Jesus Cleanses Temples (John 2:12-25 Jeff Kliewer)

I'm gonna say good morning. If you're in a hallway, come on in. If you're in grab a seat. We come together in fellowship and and just enjoying The presence of God. I want to open up with a passage out of Psalm 122 122 verse 1.

I was glad When they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. I Was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. As I was meditating on this verse this week. A couple of thoughts came to my mind and the first one is that if you really want to find joy.

If you have a desire to be satisfied and to be fulfilled. There's only one place you get that and that's in the presence of God. There are a lot of opportunities. We've had a great summer. I'm sure you've had a great summer.

We've done a lot of things. Our family went on vacation to the western reaches of Maryland to a lake. It was awesome. It really was to be with the kids and the grandkids. But I'm here to tell you right now on the authority of Scripture.

And on the authority of the true Word of God if you want true joy. And if you want true peace, it is only found it is only found with God. The second thing I came across was I was glad when they Said to me let us go now.

One of the things I encourage you when you read Scripture follow the pronouns. Follow the pronouns they said to me let us go to the house of the Lord. We are gonna find true joy and true peace in the presence of God and that's even amplified When we're with brothers and sisters in the Lord to have the opportunity to share with each other.

They said to me let us go to the house of the Lord this morning. I learned from a good friend of mine no names, but he happens to be standing right on my left hand side.

There.

Earlier in the week he had a totally unexpected encounter with a co-worker and found out that she was a believer and Then another co-worker who was a believer came by and they had this ad hoc praise meeting right in the middle of everything.

Isn't it amazing when God gives us those opportunities just to share with the Lord? I was glad when they said to me Let us go to the house of the Lord. God gives us the one another and we can really rejoice in the one another's.

But the third thing is that this is an intentional choice. Let us go to the house of the Lord. You're gonna go home today and there will be things on your agenda or during the week. There are things that are calling for our attention.

The one place where you are fully fully satisfied is in the presence of the Lord. That's an intentional choice. And when we make that we get to really experience his blessings in our life. I got some announcements for you.

This is the beginning of September. We've had an awesome week summer. But we're getting ready and things are ramping up real fast. But the first thing I want to put it onto your mind is at six o 'clock Sunday nights.

Please come back make this an issue make this an important time. We get together for prayer at six o 'clock on Sunday nights. We lift up each other in prayer. We lift up the needs of God's church. It's his church.

Together, so please come back at six o 'clock. There are all these activities that happen during the week the men's Apologetics the women's precepts. Care groups if they're already going on if they're restarting after the summer if you are not involved in a small group care group I really really encourage you to do that.

They're on Tuesdays or on Thursdays. There might be one on Wednesdays. They're there in the area contact pastor Jeff myself one of the elders. We can get you hooked up if you're not in a small group. We are continuing on our Wednesday noon.

Yeah, noontime Bible study. We just finished the book of Isaiah. It took us almost two years to get through the book of Isaiah. We're going to be starting the book of Ephesians and so if you have not been there and you're available be a great time to come back out and Join us with that women have got a lot of activities going on out in the foyer.

There's a sign up. I believe it's this coming Saturday at 630. There's a time of fellowship over ice cream and A movie so it sounds sounds intriguing. Women come on out time for a fellowship. And your adult Bible fellowship.

Kimberly's class starts in two weeks. That'll be on the 18th during the during the 1030 service men. We have our our normal breakfast first Monday of the month, but tomorrow's Labor Day. We're not going to do it on Labor Day, so it'll probably be the following Monday.

We do ours real early at 6 o 'clock, but men come on out for that a great time of fellowship. And there's a men's retreat coming up in November. We've been having a retreat for many many years. We're part of a group called the Bible Thumping wingnut, and if you're intrigued about that ask me.

It's a gentleman who has a podcast who speaks the truth about God. The world doesn't really always like it when you speak the truth about God, but that's his and it's a it's a men's retreat. It's a builder summit.

