Faith to Mission

3LentB, John 2:13-22

Exegesis—In Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jesus is more and more convinced that his mission includes the cleansing of the temple in Jerusalem as he nears his ministry’s end.

In these gospels, Jesus enters the temple, overturning tables, and quoting Isaiah 56:7 stating, "My house shall be called a house of prayer." and Jeremiah 7:11, "You have made it a den of robbers." This action convinces Jewish leaders even more to silence Jesus, indeed to destroy him (Mark 11:18; Luke 19:47).

John's gospel differs from this more familiar picture in very important ways. First, Jesus is just beginning his ministry. Right after the miracle at Cana in Galilee, he returned to Capernaum "with his mother and his brothers and his disciples" (2:12).  John tells us in 2:11 that his disciples "believed in him" after the first sign of changing water to wine.   Now, in this passage, we will see the disciples actively engaged in trying to understand this Jesus in whom they "believe" with the help of Scripture.

We also will see in these verses that such understanding of both Scripture and Lord is an unfolding process. In fact, the "remembering" of Scripture and Jesus' own words are at the center of the lives of Jesus' disciples. It is useful to see Jesus' own disciples coming to deeper realization of what it means to believe in Jesus. Gradually, they come more fully to understand how Jesus serves the God who has sent him out of love for the world.

Central to the passage, is the act of interpretation and remembering. Both times the disciples appear, they are remembering. In verse 17, they reflect on Jesus' quotation of Zechariah 14:20-21 in terms of Psalm 69:9. Jesus explains the temple cleansing in prophetic terms decrying the use of the temple for trade.  But why does Jesus do this?  It is perfectly legal and a great help for visitors to the temple to buy in order to make the required sacrifice.  That is the Jewish law. But that historical fact is not relevant. Rather, Jesus is declaring himself both as prophet and as one who claims that the Lord's house is his "Father's" house. His disciples have the first hint of the big conflict that will be at the heart of Jesus' ministry, and recognize it as predicting Jesus' death.

This passage lays before us a promise that if we pay attention and remember, then Scripture and its Lord will be revealed as true and reliable. However mysterious and incomprehensible Jesus' word or deeds may be in the present, to engage with belief and keep Scripture in mind eventually will bring disciples to the place where things come together and belief is created.

The passage reminds us of two additional things. One is that expanding, deepening, maturing belief comes in a process of engaging, experiencing, and remembering. Another is that this is possible because the same God has sent the prophets whose words are Scripture (even for Jesus) and has sent Jesus.  This God continues to be among us as the Holy Spirit. The reliability is God's reliability, God's faithfulness.

Human Condition then-- In spite of their dawning comprehension of perils that surround Jesus, the disciples are no more able than the "Jews" to grasp fully Jesus' statement in verse 19. (And remember, the disciples themselves, like Jesus, are also Jews). Jesus offers a sign so outrageous and so incomprehensible; it is not until after his resurrection that his disciples understand what he has just said. Jesus seems to speak of the temple, but does not. Or does he?

          First, we are informed that Jesus had a particular meaning in mind not understood by his contemporary audience, a meaning that makes Jesus' prophecy abundantly true. Second, we are reassured that the disciples come to understand this when their experience catches up to that of the readers. That is, when the disciples find out what the narrator and his audience already knows, that Jesus will both die and be raised in three days, they too will look back at this prediction in verse 19 and fully understand it.

At that point, after Jesus' resurrection when the disciples remember this moment and understand their Lord more fully, they offer an example to us. For remembering and belief come together again in verse 22. They remember what Jesus said. They have seen it come to pass. They believe anew both in Scripture (the prophetic word Jesus cites) and in Jesus' own prophetic word.

Human Condition here and now-- This passage lays before us a promise that if we pay attention and remember, then Scripture and its Lord will be revealed as true and reliable. However mysterious and incomprehensible Jesus' word or deeds may be in the present, to engage with belief and keep Scripture in mind eventually will bring us to the place where things come together and belief is created.

The passage reminds us of two additional things (at least!). One is that expanding, deepening, maturing belief comes in a process of engaging, experiencing, and remembering. Another is that this is possible because the same God has sent the prophets whose words are Scripture (even for Jesus) and has sent Jesus.  This God continues to be among us as the Holy Spirit. The reliability is God's reliability, God's faithfulness.

Proclamation—We walk by faith because that is the hallmark of our belief and understanding of the works and person of Jesus.  Jesus’ identity is from the beginning.  As in the very first part of the Gospel of John says and I quote, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.”  Jesus is this Word.  Jesus does not stand alone just as we do not stand alone.  The whole book of John is permeated throughout with this concept.  Jesus both quotes scripture from the past and as a true prophet tells the future and it is fulfilled. This is the trustworthiness of God.  The resurrection is the seal that what Jesus says about God is true because Jesus is God. 

We walk by faith because even though we are assured that eternal life is ours by Jesus’ actions here on earth, there is still much we do not know with certainty and our faith, at times is very weak and we want to give up.  And yet, we have each other.  It is the fellowship among believers that helps keep our faith alive.  It is the remembering of scriptures and hymn texts that cause our memories to stay alert and watchful and mindful of our task here on earth.  It is up to us to make that kingdom here on earth a living, breathing organism.  It is up to us to nurture and to receive nurturing, to live in that salvation.  We are to receive from Jesus each time we pray and study scripture and participate in the Eucharist.  The Eucharist is where we meet God face-to-face.  It is where God’s presence is assured.  God’s presence with us is what strengthens us for mission in the world, to be present with the outcast, the unloved, the forgotten.  God never forgets us and that is our mission to others.  We are charged with the mission to bring together all of God’s children.  What word or deed will you share with others today?