Devotions: John 2:1-25

Points:
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana. Jesus' mother and all the disciples were there for the wedding. The wine ran out and Jesus' mother told him. Jesus said, "Dear woman, why do you involve me? My time has not yet come". The servants were told to follow Jesus' instructions and filled six large stone jars with water. They then drew some out and took it to the master of the banquet. They did as instructed and the master of the banquet tasted the wine that had moments earlier just been plain water. He told the bridegroom that it was "choice" wine. This is one of the first of the many miraculous signs that Jesus would perform in Cana in Galilee. By doing this, he revealed his glory and the disciples put their faith in him. Form here Jesus and his disciples went to the temple in Capernaum. There Jesus found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. "So he made  a whip out of cords" and began thrashing these merchants in the temple courts, effectively driving them out. He scattered the coins of the money changers and turned over their tables. "How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" This made some of the people there angry and they demanded to know by what authority Jesus was acting. Jesus then told them, "Destroy this temple and I will rebuild it in three days.." Of course these people were skeptical when  they knew that it took 46 years to build the temple. But Jesus was talking about his body as the temple. Even though people saw the miraculous signs Jesus had given them and they believed in his name, he also knew he could not "entrust himself to them". He knew all men and did not need need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in man.

Problems:
The problems I see here are how the merchants had turned the temple into a market place. They were disrespecting the place of worship. They were disrespecting God's house. And, even though there were many people who witnessed Jesus' miracles, Jesus did not want their  praise. He knew this was praise from men for a man and not praise for the Son of God.

Parallels:
Mark 7:3,4; Matthew 12:46; Deuteronomy 16:1-6; Luke 2:49; Psalms 69:9; Matthew 26:61; 27; 40; Mark 14:58; 1 Corinthians 6:19; Luke 24:5-8

Perils:
Perils I see here are how Christians can get so complacent with their worship that they are not aware of the commercialization of the church. Satan comes in many forms and a slow, insidious transformation of the mind is where he will attack. The merchants in the temple did not show up over night, it was a steady progression of compromises that led to the day Jesus ran them out.

Precepts:
The precept or command I see in this passage is that Jesus is saying to keep the places of worship holy and pure. It shouldn't become a marketplace for buying and selling items unrelated to God or worshiping God. I think he is saying that the church should remain free of commercialization because this is where Satan can make a stronghold and corrupt the temple's purpose.

Apps:
I can apply this message in my life today by keeping the temple holy and pure. I will rebuke commercialism in the sanctity of the church and respect God in His house. I will, by example, let others know that it is not right to turn the church into a marketplace for goods that serve only to line the pockets of those attending.