John 2:18-21 "Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? (19) Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. (20) Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? (21) But he spake of the temple of his body."
Jesus and His disciples had gone into the temple at Jerusalem only to find
merchants had moved into the temple. They were selling oxen, sheep, and doves.
These were the animals that were to be used in sacrificing. There were problems
with this scene on different levels. The merchants were making a profit off the
people of God. But the biggest problem (in my opinion) was this was not the order
God had determined to complete sacrifices. The people were to make sure the
animals were without blemish and without spot. According to the pattern
established at the original Passover, they were to put the animal in a pen and
observe it for three days and on the fourth day they were to offer it unto the
Lord. If they purchased the animal at the last moment while entering the
temple, they could not be certain it had been properly inspected. Jesus drove
the merchants and their animals out of the temple.
Now the Pharisees questioned Jesus as to His authority and power to do those
things? Not only did they question Him, they wanted a sign. They wanted
something visible to their eyes that would prove Jesus had the authority to
forcibly drive out the moneychangers. Jesus would indeed give them that sign,
but they would miss it. Remember the pattern for the original Passover:
the lamb was to be inspected for three days before being slain.
This is the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. In the next THREE years, He
would be scrutinized in every way. If there had been any blemish in Jesus
whatsoever, the scribes, Pharisees, and elders would have found it. At the end
of those three years, we have several different declarations concerning Jesus.
The wife of Pilate sent word to him: "Have thou nothing to do with that
just man." Pilate, himself, said, "I find no fault in this
man." Peter walked with Jesus for those three years and his declaration
was, He "did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth." (1 Peter
2:22) Paul made the statement to the Church at Corinth, "He, who
knew no sin, was made to be sin for us." (2 Corinthians 5:21) According to
the law, a matter is settled by the mouth of 2 or 3 witnesses.
But what was the sign given which the scribes, Pharisees, and elders missed?
Jesus told them plainly: "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will
raise it up." When Jesus was brought before the counsel, this was
the accusation which they brought. They sought false witnesses who could agree
on their accusations against Jesus, but found none. At the last, they found two
men who came with this report: "This fellow said, I am able to destroy the
temple of God, and to build it in three days." They misapplied the
words of Jesus to mean something completely different than that which He spoke.
I have to say that I am thankful to be able to examine these verses by way of
an empty tomb and an empty cross. Looking back, I know Jesus was speaking of
His body. We know that Jesus was slain. His "temple" was laid in the
tomb. After three days, that "temple" was raised again. It was
through this work of death, burial, and resurrection that atonement was made
for your sins and mine.