I shared from John 2:13-22 with the topic: Is God’s temple a marketplace? Starting with the premise that we are all different as people and all have different ideas about the best way we live life. We try to be efficient, effective, economical, successful… making the most in life. However, in the Scripture, Jesus made it very clear that God’s temple not meant to be a place for convenience, success, making money, etc. The temple first and foremost is where we meet with God. Today, the temple is not some venue we go to or a location we visit. God is with us via the Holy Spirit. How do we treat our temples today? Focused on ourselves? Want to live well? Do well? Enjoy life? First and foremost it should be focused on meeting God. Seek Him first and all the others will take their place accordingly.

1. Is God’s
temple
a
market-
place?
3rd Sunday in Lent: 3rd March 2024
All scripture references taken from https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/index.php
All images and visuals taken from the Internet

2. What is going on today?
We are all different…how do we live our lives?
Strong
Weak
Healthy
Sick
Big
Small
Tall
Short
Fat
Thin
Heavy
Light
Smart
Slow
Wise
Foolish

3. Today…
What does God’s Word have to say to us today?
John 2:13-22

4. 2:13 The Passover of the Jews was near,
and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2:14 In the temple he found people
selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the
money changers seated at their tables.
2:15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all
of them out of the temple, both the
sheep and the cattle. He also poured out
the coins of the money changers and
overturned their tables.
2:16 He told those who were selling the
doves, "Take these things out of here!
Stop making my Father's house a
marketplace!"

5. What is the message for TODAY?
Jesus’ anger and disruption
He single-handedly disrupted and stopped all the
activities in the temple, from the secondary activities to
the primary activities
The people turned it into marketplace?
Why was he so angry?

6. 2:17 His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
2:18 The Jews then said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?"
2:19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

7. What is the message for TODAY?
The temple was supposed to be where God met the
people; marketplace seems practical
• Jesus creating havoc with passion, His message not about
being practical
• The people wondered what justified Him to disrupt them
• Jesus wanted them to know the new meeting point between
God and man: Himself

8. 2:20 The Jews then said, "This temple has been under
construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in
three days?"
2:21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body.
2:22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples
remembered that he had said this; and they believed the
scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

9. What is the message for TODAY?
Jesus likened Himself to the temple, with a twist
• The people thought in terms of “building”, the vessel that holds
the presence of God
• Jesus is not a vessel, He himself IS the presence of God
• The old way was “man built a place for the divine”
• The new way was “God sent his Son, the divine to man”
• Not about convenience, not about performing, but relationship

10. What is the message for TODAY?
After His
resurrection, they
understood Jesus
Today, we also
acknowledge His
Spirit in us,
temples for the
divine
Do we know the
significance? Do
we allow it to
function as a
marketplace?

11. What is the message for TODAY?
Today, we live knowing His Spirit in us, temples for the divine

12. Verse 1
As I come into Your presence
Past the gates of praise
Into Your sanctuary
Til we're standing face to face
I look upon Your countenance
I see the goodness of Your grace
I can only bow down and say...
You are awesome in this place

13. Chorus:-
You are awesome in this place, Mighty God
You are awesome in this place, Abba Father
You are worthy of all praise
To You our lives we raise
You are awesome in this place, Mighty God