Third Sunday in Lent: Gospel, John 2:13-22                       

John 2:13-22

Jesus loved the temple. Like any faithful Israelite, He would have seen the temple as the dwelling place of His God. And God commanded the structure to be built for fellowship with His people. Jesus cites the writings of His people that brought forward the truth that God dwelt there and opened, with great limitations, the way to communion between God and those same people. Man, like he does with all God’s gifts, corrupts and disfigures the great structure turning it from a place of prayer to a den of thieves. Jesus minces no words.

But all along there was a different temple. A greater one. And Jesus makes it clear that He is the temple. More than just the presence of God, Jesus is the One who opens fully the gates of heaven that God and mankind may dwell together. Justice and mercy will meet in the coming cross and the way once closed will be opened forever. You and I live where the door presents no barrier, no obstacle. The house of prayer, the place of His presence He is. His Father’s grand plan has pointed to this truth all along and it is the Son’s desire that all would come into His presence. He knows all those He has made. He wants us to know Him. Come on in.