John 2:18-22 (WEL) Then the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us why you do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20 So the Jews snarled, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, after he had been raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the statement that Jesus had said.
V18 Then the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign do you show to us why you do these things?”
Jews always want a sign (1 Corinthians 1:22). They should test everything by the Law and the Prophets, not signs.
Principle: Seek truth from the Book of Truth instead of signs and philosophies. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No other being is “the truth.” Align your life with the teachings of Jesus Christ.
V19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
Jesus was probably pointing at Himself when He said these words. It should have been clear to the Jews in His presence. He was teaching His resurrection, not a physical building.
This is a prophecy which was fulfilled in His resurrection.
V20 So the Jews snarled, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”
The Jews could have responded differently as, “Please explain this.” They chose to just judge Him without any understanding.
Principle: Make sure we are clear in what we say and understand others before making a judgment.
Principle: Many people will reject the truth before even knowing what the truth about a particular topic is.
V21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
It is obvious, but John the Apostle wants to make these words of Jesus clear.
The human body is the container for our real self—our soul and spirit.
Verses referring to the human body: 2 Peter 1:13-14 and 2 Corinthians 5:1.
Verses referring to God’s spirit indwelling believers only: 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19, and 2 Corinthians 6:16.
V22 Therefore, after he had been raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this to them, and they believed the Scripture and the statement that Jesus had said.
Jesus rose from the dead but was not seen until a few hours later, so the word after is preferred.
The importance of Jesus’s resurrection is mainly found in 1 Corinthians 15.
No doubt the Holy Spirit triggered their memory of what Jesus said.
A great principle: the disciples believed the Scriptures. They did not redefine any word, not use any other interpretative method than the plain, normal sense. So should we.
We learn:
People make judgments too quickly without all the facts or understanding what was said.
Jesus is a prophet that has His words fulfilled.
Questions:
How good are your listening skills?
Do you believe the Scriptures as they are written?