Daily Devotions
My Song In The Night (Gospel of John)
我夜间的歌曲 (约翰福音)
Some of the Feasts That Were to be Celebrated in Jerusalem
Text: John 2: 13-17
SOME OF THE FEASTS THAT WERE TO BE CELEBRATED IN JERUSALEM
Three special Feasts were to be celebrated in Jerusalem. Jesus was there in Jerusalem to observe these Feasts.
JESUS AT THE PASSOVER IN JERUSALEM
Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover celebration. People celebrated the Passover in two special ways.
1. As a family, in the home.
2. At the Temple where special worship was conducted.
AT THE TEMPLE
Jesus was very upset at the way the Temple was obviously abused!
1. There were merchants who set up stalls
a. Selling oxen
b. Sheep
c. Doves (for the poor who could not afford the cost of oxen or sheep) John 2:14
2. There were money-changers too.
a. The Temple Authorities decided that Roman currency could not be given to God.
b. The Roman coin bore the image of Caesar and this was deemed idolatrous.
c. They minted their own Temple currency.
d. Worshipers had to change Roman currency to Temple shekels.
3. The merchants were making money out of all pilgrims in the Temple precincts.
4. The Temple was meant to be a holy place of worship! But it had become a busy market place!
CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
Jesus could not but feel indignant at what He saw at the Temple in Jerusalem! He responded with tremendous courage and zeal.
1. Jesus made a whip of cords.
2. He proceeded to drive the merchants out of the Temple.
3. He said to the merchants who sold doves
“Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” John 2:16
MY FATHER’S HOUSE
The Temple should have been given due respect as the House of God. Jesus called the Temple, “My Father’s House”. He was indeed the only-begotten Son of God! It was His right to chase the merchants who had showed such disregard for the House of Prayer!
The Disciples of Jesus remembered what was written in the Book of Psalms:
“Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” John 2:17; Psalm 69:9