The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?” John 2:18 WEB
Earlier in chapter two of John’s gospel Jesus began to reveal his glory through signs and wonders. Specifically, Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding. Shortly thereafter, Jesus traveled to Jerusalem for the celebration of Passover. While there, Jesus went to the temple. When he found merchants selling goods, and men exchanging currencies, the Lord fashioned a whip and cleared out the temple.
Because of his zeal for God and the holy place of worship, Jesus said to those selling doves in John 2:16, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace! WEB” After Jesus cleared the temple, religious Jews approached him and asked, “What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things? WEB”
Destroy This Temple
By clearing out the temple, Jesus challenged the spiritual understanding and authority of current leadership. In turn, these men challenged Jesus to demonstrate his authority to speak on behalf of God. Saying, “what sign do you show us,” the crowd bluntly asks the Lord to demonstrate his divine authority with a miracle. However, Jesus answered with a prophecy of his own death and resurrection.
In John 2:19, Jesus says to those seeking a sign, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. WEB” This veiled statement confused his listeners. They thought he referred to the temple in Jerusalem but Jesus spoke of his body as a temple. As we read in John 2:21-22, “But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. WEB”
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the blessing of your holy word. Thank you for the example of righteousness set by Jesus Christ. Guide me to do your will. Help me to live in your service. In Jesus name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Her Offspring
