Purifying Fire

As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  In the Temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.  Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple court, together with the oxen and sheep.  He knocked over the tables of the money changers, scattering the coins, and ordered the people selling doves, "Take all this away, and stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"

His disciples recalled the words of Scripture:  Zeal for your House devours me like fire.

The Jews then questioned Jesus, "Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?"  And Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up."  The Jews then replied, "The building of this temple has already taken forty six years, and will you raise it up in three days?"

Actually, Jesus was referring to the temple of his body.  Only when he had risen from the dead did his disciples remember these words;  then they believed both the Scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.

John 2:13-22

"Jesus, I surrender all that clutters and pushes out the blessings from my life.  Help me drive them all away to make space for Your perfect gift."

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