“Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up.” “What!” They exclaimed. “It has taken 46 years to build this temple and you can build in in 3 days?” But when Jesus said “this temple” he meant His own body.” John 2:19-21. (NLT)
Jesus had just cleared the temple of merchants selling and dealers making exchanges of money. He used a whip and scattered all their merchandise, livestock and their coins. He told them to stop turning His Father’s house into a marketplace.
The Jewish leaders were not happy. They demanded that if God gave Him authority then He needed to show them a miraculous sign. Jesus replied, “Destroy this temple and in 3 days I will raise it up” (V. 19).. There was just no way He could rebuild them temple that took 46 years to build in only 3 days. But what they didn’t yet understand was that Jesus was referring to His own body. Later, after Jesus resurrection, the disciples would remember this and believe what He had said (v. 22).
This story has lead me to think about perspective. Jesus said ‘tear down this temple,” and the Jewish leaders believed He was referring to the physical building. Jesus was speaking of His own body that would be broken, killed and resurrected. What a profound difference, not just in the reality, but in the significance and impact.
As 2020 continues and changes and uncertainties abound. I’m stepping back and asking the Lord to give me a new perspective. I want to step back and take a wider view of what is happening. Much of what I am spending my time on may not have an eternal value, so what can I surrender? There are inconveniences that I am facing that have no eternal value, so why allow myself to get so worked up about them? Some of the things I think need to happen or not happen, have no eternal value, so why not just let those things go. I must pause and wait to see where the Lord is moving and leading.
I pray today for a shift in my perspective from worry and focusing on things that will pass away, to a focus on eternal and lasting things. I’m looking to the Holy Spirit and the Word for my peace, provision, hope and for my future. Amen.
What is God speaking to you today through chapter 2 of John? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
John 2:7
“Jesus said to them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.”
Jesus spoke and they were obedient. They filled the pots with water just as He said. They had no idea that He was about to perform a miracle. They trusted in what He said and obeyed Him. My prayer today is that I will listen to what Jesus is speaking to me and that I will be obedient no matter how insignificant it may seam. Because sometimes it is in those insignificant things that Jesus works miracles.
This reminds me of what I tell my kids, partial obedience is still disobedience!
I find it so interesting that the servants responded in obedience. They simply trusted and obeyed.
Our physical bodies are so limited – there is so much we miss because of it. I pray for wisdom and understanding from the Holy Spirit so that I can try and see the bigger picture, see beyond my own tunnel vision, and try to discern what God truly wants instead of what I want, or what I THINK he wants. It excites me to know that once we leave the physical body that limits us, our understanding and perspective will change, and we will be free of the things that bind us here on earth.
That is so good! Something I work on all the time, I just think I need to be in control! But the surrender to His will is always so sweet!
“No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”
John 2:25 NLT
How often we feel the need to make our own point when God’s perspective is all that really matters and we don’t need to tell him what we think others should do or say. How relevant now and what peace in knowing he already knows it all. I pray that I will always keep Gods sovereignty in mind.
Amen!
The faith of Mary, the. Mother of JESUS.She spoke to HIM, they have no wine. HIS response to her ,was Woman, what does your concern have to do with ME ? MY hour has not yet come. Mary said to the servants, whatever HE says to you, do it. Later six satellite 20-30 gallons apiece were filled. No longer was it water, but the best of wines. The beginning of signs, JESUS did in Canada of Galilee, and manifested HIS GLORY; and HIS disciples believed in HIM. WHAT DID it take for me, or us to believe? For me, my teenage babysitter for my three children, to invite me to go to church one Sunday evening. What?? I went on Sunday mornings!! However I did go!! And was radically saved. I came up from the altar a new person in JESUS CHRIST !!
Amen! The invitation is what brought me to Jesus too! ❤️🙏 I don’t do enough inviting!
““A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!””
John 2:10 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/jhn.2.10.nlt
When I read this part of the story, I thought about witnessing and/or sharing with those that cross your path.
I know for me… I might come across someone & the HS prompts me to say something, but if I’m in a hurry (or whatever) I decide to just say something generic, like…I will be praying, God will be w/you, have faith, etc.
I’m not giving my best…I save that for when I have time. But the Lord wants me to make time to do what He has called me to do…and that’s to give my best @ ALL times!!!😊
A great reminder to us all!!!
Amen!!
I am reading from several different versions. The Message just throws it out there for me.
Jesus, His mother, brothers, and His disciples were all in Cana of Galilee as guest of a wedding. The wine runs out, and Mary tells Jesus. He responds: ” Is that any of our business, Mother – yours or mine? This isn’t my time. Don’t push me.”
She went ahead anyway, telling the servants, “Whatever He tells you, do it.”
I have always been amazed at this exchange! This is so me with my boys. But this was the mother of the Son of God and God the Son!! Even though He rebuked her idea….she acted on Who she knew her Son to be, and who she was because of Him.
Then verse 11 tells us this was “the first sign Jesus gave, the first glimpse of His glory. And His disciples believed in Him.
My thoughts are: Do we believe and love Him because of what He does, Or because of Who He is???
Definitely a question I want to keep asking myself. Is it the gift or the Giver?
This is so True. This Chapter is all about Perspective. Filling the pots with water and he turned into wine. Also, Destroying the temple and rebuilding in 3 days. The key is looking at the situation through Jesus’s eyes and having the faith to see through his eyes. That is so hard when we see things through our own eyes and think we know best. Help me Jesus to trust you and have faith in you to see my impossible situations through your eyes and have the faith that you will do what you say. Thank you Jesus.
Amen!