Temple Fit for the Lord

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku | February 9, 2024 | John 2:13-17

KEY VERSE:

To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:16 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

Today’s passage recounts the moment when Jesus entered the temple and expressed His displeasure at the commercial activities taking place there. This incident challenges us to reflect on the purpose and sanctity of God's house.

Passover holds great significance as it commemorates God's liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. It is a time when people from around the world gather in Jerusalem and the Temple to honour and rejoice in God's mighty grace. For this celebration to be turned into a time for making money out of Israelite visitors was a desecration of the Passover Feast and the Temple.

The commercial activities in the temple symbolise the intrusion of worldly distractions into sacred spaces. There are potential distractions that may hinder our worship experience, so we must guard against this intrusion of worldly concerns and maintain the sanctity of church or worship space. Just as Jesus was angered by the things being done in the Temple in Jerusalem, he doesn't want us to turn our gatherings as people of God — the present-day temple where God lives — into an opportunity to take advantage of our brothers and sisters in Christ or even just an opportunity to transact business.

On the contrary, he desires the fellowship of his people to be a time characterized by deliverance, grace, prayer, and communal worship! Acts of devotion are not true worship unless they are done with biblical integrity. Worship of the Father must be done uniquely and reverently, and worldly things must not accompany its pursuit.

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

How do the activities in your church align with the sacred purpose of worship? How can you contribute to maintaining the sanctity of your church? Reflect on your personal worship experience. Are there worldly concerns or distractions that you bring into your times of worship? How can you cultivate a focused and reverent heart in God’s presence?

PRAYER:

Holy and Righteous God, please help me to keep my heart dedicated to honouring You and uplifting my fellow believers as we gather in faith. May my joyful remembrance of my deliverance through Jesus' sacrifice, lead me to praise you and to bless others generously. In Jesus' name. Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!

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DAILY word study: FATHER'S HOUSE The phrase "Father's house" in the Greek text is translated from "τὸν οἶκον τοῦ Πατρός" (ton oikon tou Patros). "Οἶκος" (oikos) refers to a dwelling, house, or household, while "Πατήρ" (Patēr) means father.

In John 2:13-17, Jesus drives out the merchants and money changers from the temple in Jerusalem. He refers to the temple as "my Father's house" when addressing those who had turned it into a marketplace, emphasizing its sacred and holy nature.

By calling the temple "my Father's house," Jesus asserts its significance as a place dedicated to the worship and glory of God the Father. This phrase highlights Jesus' intimate relationship with God as His Son and underscores the sanctity of the temple as a place of divine presence and worship.

Jesus' identification of the temple as "my Father's house" underscores His authority and role as the Son of God. It also emphasizes the spiritual nature of true worship, which involves reverence, purity, and devotion to God in His holy dwelling.

Reflections

Reflect on the significance of the temple as "my Father's house" in Jesus' statement. How does this perspective shape your understanding of worship and reverence for God in your own life?