Jesus answered
and said to them,
“Destroy this temple
and in three days
I will raise it up.”
(John 2:19)
Jesus speaks with confidence about His ability to raise the temple, which symbolizes His resurrection. He is referring to His own body as the temple. This verse foreshadows His death and resurrection, emphasizing the central role of the resurrection in Christian faith.
The people around Jesus misunderstood His statement, thinking He was talking about the physical temple. This teaches us the importance of seeking spiritual insight and understanding beyond the literal meaning of words.
Jesus' promise to raise the temple in three days encourages us to have faith in His promises. Even when things seem impossible, we can trust in His power and faithfulness.
These lessons inspire us to recognize Jesus' authority, understand the significance of His resurrection, seek deeper spiritual insight, and trust in His promises.
In the heart of sacred lore,
A temple stands forevermore.
Not built by hands, nor stone, nor wood,
But by the grace of God, it stood.
Jesus' body, pure and bright,
A temple of eternal light.
In Him, the fullness dwells complete,
A holy place where heaven meets.
Destroy this temple, He proclaimed,
In three days, it will be reclaimed.
For in His death and rising power,
He conquered sin, the final hour.
In every heart, His temple grows,
A place where love and mercy flows.
For Jesus' body, once and for all,
Redeems the lost, restores the fall.
Dear Lord Jesus,
We come before You with reverence and awe, acknowledging that Your body is the true temple, the dwelling place of God's fullness. In You, we find the ultimate sacrifice, the perfect love, and the path to eternal life.
Help us to honor Your sacrifice by living lives that reflect Your holiness and grace. May we always remember that through Your death and resurrection, You have made a way for us to be reconciled with God. Teach us to see Your presence in our lives and to treat our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit.
Guide us to walk in Your footsteps, showing love, compassion, and mercy to others. Strengthen our faith and help us to remain steadfast in our devotion to You. May our lives be a testament to Your glory and a reflection of Your love.
In Your holy name, we pray.
Amen.
Pericope:
II: The Book of Signs
CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE
John 2:13-25
Gospel Acclamation
I have chosen and consecrated this house, says the Lord, that my name may be there forever.
Gospel | John 2:13-22
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 moneychangers 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 moneychangers 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. 18 At this the Jews answered and said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” 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.
Reflection Source:
Conversation with Copilot
