READ: John 2:12-25

Jesus ministry certainly didn’t begin with a soft launch. Like all observant Jewish men, Jesus goes to Jerusalem for the Passover, one of three feasts that required Jewish men to go up to the temple in Jerusalem. He comes from the recent wedding in Cana where his disciples watched him turn water into wine and, in response, put their faith in him. Now, just days later, Jesus goes crazy in the temple courts! He makes a whip out of cords and drives animals from the area, then overturns tables scattering coins everywhere! He yells at the dove sellers – “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” What a chaotic scene!

His disciples respond from the new place of knowing that rises out of the first miracle. They recall scripture from Psalm 69:9 “Zeal for your house will consume me.” This demonstration of passion seems to be another faith builder for the disciples – at least in looking back. John highlights another place where hindsight makes sense of a situation. When the Jews demand a miraculous sign of Jesus to prove he has the authority to turn the temple courts upside down, he speaks in a veiled fashion of his coming death and resurrection. And John shares that after he was raised from the dead the disciples remembered and believed.

It is interesting to me that we find out in the last paragraph that Jesus did miraculous signs while in Jerusalem for this Passover, and those signs caused many to believe. But John chose to record the clearing of the temple courts and Jesus’ answer to the Jews. These things John records were every bit as indicative of who Jesus is as were the miraculous signs he accomplished.

I think I’m guilty of sometimes seeing only the answers to prayer, the healing and provision, as coming from the hand of the Lord into my life. Perhaps sometimes his work looks more like rebuke or is downright confusing. Oh to have eyes to see, even in the midst!

Lord, give me eyes to see not only in hindsight, but even in the midst. Give me a heart to trust and respond to Your work in me and around me. I long to glorify Your name!