JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE WEEK B-L3

JOHN 2:13-25

Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the moneychangers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the moneychangers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” His disciples recalled the words of Scripture; Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 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. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. 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. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.

1. Understand It!

Moneychangers

Merchants selling goods and offering.

Temple

A place of worship.

Sign

Proof or evidence.

Scripture

Sacred writing in the Bible.

Feast of Passover

A festival celebrating liberation of Israelites from Egyptian slavery.

2. Explore It! In today’s Gospel, Jesus was angered by the Jews, who used the temple as a marketplace. He drove them out of the temple area with a whip and overturned their tables and spilled the coins of the money changers. When the Jews challenged Jesus, and asked for a sign. He tells them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews replied, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" They didn’t understand that Jesus was referring the temple of His body. After Jesus resurrection, the disciples remembered this and they came to believe the word of Jesus had spoken. The Gospel challenges us to believe not because of the signs we see but because we have come to accept and understand Jesus and His message. His message to us in this Lenten season is to clean our hearts of all that is bad.

3. Connect It! The Gospel reading today shows us that not only Jesus was human and could get very angry like we get angry sometimes, but that God’s love was bigger than any temple or building or sacrifice could ever hold. God’s love is so big that it’s bigger than all the sins and all the things we can do wrong. God’s love to us is Jesus. So even though Jesus is angry with the Jews in this reading, Jesus is also reminding us that God’s love is huge.

4. Live It! [ CLEANLINESS ] Cleanliness means being physically clean of dirt, stain, and spiritually of sin. Lent is a good time for a spring cleaning. Take a moment and share this Gospel reading with your parents. Discuss the following with each other: 

Who are “money changer” in your life that pollute your temple?



What kind of debris are there between you and God?



It is time sweep it up and take out the trash. In doing so you cleanse your heart and soul so that your temple is a place for you to worship God.

5. Remember It! “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” (John 2: 16) 6. Live It! Dear Jesus, You love us very much. Thank you for reminding us to keep God’s house clean, please help us to be good and free from sin so that we can keep our souls a beautiful place for You to live inside of us. Amen.

My child has completed the corresponding virtue for this week _____________________ Parent signature