It's men building up men. It's coming up in November the information is on Jeff's Pastor Graham for that we have a baptism coming up in two weeks if you are Interested in being baptized have not approached Jeff pastor Jeff myself one of the elders.

We will get you hooked up for that. It's going to be down the shore this time in open water. So this will be a great time of testimony and a great time of fellowship. And then we're going to have another membership class.

It will be coming up in three weeks. For three weeks it will start the end of September if you're interested contact us for that as a church. We have been praying for a young man for most of the year.

Ryan had a horrific accident earlier in the year and experienced severe burns over a large portion of his body. He ended up down in Texas for treatments. But according to God's design and his providence Ryan has gone home to the Lord.

Well. We're praying for his heart. We will be praying for him tonight and pastor I'm gonna ask again at the end of my prayer if you would come up to pray for Ryan and his family. But right now let's turn to the Lord in Prayer.

I was glad when they said to me. Let us go to the house of the Lord. Father God we rejoice in this privilege of coming to you as sinners, but as sinners cleansed by the blood of the Lamb. We rejoice that we could come to your house and actually be in your presence.

Adam and Eve experienced this direct fellowship with you until sin came and so it is with us when sin is in our lives. Prior to salvation we were separated but now Lord as your sons those who believe in you are called children of God.

We get to be in your very presence to come to your very presence. And we thank you for the fellowship the privilege of the fellowship of one Another Lord we pray that our hearts would always be turned to you Lord that we would be our eyes opened and ready and obedient to share the word of Christ.

To neighbors friends relatives to a lost world that definitely needs to hear Lord. We do pray for those in our midst who are suffering physically in need of medical help. Emotionally who have lost loved ones we continue to lift them up to you dear Lord.

Father we pray for those of our children of our youth who have gone off to the mission field called college. We continue to hold them up that they would be Encouraged and not saddened that they would find fellowship and that they would hold true to your word and not to be dissuade by the falsehoods.

Lord we do. Thank you so much for our time of fellowship together and now Lord. We're gonna pray for Ryan for his family.

Father our hearts are broken for the loss of Ryan. But Lord we also hope in the gospel we grieve, but not as those who have no hope. So God we pray for the family right now that you God of all comfort would go surround them.

Comfort their hearts as only you can give them peace. And Lord we pray that the gospel would go forward Through this awful Tragedy. Lord God, we pray that you would use this this horrible event to bring the gospel to those who don't yet know you because this life is short and no days are promised and Yet there is the promise of eternal life to those who believe in Jesus.

So we pray that the gospel would run forward and that family and all those who know Ryan Would come to saving faith and be reunited with him in heaven. It's our prayer Lord in Jesus name. Amen.

Let's stand and sing.

His mercy is more than darkness You every more Our sins they are many his mercy is. All could remember No wrongs we have done. Omniscient all-knowing he counts not their son. Thrown into a sea without for sure.

They are many his mercy is more. Way as we constantly roam what father so tender is Calling us home. He welcomes the weakest the vilest the poor. Are many his mercy is more. Praise the his mercy is. You every more our sins they are many his mercy is.

Was the cost we stood need the debt we could never Afford are many his mercy is. Praise the lord mercy is. Stronger than darkness Sins are see. It's a simple verse. It's something we've memorized as children.

John 3 16 is the core of the gospel of John. God loved us so much that he sent his son to die for us. He loved us. It's amazing how deep his love for us is. We could never ever do anything to repay.

Let's sing how deep the father's love how deep the father's love for us beyond all Measure. That he should give his only son.

His.

Treasure ate. The pain of searing. Law turns his face away.

As.

Which mar the chosen one he says to glow upon a shame. I hear my mother's cause my sin that until it was Accomplished Has brought me Closed it as a from his re not given. Why should I gain from his reward?

Not given answer I know in my.

After he was accused he was beaten. They came to the place called the skull.

Where they crucified him along with two criminals. His shoulders the weight of all shame. Out in front of you in front of me are the elements.

Now as we consider where we are we generally end up in first Corinthians 11 and as we read the passage We are told do this in remembrance of.

Me.

