TAKING OWNERSHIP

John 2:16-17,21

Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the Scriptures: “Passion for God’s house will consume me.”

But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.

John the disciple records that Christ went with his disciples to attend the Passover at Jerusalem. If you read through the gospels we see that Christ was particular about the Passover. The reason is not far fetched, we know from scriptures (old testament) that God instructed the Israelites to keep the Passover year after year. The Passover was the rememberance of the time when God delivered Israel from the slavery at Egypt. The Passover was the angel of death visiting Egypt and that every door marked with the blood was passed over, and no death came there.

Thus the one major element of the Passover was the lamb ( the young animal to be sacrificed)

Exodus 12:3,12-14

Announce to the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each family must choose a lamb or a young goat for a sacrifice, one animal for each household.

On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn son and firstborn male animal in the land of Egypt. I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt, for I am the Lord!

But the blood on your doorposts will serve as a sign, marking the houses where you are staying. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. This plague of death will not touch you when I strike the land of Egypt.

“This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation, you must celebrate it as a special festival to the Lord. This is a law for all time.

We see the significance of this celebration, however it was still a shadow of what was to come:

Remember what John the Baptist proclaimed:

John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Prophet Isaiah prophesied it:

Isaiah 53:7b

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

There are more than 100 verses in scriptures proclaiming Christ as the lamb!

This is the beauty of Christ coming, it was not just someone receiving a vision from somewhere with no one with him, or a stone that fell from the sky, or a dream that someone had, or a group of people believing something and creating some belief. The prophesy of His coming and what He was to do kept being announced again and again from the beginning of time.

Why would anyone not believe, why will anyone go to seek these man-made religions and beliefs?

So, we understand why the  Passover was so significant to Christ, He was the Passover lamb.

So He got to the physical temple, the place of worship and met marchandize!

John 2:14

In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.

Is it different from what we have today in so many places?

When Christ looks at your gathering will He say:

John 2:16b

“Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

There are places of worship you attend and all you get to hear is money, money and money. Then you wonder who is God there, is it not mammon?

However beyond these Christ made us understand what the real temple was. Listen:

John 2:19-21

“All right,” Jesus replied. “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

“What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?”

But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body.

The real temple is your body, that is why Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 6:19

Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself,

Listen no place, site or element is God's holy place, you who He created is His holy place, go wherever you like visit whatever acclaimed holy site, it is what is contained in you that will make you holy or unholy. Selah

Acts 7:48-49

However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says,

‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. 

Could you build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the Lord. 

‘Could you build me such a resting place? 

Listen, Jesus taught:

Matthew 15:18-20

But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.

For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander.

These are what defile you. Eating with unwashed hands will never defile you.”

What are you doing with God's temple?

Have you turned it to a marketplace where evil reigns?

Some will only bother about, fornication, adultery, bad dressing etc. Hello these things are pure evil yet worse still is:- envy, bitterness, hate etc.

Don't allow any of these things stay in your temple. Keep you temple clean and pure for the Spirit of God that dwells therein.

Some would say, don't eat that, don't drink that, don't this or that; It is more than that. The question is, WHAT IS IN YOUR HEART?

Have you taking ownership of your temple, have you allowed the Lord to dwell in.

If it is not yes, then someone else has access. COME TO CHRIST TODAY!

Take ownership.

Celebrate the Passover in purity, the Lord was sacrificed for you, that you may remain clean and have the Heavenly Father living in You by His Spirit.

Help us Good Lord.

Dwell in us Lord, we need You every moment.

You call us blessed.

Love

@the watcher