3rd SUNDAY OF LENT (B)

Stop making my Father's house a marketplace.

Jn 2:13-25

EXPLANATION OF THE GOSPEL

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

St. John’s gospel indicates the presence of Jesus in Jerusalem for the Passover three times. This is the first Passover.

While Matthew and Mark place the cleansing of the Temple at the end of Je-sus’ ministry (Matthew on the day Jesus entered Jerusalem and Mark the day after it), John puts it at the beginning.

At the time when John’s gospel was written, the Christians already saw themselves as a group distinct from Judaism. Hence, the statement “Passover of the Jews”.

He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there.

The animals were for the sacrifice at the Temple. The money in use were Roman coins that had images. As such they can not be used as offerings at the Temple. This explains the presence of money changers. These exchange Roman coins for Temple coins that had no image in them.

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

This is taken from Psalm 69:10. There it reads, “Zeal for your house consumes me.” The verb “consumes” was changed to a future tense “will consume” in order to apply it to Jesus. It is an announcement of the coming Passion of Jesus.

This Psalm is a messianic Psalm. Its application to Jesus indicates Jesus as the Messiah.
Although not quoted, the action of Jesus is a fulfilment of Mal 3:1-4. “…And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek…. and he will purify the sons of Levi….” This prophecy is also messianic in character.

At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?"

The Jews (that is, the Jewish religious leaders) demand that Jesus perform a miracle in order to prove that he has the authority to do what he did.

The cleansing of the Temple was a decisive event in Mark’s gospel. Because of Jesus’ action, the religious leaders decided to find ways to put him to death (Mk 11:18).

Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

It is typical in John’s gospel for the words of Jesus to be misunderstood. We find this when Jesus spoke to Nicodemus and to the Woman at the Well.

Nicodemus thought Jesus was referring to a physical re-birth whereas Jesus was talking about being born from on high through baptism. The woman thought Jesus was referring to running water when in fact, Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit.

The Resurrection of Jesus will be the sign that he has the authority to act this way with regards to the Temple.

While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing.

In the bible, name refers to the person himself. Therefore, those who witnessed the miracles of Jesus began to believe in him.

But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all….

Jesus knew how fickle human beings can be. Their faith in him was not strong enough. In fact, their cries of “Hosanna to the son of David” at his glorious entry into Jerusalem at the end of his ministry (Palm Sunday) would readily turn to “crucify him!” a few days afterwards (Good Friday).