This was our Lord and Savior Jesus Words that he gave to his 12 while they were in the upper room. Do this in remembrance of me and I think it would be appropriate. In fact, I think it would be significant for us to stop right now.

Closing our eyes bowing our heads and in your mind remember.

Jesus pray to him for a moment, please Lord we come to this table in remembrance of.

Jesus our Lord this Jesus The Son of God the second person of the Trinity. This Jesus the creator and sustainer of all this Jesus who is our Lord and Savior. This Jesus who sat in the upper room with the twelve knowing what was about to transpire and you can open your eyes now as we consider this as He sat around the table with his twelve.

Enjoying this feast knowing that in a very short time What was to come? He was God. He knew he knew the garden and the prayer. Sweating drops of blood. If there's any way father. If there's any way yet, not my will but thine be done.

He knew that he would come back and find his followers asleep.

And.

Then he knew he would come back again and there would be the Roman soldiers and Judas putting a kiss on the side of his face. He knew that he was going to be carried off to a mock trial. That he would be beaten and scourged crown of thorns on his head the cat of nine tails Ripping the flesh off his back.

He knew that that cross would be laid on his shoulders And then he would carry it up.

The.

Theodola Rosa an innocent man yet going there because of my sin for God So loved the world. He gave his only begotten son and he knew that those nails would go into his arms and knew his feet and that he would be hung on that cross and.

He would be mocked and he knew for that one instant in time.

Every sin that I have ever committed ever I ever will commit and same with you would be on him. For that one instant of eternity the father who was a holy God would have to turn and Jesus would say my god my god.

Why have thou forsaken me? But it had to be done because of the depth of sin and because of the majesty of his love and. Then he would say to tell us die it is finished all of this. He knew as he shared these elements.

And we are told to do this in remembrance of Him and so as we come to this table We're not coming because it's the first Sunday of the month and this is this is our habit. We're coming in remembrance of Him now.

Paul encourages us in this letter took to Corinth and he says. So then whoever eats this bread And drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For those who eat and drink without discerning the body of Christ eat and drink judgment On themselves and so I'm going to ask you to pray one more time this time preparing your heart to be pure as we come to the elements.

Lord the psalmist says open your eyes and know me and it's a scary thought because who I am is a sinner. But yet I know Lord that you knew every time this week where I said a harsh word to Sandy. You know every time when I was on the road in the car and got irritated at a driver you knew those things.

But you took them to the cross your blood shed. So that I could be as white as snow and you stand you sit at the right hand of the father. With the accuser saying that man John is a scoundrel and Lord you say no.

No, I got that one on the cross. So we come Lord this morning in remembrance of Him. Come Lord confessing our sins because we can only come to you. We can only come to you.

We pray these things in Jesus name. Amen. I'm going to ask the men to come forward as they sat around the table.

Not an uncommon feast. But as they sat around the table, we're told that Jesus took the bread.

And he broke it. He said this is my body broken for you.

When Jesus hung on that crossed Those bones were not broken. His blood was shed and his life was spilled for you and for me as this bread is broken for us. So Christ goes to the cross for us. And he encourages us.

Take in remembrance of him. Take. He didn't remembrance of him. Then Jesus held up a chalice.

Now we do not believe that this is actually the blood of Christ. We believe that this is an emblem. This is a remembrance of the blood of Christ. But that's what's important is that we remember and we never become dull and we never become commonplace or used to the cup that we're about to share.

When Jesus hung on that cross the very life blood Coming out of him and then the roman soldier takes the spear and puts it in his side. And the water followed by the blood followed by water comes out.

And then Jesus says To your hands I commit my spirit. Our salvation was one. Paul also said I deliver unto you for first importance that which I also receive. That christ died for our sins according to the scriptures that he was buried.

Then he was raised on the third day. According to the scriptures this is our jesus. In the same way after supper he took the cup saying this is the cup of the new covenant in my blood. Which is shed for you whenever you drink this.

Do it in remembrance of me. For whoever whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup you proclaim the lord's death until he comes.

