Loving the Word with the MudPreacher

John 2:15-19 (NKJV) When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The Temple officials dare not lay hands on Jesus, not now with such a multitude, and the Roman garrison close by. They did not even reprove Him, but only asked for a sign as proof of His authority for such actions. In His reply, Jesus knew the ultimate end of this little ‘contest’ between the these self-righteous fools and His Father’s Will. For He knew that their understanding was darkened and their ears stopped up. For the truth is that every “evil and adulterous generation” seeks for a sign from God, yet never changes their ways regardless of any sign given. Even the sign that Jesus would give them would not be enough to soften their hard hearts toward God.

Forever the only sign that God gives is this: ‘Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Jesus met their challenge with a challenge: Crucify Him, and He would rise again; let them kill Him and He would rise Victorious. Of course they misunderstood and used it against Him at His trial. But the truth remains, this one sign is all that mankind needs for Salvation: