1. One of the places where Jesus worked was Judea (southern Israel).
2. Jesus spent some time in the area of Jerusalem.
3. The start of the Lord’s early Judean ministry is found in Jn. 2:13-4:3.
4. Jesus worked in the area of Judea for about 8 months.
5. This period of time began during the month that we are now in (April).
6. During our month of April the Jewish people observed the Passover.
7. Many will recall that the Passover was a major Jewish feast.
8. People from all over came to Jerusalem to celebrate it.
9. The book of John pays special attention to the Jewish feasts.
10. This afternoon we want to pay close attention to one of the feasts described by John.
BEFORE WE BEGIN A FORMAL STUDY OF THE TEXT I WISH TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE BACK WITH YOU.
A. It is always a joy to have an opportunity to come to this lectureship.
B. Some congregations start a lecture program and then let it die.
C. This congregation has done very well with this day over the years and need to be congratulated.
D. To those who have helped make this day possible, thank you.
I). I would also like to extend my appreciation for being invited to speak.
II). My lecture is supposed to deal with the authority of Jesus.
E. The title is “submit to the authority of Christ.”
F. This topic could be presented in a couple of different ways.
G. We could spend some time thinking about how we should submit to the Lord.
H. We could also study why we should submit to Jesus.
I. My choice is to spend most of the time on the word why.
J. If we can understand something about the Lord’s authority submission should be automatic.
K. My plan is to emphasize they why of submission from a single story in the book of John.
2. This story comes from Jn. 2.
3. The verse to begin with is verse 13.
4. John said the “Passover of the Jews was at hand.”
5. The Lord lived under the Old Testament Law so He participated in the Passover.
6. Jn. 2:13 says that Jesus went to the city of Jerusalem.
7. CHART.
8. When the Lord went to this city he saw some animals.
A. These animals are portrayed on this chart.
B. People had doves, oxen, and sheep.
C. These creatures were being “sold” (verse 14).
D. There were also people who exchanged money (verse 14 – READ).
9. The information in verses 13 & 14 present us with two very different pictures.
A. On the one hand it was time to observe an important feast.
B. The Passover celebrated the Hebrew’s deliverance from Egypt.
C. This was a time to think about God and how good He was.
D. The second picture in Jn. 2 is that of some pretty shrewd operators.
E. Those in the temple area were racketeers.
F. Jesus said the traders had created a “house of merchandise.”
G. What did He mean?
10. People realized that worshippers from outside Jerusalem would come to some feasts.
11. During feasts like the Passover worshippers needed to offer sacrifices.
12. Who would want to travel 100 miles and drag along a sheep?
13. Who would want to come 200 miles to Jerusalem and bring along an ox?
A. We live in a time when people like conveniences.
B. The same was true for those in the first century.
C. These people liked to make life easier.
D. Some people in Jerusalem decided to go into business.
E. These business owner made things easier for the worshippers.
F. Some sold animals that could be used for the sacrifices.
G. Today we can go to a public event and perhaps take along our own food & drink.
H. We can also go to a public event and buy the food and drink that others have for sale.
I. This is more expensive but it is a lot more convenient.
J. In some cases this is the only thing that is allowed.
14. This is what the Jews did.
15. If people wanted to sacrifice an animal they needed to be prepared to buy it at the temple.
16. The account makes it clear that the people who sold the animals were not fair.
17. The sellers did more than provide a service. They cheated people.
18. These people had cornered the market and they knew it.
19. Instead of making a profit these people charged worshippers an excessive amount of money.
A. If a dove actually cost .10 cents these people may have charged worshippers $5.00.
B. These people had a corner on the market and they used it to abuse people.
C. These abuses were occurring between brethren.
D. The people of God were cheating fellow Hebrews.
E. Cheating the heathen isn’t right.
F. Being dishonest with a member of the same religion is especially bad.
20. This was not the only thing that the people in Jerusalem did.
21. The text also describes “money changers.”
22. Those who came from outside Jerusalem often had a different kind of currency.
23. These people were told that their money wouldn’t work.
24. They had to exchange it.
A. Those who visit a foreign country must often exchange cash into the local currency.
B. That is what these people had to do and they were charged for the exchange.
C. It seems that they charged a lot of money for the exchange rate.
25. The information in Jn. describes a bad situation.
26. The picture is even worse when we consider another fact.
27. CHANGE SLIDES.
A. This picture tells us a little something about the temple.
B. The area in the center was for the priests.
C. The next closer arrow points to the court for the men.
D. The court of the women was a little further out.
E. The area all the way at the front of the picture was the court of the Gentiles.
F. The “court of the Gentiles” was the outermost court.
G. This was where the Gentiles stayed and this was where the animals were sold.
H. Guess who saw the Jews cheating their brethren?
I. The Gentiles.
J. The people who should have been influenced by the Jews got an eyeful.
K. The Gentiles saw the so-called pious Jews cheat their brethren.
L. The Gentiles saw the local church people take advantage of their out of town brethren.
28. The situation described in Jn. 2 was absolutely deplorable.
A. This situation reminds me of some things that occur in modern day society.
B. We hear about or find corruption in different parts of our world.
C. Those who are involved with corruption are often hard to expose or prosecute.
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29. In first century the city of Jerusalem had a problem with corruption.