Blood of christ that washes us cleanses us from sin.

Take drink.

Let's pray Father your word in the book of proverbs says My child give me your heart Lord this morning. We pray that you would take hold of our hearts lord that we would not offer just an outward religion going through the motions.

But lord that our hearts would be given to you. Help us lord to worship you in spirit and in truth. We pray lord that you would stir up a holy zeal In your people zeal for your name zeal for your glory.

That we would care about the glory of god More than any earthly thing more than anything. We pray that the name of jesus would be exalted this morning through the preaching of the word In his name we pray amen.

Anybody here familiar with the huguenots. Huguenots. Heard of them. These were the french believers the french evangelical christians. At a time when a majority of the country was roman catholic, of course.

Martin luther Nailed the 95 theses to the church door in wittenberg germany in 1517. But those ideas came to france in those following years. Through tracks and through preachers that came to paris and throughout france.

They began to preach sola scriptura. You know what that means right? Scripture alone. They were rejecting the authority of traditions and the authority of the pope in favor of The word of god as the sole rule.

Of faith.

They also rejected such things as the intercession of saints. That means you can't pray to a dead christian to intercede for you. Pray directly to god through jesus christ and by the holy spirit. Don't go to a saint even mary.

They rejected the idea of purgatory, which is where people would go to pay off their own sins. They rejected the idea of the mass. Now the mass was a view of the eucharist as we just took communion. We felt the presence of the spirit of god and we could see the passion That pastor john had and has For the lord jesus christ, but the mass was more of a ritual thing that operated in and of itself.

The idea was that the priest Being an altar christos another christ could stand and make propitiation on the altar. Now, of course, we know that propitiation Was made once and for all when christ died on the cross.

A priest cannot make propitiation on the altar and transubstantiate the bread and the wine Into the real body and blood of christ and so the protestants rejected that doctrine. They also rejected the use of relics where people would bring a piece of some holy person's body or clothing or they say maybe a piece of the cross itself.

Some would regard And think that those relics had some power to bring them to god. The prada protestants said this is just man-made tradition and it has no power. It is in fact unbiblical. All of these things like the selling of indulgences were man-made traditions that came into The church but were not ordained by god and the protestants Rejected these things they would go about preaching the true gospel and often they would use tracts.

In.

1533 In one night what was called the affair of the placards? The placards. They went around town and they put placards on all the light posts. And on doors of buildings and the placard was a strong polemic against the mass against What the priests were doing?

In.

Presupposing themselves to stand in the place of christ and make propitiation on a so-called altar. And it presented the gospel. It was a strong tract, but the result was persecution. So in 1533. Many of the protestants were on the run.

And one of those people who ran for his life was named john calvin. He was heading to strausburg, but because of a war he ended up in geneva. Where farrell told him if you don't stay and teach the word of god.

A curse be upon you. He was so terrified by that that he decided to stay in geneva and for three years. He began to preach book by book chapter by chapter verse by verse. Through the bible. Many people don't know What john calvin was actually all about because so many people are concerned about doctrines that they might not agree with.

But the truth was john calvin was an expositor of the word of god. He preached through every book of the bible genesis more than a hundred sermons verse by verse through the book. As he did through the entire bible on sunday mornings.

He would preach from the new testament. And then the people would gather again in the afternoon for another new testament sermon. So what do you think they did monday through friday? They gathered at 6 a .m. To hear the expository preaching of the old testament.

Pastor john and I just finished preaching through the book of isaiah and it took us 84 sermons to make it through. John calvin preached 353 sermons through the book of isaiah. You see the preaching of the word was the power of the reformation.

And each year geneva sent out between 80 and 120 missionaries. Back to the places where they came from to seek refuge. Now listen. The reformation was empowered by the preaching of the word. This is where the power came from.

When when calvin taught he was evangelistic he called people to repentance and faith. He was apologetic. That means he attacked the false ideas that the devil had brought into the churches. And he was doxological.

Meaning he always gave glory to god. The glory of god was the highest priority in his preaching. In fact, every sermon ended this way. Let us fall before the majesty of our great god. Let us fall before the majesty of our great god.

