Authority

Lectio:     John 2: 13-25

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 

15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 

16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 

17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 

18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” 

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 

20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 

21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 

22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 

23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 

24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 

25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.

Studium:

This incident of Jesus cleansing the temple is in all four of the Gospels.  They all relate more or less the same facts.  Now Jesus had been to the temple, most probably many times before.  It seems that finally all that bothered Him when He went to the temple, came to a head.  He had had it.  

    I can imagine the scene.  Here it is Passover, a religious holiday.  The city is mobbed.  The outer court where it seems selling and exchanging money was allowed, must have been extremely noisy, busy and crazy.

    Then this rabbi loses it.  He flips over the tables and chases out the money changers and merchants.  AND NO ONE CALLS THE POLICE (ROMANS).  THE SANHEDRIN REMAIN SILENT!

    It seems that everyone accepted His authority to do this.  Stop turning My Father's house into a den of thieves.

    Note v. 25:  

He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person.   Jesus knew what was in the money changers hearts and the Sanhedrin.  He knew that later they would get their revenge.

Meditatio:

Lord Jesus, You know what is in all men's hearts.  Know that I love You and don't want to ever hurt You.  I don't want to disobey You.  

Oratio:

Jesus, I accept Your authority.

Contemplatio:

 The precepts of the Lord are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
    giving light to the eyes.
 The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

 They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.
 By them your servant is warned;
    in keeping them there is great reward.

Resolutio:

Keep praying Father Aniello's prayer:  Thank you Jesus for loving me and help me to love others as You do.