30. There was religious corruption.
31. People were being taken advantage of when they came to worship.
32. People were being cheated.
33. To those who were being abused it must have seemed that the system could not be altered.
34. These people knew how to take advantage of others and it was a full fledged racket.
35. ON A CERTAIN PASSOVER JN. 2 SAYS THAT JESUS CAME TO THE TEMPLE.
36. Notice Jn. 2:15 – READ.
37. Jesus did four things.
38. He first made a whip.
39. Some believe this was a weapon.
40. This is a possibility but I prefer a different explanation.
41. The whip may have symbolized His authority.
42. The Bible also says that Jesus cast “all” out of the temple.
A. He chased out the people.
B. He drove out the animals.
C. By Himself Jesus did some house cleaning.
D. Jesus then took the money that belonged to the “changers.”
E. He didn’t pocket the money that these people were using.
F. He dumped it out.
G. He took the tables that belonged to the money changers and overturned them.
43. Imagine the scene that John pictures.
44. Try to picture what this chapter says.
A. By Himself Jesus herded animals out of the temple area.
B. The cattle may have been wandering about in every direction.
C. Those who owned them must have been frantically trying to reclaim their property.
D. Dozens or hundreds of people may have been shouting in the commotion.
E. The money changers would have wanted to find the money that had been thrown down.
45. This scene was such a sight that the disciples were shocked – verse 17 – READ.
46. A different reaction came from the religious leaders.
A. Verse 18 – READ.
B. John often spoke of “the Jews” to describe people who opposed the Lord.
C. On this occasion these people wanted to know about the Lord’s authority.
D. What right did Jesus have to enter into the temple and do what He did?
E. What authority did Jesus possess to challenge well-established practices?
F. Who did He think He was?
47. These question did not need to be asked.
48. By cleansing the temple Jesus offered full proof of His authority.
A. Jesus went to the religious headquarters for first century Jerusalem.
B. He went to the people who systematically abused people.
C. He went straight to the heart of the “system.”
D. Jesus, by Himself, took on the entire group of hucksters and thieves.
E. According to Jn. 2 the Lord overcame every one of them.
F. He drove out the people, He drove out their animals, and He overturned their tables.
49. When we think about the authority of Jesus Christ we find a lot of information.
50. Several stories in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John show that Jesus has authority.
51. In fact, earlier in Jn. 2 we find that Jesus had the authority (power) to change water.
52. The Lord’s authority is affirmed in multiple ways throughout scripture.
A. At the transfiguration the Father said, “Hear ye Him.”
B. This statement affirmed that Jesus has authority and we must do what He says.
C. John the Baptist claimed that Jesus has authority.
D. John said that the Lord would baptize people in “the Holy Spirit and fire.”
E. In order to accomplish these things one must be endowed with authority.
F. The people who heard Jesus speak understood that He had authority.
G. Again and again the people commented on how different Jesus was.
H. Instead of teaching as the Scribes the Lord taught with authority (Mt. 7:29).
I. Instead of saying, “Rabbi ___ says,” Jesus said, “I say unto you.”
J. Nathanael said Jesus was the Son of God and King of Israel (Jn. 1:49).
K. A centurion (Mt. 27:54) said that Jesus was “truly the Son of God.”
L. The demons recognized the authority of Jesus.
M. They asked if the Lord had come to “torment them before the time.”
N. The apostles recognized the authority of Christ.
O. Thomas said “My Lord and my God.”
P. Paul said that he was a “bondservant of Christ.”
53. Jesus Himself claimed to have authority.
54. In Mt. 28:18 He said “all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”
55. The people in Jn. 2 asked the wrong question.
56. They should have said, “We know that you have authority. What should we do?”
57. They didn’t ask this question and this was a terrible mistake.
58. We live in a time when this question is still relevant.
59. Since Jesus has all authority what must we do?
60. This question brings us to the practical side of the Lord’s authority.
61. This question could be turned into several sermons but here are some quick answers.
A. We must do what Jesus says and only what He says.
B. If the Lord has given us instructions we must follow them and follow them exactly.
C. Some have a rather casual attitude towards the Lord and authority.
D. This isn’t right.
E. Jesus has told us how to do things but some do not do what He says.
F. Others are interested in being partially obedient.
G. In Lk. 6:46 Jesus said – QUOTE.
62. NEXT CHART:
63. Here is the title assigned to me for this lecture.
64. SUMBIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST.
65. In light of Jn. 2 I propose to each one here that this is the only rational course to follow.
66. There is no other logical alternative.
67. Is this what we are committed to doing as individuals and as congregations?
68. Our answer needs to be “yes.”
