This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” The cleansing of the Temple was a startling act. It had its implications not only for the condemnation of the Temple traders, but also for the Person of Jesus. It was a messianic action. The Jewish leaders demanded that Jesus authenticate his implied claim by producing a “sign” (sēmeion). Interestingly they did not dispute the rightness of his action. They were not so much defending the Temple traffic as questioning Jesus’ implied status. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. 13 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. The “temple” signifies the whole of the Temple precincts, including the various courts as well as the holy place. It is most certain that the area of action occurred in one of the courtyards. It is certain that the selling mentioned took place in the outer courtyard, the court of the Gentiles. The reason for the practice was, of course, the convenience of having at hand a supply of animals required for the prescribed sacrifices. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent. The temple cleansing in John completes the inaugural event begun with the Cana miracle. John 2:1–11 revealed the grace and glory of Jesus and the abundant new life Jesus offers. John 2:13–22 highlights the challenge and threat that new life poses to the existing order (cf. John 5:1–18). Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Lent, Lectionary Cycle B. The temple narrative in John consists of two parts: Jesus’ actions in the Temple (vv. 14–17):
14 He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. 15 He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, 16 and to those who sold doves he said, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.” 17 His disciples recalled the words of scripture, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. The scholar Pheme Perkins (632) provides a good final reflection for our Sunday gospel:
Despite providing the most dramatic evidence of Jesus’ relationship to God of any epiphany scene in the Gospel, the transfiguration cannot override the necessity of Jesus’ suffering and death. It does sharpen the paradox of the cross. Although God spared Moses and Elijah from the normal processes of death, not only does God’s own beloved Son die, but also his death is at the hands of his enemies. Even the affirmations of exaltation and entry into the glory of his Father (8:38) cannot nullify the scandal of the cross. God’s command to heed the word of Jesus gives his teaching the authority of divine revelation. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. In yesterday’s post Brian Stoffregen was offering some possibilities about the purpose(s) of mountain-top theophany. Today, we continue with his thoughtful list. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. In yesterday’s post we described the theophany and offered some comments on the OT imagery contained in the theophany. But, what purposes did this theophany serve? There are a number of possibilities. Brian Stoffregen has compiled a good list of things to consider. Continue reading
This coming Sunday is the 2nd Sunday in Lent. After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. (Mark 9:2-3) Continue reading
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