THE K I N G ’S B U S I N E S S tu rn ing the w ater into wine. Unto us is committed the joy of bearing the cup of blessing. The effect of the m ira cle; “They believed on Him.” This is th e purpose of th e Gospel of John. (John 20:31.) Topics fo r Study
81 the purpose of exchanging th e coin from different countries. r John probably lived in Jerusalem . His Gospel, remember, supplements th e other Gospels. ' He records largely events in connection w ith Jesu s’ life in Jerusalem as associated w ith feasts. (1) . THE SIN OF DESECRATION, vs. 13-17. “Take these things hence.” The Lord felt keenly th e desecration of His F a th e r’s house, which was His house. H e was about His. F a th e r’s business. (Luke 2:49 .) He planned th a t Temple. He had overseen the construction. He had watched its desecration in the past, its destruction and its rebuilding. This is H is first official visit. His soul is stirred w ith righteous indigna tion. The command concerning the Tabernacle was definite. (Lev. 19:30.) “Y e sh a ll k e e p m y sa b b a th s, a n d re v e re n c e m y s a n c tu a ry : I a m th e I,o rd .” He was the meek and lowly one, but also the majestic and m ilitan t Christ. L isten to H im ; (John 18:20-21). “J e s u s a n s w e re d h im , I sp a k e o p en ly to th e w o rld ; I e v e r ta u g h t in th e s y n a g o g u e , a n d in t h e tem p le , w h ith e r th e J e w s a lw a y s r e s o r t; a n d in s e c re t h a v e I sa id n o th in g . ■ W h y a s k e s t th o u m e? A sk th e m w h ich h e a rd m e, w h a t I h a v e sa id u n to th e m : b eh o ld , th e y k n o w w h a t 1 sa id .” The anger of the Lord is terrible (Mai. 3 :1 -3 ). He prononnced terrib le woes. To His own disciples H is words were b itter, stern and unsparing and they stoo.d in awe of Him,— gentle, loving, tender, p itifu l-^ b u t also terrible, “ the strong man arm ed.” Read Matt. 23, Matt. 11:20-24, and h ear Him also say, “Come unto Me.” The real Christ is no t th e Christ of a rt or sentiment, but a gracious and righteous God com bined- Our God is a consuming fire. (a) The Memorial of H is Zeal, (Psa. 69:9.) Zeal was a g reat governing ch aracter istic of His life. Some are afraid of zeal, but we need not fear to im itate everything in th e life of Christ. The
( 1 ) The Sanctity of Marriage. ( 2 ) The Social Habits of Jesus. (3) The R elation of Jesus to Mother. (4) The Customs of the Jews. (5) The F irst Sign—Miracle Nature. . .S'C. - 5&>
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SECOND THEME: CLEANSING THE TEMPLE, 2:13-23 ’ The Place: Jerusalem . The Persons: Jesus, the Disciples and Jews. The F acts: Temple Needs Cleansing. Golden Text: “Jesu s answered and said unto them , Destroy th is temple, and in th ree days Xwill raise it up.” Second Outline: (1) The Sin of Desecrating the Temple; or, The R ighteous In dignation, vs, 13-17. _ (2) The Sign of Jesu s’ Authority; or, th e Resurrection of the Body, vs. 18-22. ' (3) The Sinners Saved through It is the tim e of the Passover Feast, one of th e th ree g reat annual feasts of th e Jews recorded by .John: The Passover, (2 :13 ; 11:55; 12 :1 ). The F east of Tabernacles, (7 :2 ). An Unnamed Feast, (5 :1 ). The scene is laid in th e court of the Gentiles, where there were oxen, and sheep for sacrificial purposes. (Lev. 1 : 2 . ) “ S p eak u n to th e c h ild re n o f Israel* a n d s a y u n to them * If a n y m a n o f y o u bring: a n o fferin g u n to th e Lord* y e sh a ll b rin g y o u r o fferin g o f th e cattle* ev en o f th e .herd, a n d o f th e flock.” There were also money changers for Miracles; or, The Reading of th e H earts of Men, vs. 23-25.
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