He preached for the glory of god in the year 1555. There were but five reformed churches in france. Where the french protestants were five churches. But through the training of geneva's academy sending out these missionaries four years later in 1559 there were a hundred churches.

Did you know that god can multiply the kingdom that quickly and by the year 1562 there were 2150 Ministers that were trained in geneva that came back to france to train other ministers. Now. The gospel was spreading like wildfire in fact by the year 1564 the year that calvin died.

The protestants numbered over three million people. Now we know history so we know that england and scotland and ireland and the netherlands many countries would become protestant. But others would remain catholic like italy spain and france.

So, how did this gospel movement come grinding to a halt? The year 1572 Was a major downturn. What happened was. In paris, there was a great wedding between caligny a protestant and a noble woman. In fact, this would have put the protestant in a position where he might possibly become king one day.

And this was intolerable to the roman catholics of paris and so caligny under the orders of the queen was murdered. And with the murder of caligny came a massacre of protestants the saint bartholomew's day massacre which killed 25 000 evangelical protestants on the streets of paris august 22nd 1572.

And orders were given to the surrounding towns the major towns across france to do the same thing to slaughter the huguenots. The french protestants. One governor received the order. And wrote this way in response Sire I have received an order under your majesty's seal To put to death all the protestants in my province.

I have too much respect for your majesty not to believe the letter of forgery. But if which god forbid the order should be genuine. I have too much respect for your majesty to obey it. And so this governor protected the protestants in that town.

But there were at least 12 towns that slaughtered all of the evangelicals of the town In association with this massacre. When the pope received word gregory the eighth He minted a coin in celebration of the slaughter.

He proclaimed september 11th 1572 a holy day of remembrance For the slaughter. And he pronounced a hymn of praise to god a tedium at rome in honor of the massacre. Why would I share? such horrifying details.

Because it's possible for an entire country to name the name of christ and claim to be A representative of christ on earth. In fact the pope claiming to be the papa the holy father over the roman catholic church and yet Dominated by an evil spirit a murderous villainous spirit As many popes were.

It is possible To have an outward show of christianity Without the power of god. It's possible to be raised in a methodist church or an episcopal church or a baptist church And go through the motions of taking communion maybe be baptized And still be without the power of god.

It is very possible to put on a show of religion To claim christianity and go through the motions of outward religion without knowing the christ himself. It's possible for any of us to fall into a rut of outward obedience To trust in the good things the religious things that we do prescribed by god, but to not know him To say lord lord.

Did we not do all of these wonderful things. And then finally one day to hear the most dreadful terrifying words? Written in scripture. Away from me you worker of iniquity I never.

Knew you it's a solemn warning.

And as we turn now to john chapter 2 I want you to feel the weight of this because we come to a story that we might be familiar with from sunday school. Jesus makes a whip and drives Religious people out of the temple.

But consider what that is. Consider the zeal and the passion ultimately the love of jesus that he would not allow them to go on faking a relationship with god. Instead He zealously drives them out of the temple.

Let's read it. The point this morning is to consider the difference between outward religion and the genuine conversion of heart. The problem of A family heritage. A tradition passed on from generation to generation that makes people feel comfortable.

There are many false doctrines that i've mentioned regarding the roman catholic church. From the mass to the elevation of a mere man pope to a place That he doesn't belong. The selling of indulgences which still happens in the catholic church.

A papal indulgence was offered just years ago.

So.

All of these things are dangers that lead people astray. But I think the greatest danger in the roman catholic church as it is in protestant churches Is the false sense of security that comes from being religious.

How many people? Will attend church this sunday morning? And do the sacraments maybe go to confession? And leave feeling justified. Because of that outward religion That's been passed on from generation to generation and how many of those?

Have never been born again. That is the great danger and jesus in his love is passionate and zealous To keep people from that fate. Let's read it john chapter 2 verses 12 and following. After this he went down to capernaum With his mother and his brothers and his disciples.

