Jesus Clears the Temple

12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found men 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 area, 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! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Two things to note here. Jesus did get angry. God has that right. And, Jesus was angry at the "televangelists" of His day. People often get turned off to the gospel because they associate Christianity with people on TV turning it into a money making enterprise. Jesus makes it clear that He has nothing to do with that.

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

18 Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous 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 The Jews 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.

Another example of Jesus fulfilling prophecy. He often confused people by his words, but they were made very clear after what He foretold actually happened. I hear a lot from people the the Bible is hard to interpret, but Jesus usually explains any parables or confusing parts right after so we know what He was talking about. Again, Jesus stands apart from any other world religion figure as the One who laid down His life and took it up again.

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. 25 He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Jesus doesn't need us to provide testimony for Him. He is more than capable of being a witness for himself. I make it clear to people that they should not take my word for the truth of the Gospel. They should believe the Author of the faith and His Word. I am just as fallible as any one else, but God is always faithful and will never let you down.