In John 2:13-22, often referred to as the Cleansing of the Temple, Jesus enters the Temple in Jerusalem during the Passover feast and finds it filled with merchants selling animals for sacrifices and money changers exchanging currency. Seeing this commercial activity within the sacred space, Jesus becomes outraged, overturning the tables and driving out the sellers, declaring, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (John 2:16).

This event serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus’ authority and zeal for the sanctity of worship. By cleansing the temple, Jesus symbolically purges the corruption that had infiltrated the religious establishment. He challenges the exploitation of religious practices for profit and reaffirms the importance of reverence and purity in approaching God.

The reaction of the religious leaders is mixed. Some question Jesus, asking for a sign to justify his actions, while others, recognising the prophetic significance of his actions, demand an explanation for his authority. Jesus responds cryptically, saying, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). Unaware that he speaks of his own Resurrection, they misunderstand his words, thinking he was referring to the physical temple.

This passage foreshadows Jesus’ ultimate mission and the significance of his Death and Resurrection. The Temple, a central symbol of Jewish worship and identity, becomes a metaphor for Jesus himself. Through his Death and Resurrection, Jesus inaugurates a New Covenant and becomes the ultimate place of encounter with God.

This incident demonstrates Jesus’ passionate response to the desecration of the Temple, highlighting his authority and commitment to true worship. It also lays the groundwork for understanding the deeper spiritual significance of his sacrificial Death and Resurrection.

As you reflect on this passage, what would Jesus be angry about today? What gets in the way of people approaching God in reverence and purity today?