the same statement that was used to taunt Jesus when He was on the cross.

Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

The Jews never considered that Jesus was offering them eternal salvation and they rejected all His Words!

Rom_4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Rom_5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

There were many who were at the Temple that knew the Lord because of the miracles He had done in the many places He had traveled.

*****Joh 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Even at the Temple during this Passover there were some who believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. They had the same belief that we have today.

There were also some at the Temple who had seen the Lord perform the many miracles and they only believed Him for this reason which is not good enough to get into God's New Heaven.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The Lord Jesus Christ was truly full of power, in fact extraordinary power, explosive power and it is this belief that could get them saved.

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

There were also those who just believed just because they had witnessed all the things that Jesus had done.

Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

We should also understand that the Lord knows exactly what is in the mind of every human being and our Lord is not a deceiver but always of the truth.

*****Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

To many of that day, their faith just did not go far enough.

What are the 2 commandments of the Lord that have real meaning?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These are the guide lines for our faith and these 2 things must be real!

The Holy Spirit will not move into our bodies unless we possess this love.

Even today Jesus Christ knows everything about everybody.

We simply cannot fool God!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we will believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, then by the "Grace" of God, we can be saved from a sinners Hell and rewarded by being adopted into the family of God!

Amen

Let's Pray!