NOTES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN- PART 15

                August 27, 2006

Chapter 2, verse 12-  “After this He went down to Capernaum”-

Likely this is “down” in the sense of the higher elevation of Cana to the seaside town of Capernaum, which is lower.  “His brethren”—there are 3 views of who these men are: first, that that are the natural children of union of Joseph and Mary-Mark 6:3 (from Helvidius- 4^th cent.theologian); second, they are sons of Joseph by a previous marriage (Epiphaneus) and the third, they are “cousins” (Jerome) which is the Rom.Catholic position to protect Mary’s perpetual virginity.

  We might also notice some other events close to this occasion:

1) Appearance at Nazareth synagogue with rejection- Luke 4:14-

2) Healing at Capernaum- Luke 4:31-37

  This healing at Capernaum may be the result of the trip mentioned in vs.12.

If so, the rejection of Jesus at Nazareth and subsequent healings- Mark 2-

precede the cleansing of the Temple in John 2:13-22.

Chapter 2, verses 13-22- brings us to the Temple cleansing—some project that this event is identical to the one in Matt. 21:12-17; yet others affirm two cleansings – one at the beginning and one at the end of His public ministry.

Clearly, this event at the Temple brought Him enormous attention  and would have stirred immediate criticism!

  “the Passover”- there are at least 3 and perhaps 4 Passovers in His ministry-

1) here and vs.23   2) 5:1 –possibly  3) 6:4   4) 11:55 & 12:1 – these give us an idea that He had a 3 ˝ yr. ministry.  “found in the Temple… oxen…. sheep ..doves…moneychangers”- in order to be able to offer sacrifices as in Leviticus, some had opened business in the very Temple court.  These animals would provide a cacophony of noise making prayer very difficult; also the merchants and moneychangers would haggle over prices turning the occasion of worship into a setting of greed and argument.  Further, moneychangers charged exorbitant prices making great profit.   He cries “Take these…away! Do not make My Father’s House a house of merchandise.”—all the while upsetting tables and driving out the animals.

  His actions moved his disciples to recall an OT passage (Psa.69:9) concerning

“zeal for Your [Lord’s] house”.  In that passage, vs.8 speaks of “stranger to my brothers and alien to my mother’s children”—clearly an estrangement like the rejection of Jesus by Israel.  “zeal” is a righteous passion for justice moving one to action.  “eaten me up”- idiomatic for “consumed by, under power of”

  Vs.18- “What sign do you show to us, since you do these things?”—the Jews referred to are not necessarily challenging His actions in cleansing the Temple, but now expect a Messianic-like “sign” to vindicate His authority to act in such a manner.

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  Jesus’ response is a bit cryptic as will be other responses by Him in John’s gospel.  He alludes to the “temple” as that was the location of His passionate action. Yet, it is clear that He is not referring to the Jerusalem “Temple”.  He is referring to the “temple” of His personal physical body which will be assaulted and abused in His suffering.

  The Jews remark, “It has taken 46 years to build this Temple and will

You raise it up in 3 days?” display how they have missed His point entirely.

These kinds of “hidden” truth teachings by Jesus are referred to in Matt. 13:10-15.  They appear to be prompted by the spiritual dullness of His generation.

The human heart is tested by the truth in order to solicit obedience; truth is not a commodity to be “chosen” like when one decides the color of clothing, etc. 

See Psalms 18:25-27.  They reveal how the office of Prophet is intended to

challenge a generation of listeners, not merely spoon-feed them pleasant words.

  Verse 21-22 form explanations by John- “but He was speaking of the temple of his body”.  John then shares how the disciples remembered these words after His bodily resurrection in ch.21.  Again, John uses this incident to emphasize “they believed the scripture and the word which Jesus had said.”  John wants his readers to understand the importance of a response of belief.

   Also, early here in John’s gospel, the truth of the bodily resurrection is the referred to which elevates its importance.