And they stayed there for a few days. The passover of the jews was at hand and jesus went up to jerusalem. In the temple, he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money changers sitting there.

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. And he told those who sold the pigeons take these things away do not make my father's house a house of trade.

His disciples remembered that it was written Zeal for your house will consume me. So the jews said to him what sign do you show us for doing these things? Jesus answered them Destroy this temple and in three days, I will raise it up.

The jews then said it has taken 46 years to build this temple and will you raise it up in three days? But he Was speaking about the temple of his body. 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 now when he was in jerusalem at the passover feast many believed in his name. When they saw the signs that he was doing. But jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them because he knew all people.

And needed no one to bear witness about man for he himself knew what was in man. All right, so let's consider this first point. In verses 12 to 14 We kind of see the problem. Family heritage. And tradition are not enough to preserve holiness.

It's not enough. Look at verse 12. After he went down to capernaum who was with him. He had just performed this miracle at cana watered a wine. His mother had been there his brothers had been there. And his disciples in verse 12.

They're all traveling together, but notice. There's a distinction in the verse made between his brothers and his disciples. This is an early clue that john is giving us that his brothers his own family did not truly believe in him.

To make the point explicit jump over to chapter 7 verse 5 and 6. His brothers are essentially castigating him saying look if you are who you're claiming to be. Then why don't you go show yourself to the world?

And jesus answers harshly in verse 5 and 6. What does he say? Well for not even his brothers believed in him. There's the clue The brothers are different than the disciples. They aren't the disciples.

They're physical brothers, but that's not enough to save them. And in verse 6 jesus said my time has not yet come. But your time is always.

Here.

It's a strong rebuke. They're of the world their time is now but he has a different mission. And he is separating himself from them in this comment Verse 5 telling us the reason it is because they did not believe.

Church, listen. It is very possible to be raised in an evangelical free church that preaches the gospel and always has. And your parents have brought you to hear this word. But that is not enough to save you.

To be a descendant of a believer is not the same thing as to believe. Every individual must come and stand before the lord. Christianity is the most individualistic faith in the world for this reason for every man must stand before the father.

And you will not stand there with your mother. Or your father with your grandparents with your brothers. You will stand before the lord god.

Alone.

You will stand alone in judgment or you will stand with an advocate by your side. That jesus having purchased your redemption will speak for you. And under his blood you will be accepted of the father.

But listen, the point is the brothers of jesus themselves. Did not believe. It's a warning to all of us. But continue on in verse 13. Not only is family inheritance family heritage not enough But religious duties.

Performed.

Are not enough in verse 13 the passover of the jews was at hand. Now stop and think is that of god? Absolutely, it was. Jesus had not yet died as the passover lamp and so from the time of the passover until.

This point in the text the passover has been celebrated every single year now the danger. With religious traditions that are passed on year after year after year. Is that familiarity can breed contempt?

How many young people have sat in church and thought to themselves. We do the same thing sunday after sunday after sunday after sunday. And how many times have people come to the table? Of communion and thought to themselves.

How many times have I done this? And it's always the same. Familiarity can breed contempt. But listen. The rituals that god prescribed are themselves good. The problem is in us. In fact when you read the book of isaiah, which I mentioned that john and I preached 84 sermons through it.

In the first chapter and the last chapter isaiah mentions the big problem chapter 1 verses 11 to 15. He talks about their assemblies. And their sacrifices and their new moons and their sabbaths and he says of those things I hate them.

Not themselves, but the way you do them. You do it as if it's a ritual. That you're obliged to perform. You do them with the heart that's far in chapter 66 of isaiah the second verse. He tells us what he really wants a contrite heart.

A humble heart That trembles at his word. But in the third verse he says but your sacrifice is when you bring an oxen. And you kill an oxen. It's like killing a man. When you bring a lamb and offer lamb blood it's like killing a pig and offering pig blood.

Harsh words, what does he mean by them? He is saying that their outward show of religion is not pleasing to him, although they're doing it, right. They're offering an ox. They're offering a lamb. He's not accepting their sacrifice.