March 18, 2020
Zeal or No Zeal
John 2:13-25
Lauren Crockett
Central Truth
A zeal and passion for our Father should be what we desire, and it should consume us above all else in our lives.
Key Verse | John 2:17
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."
John 2:13-25
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, 1 2:20 Or This temple was built forty-six years ago and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Knows What Is in Man
23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
Dive Deeper | John 2:13-25
This section of Scripture starts off with Jesus going into the temple, a place meant for worship and prayer, and finding people selling animals and others exchanging currency for these purchases. With the Jewish Passover near, the law required sacrifices of animals, and with many of the worshipers traveling a long way they wouldn't have been able to bring their sacrifice with them. Jesus was angry because He saw His Father's house being turned in to a marketplace. As the disciples saw Jesus respond, "His disciples remembered that it is written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.'" (John 2:17) Jesus was angry that the love of money was what was drawing these people to His Father's house rather than a zeal for His Father.
Webster's Dictionary defines zeal as "strong interest or devotion; an immense passion behind something." To have zeal in Christianity is to do His will, further His kingdom, and advance His glory in this world. Our energy and devotion should be focused on things that are of God! We are called to "not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11)
Jon Bloom writes, "Passion and zeal are gauges that display what our heart treasures, and therefore what fuels our lives." It is easy for me to catch myself pouring my energy and passion into things on this earth that don't have an eternal purpose. But I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy in all of that and that we can come to Him and ask Him for the zeal we are meant to have. We can ask boldly and with faith. What a gift that He opens our eyes to see when we are placing our zeal in areas of our life other than Him and that daily He will give us the zeal we need to be fervent in spirit to serve the Lord. My sweet 4-year-old friends remind me every Wednesday what it means to passionately and joyfully love the Lord. Their zeal is contagious!
Discussion Questions
1. What are some things that can distract your heart or spirit from being full of zeal and passion for the Lord?
2. Paul calls us to "not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11) What are ways you can live out this verse in your life?
3. What is one thing you could do today that would cause others to see your zeal and passion for the Lord? Now go and do it!