Persecution-It is coming!-21

At some time, I will attempt to demonstrate why we are entering in the last days. Lawlessness is increasing at an alarming rate across the U.S., a nation founded on law and order! Are out cities safer today than say, 10 years ago? Not that I can determine. So let’s see what Jehovah has given us to understand this time we are living in today. I need to go back to John 2 to set the problem in context.

John 2:1  On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2:2  and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. 

John 2:11  This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him. 2:12  After this He went down to Capernaum, He and His mother and His brothers and His disciples; and they stayed there a few days. 

This marks the beginning of His ministry and also the beginning of the Jews hatred of Him.

John 2:13  The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2:14  And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 2:15  And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; 2:16  and to those who were selling the doves He said, "Take these things away; stop making My Father's house a place of business." 

The Temple was the the realm of the Jews. They controlled and profited from everything done there. It was the Jews themselves that had turned the House of Jehovah into a bazaar and house of thieves and money changers. Jesus went right into the very depths of their evil empire and forcibly drove them all out. He did not ask them to leave, He did not gather others to help them and convince them to leaves, and He did not call out to the High Priest and force him to evict them. The Jews and the High Priest were the problem not the solution. Religious leaders of all sorts are becoming and soon will be the obvious problem to all true believers.

2:17  His disciples remembered that it was written, "ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME." 

2:18  The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?" 

2:19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 

2:20  The Jews then said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 2:21  But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 

Jesus did not tell them by what authority He cleaned house. It was never really about a physical Temple, as Jehovah does not dwell in anything made by human hands.

Acts 17:24  "The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; 17:25  nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things;

2:22  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. 

This simple phrase speaks volumes about believing in Jesus. After Jesus was raised, this memory was brought back to them. Only the indwelt Spirit of God can help us remember, understand, and obey what Jehovah has told us.

2:23  Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing. 

Most came for the signs, which were primarily healing. Sick people, injured people, disabled people, and demon possessed people were often desparate for relief and a normal life. We understand that! But, Jesus was far more than a divine doctor and healer. Believing in His name is not the same as ‘saving’ faith.

2:24  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, 2:25  and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. 

Only God can know this, but Jesus often said He knew what they were thinking. He also knows what we are thinking. The vast difference between us and Jesus is that He never forgets, but we often forget.

More next Saturday.