Read John 2:12-25
It is Passover. The first Passover mentioned in Jesus' ministry was when he was 12. (Luke 2) He came with his parents to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. Jesus was also the age to become a man. At 12 every Jewish male would enter into his father's business. Jesus' father was God so Jesus stayed in the temple astounding the doctors with his wisdom and understanding of the word. When Mary and Joseph found him and he made this remark "why are you coming to get me? Didn't you know I would be about my Father's business". They pondered what he said in their heart but didn't understand it so they brought him back home with them.
On this Passover Jesus went to the temple and cleansed it of men making money off the sacrifices. People were suppose to bring sacrifices of their own flock, not wait till they got to Jerusalem and buy them. That was like buying indulgences in Martin Luther's day. The merchants wanted to know how he had the authority to do this and Jesus replied, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." Jesus never answered their questions with the answer they were looking for; he choose his words for eternity. It was like they were going by two different scripts. The people asked questions from their heart of flesh and Jesus answered from God's heart. Later they would understand what Jesus said. Later they did. Jesus was talking about himself and his body that would be raised up in 3 days. He inserts these random words of prophesy so that later they can pick them out and make meaning to build their faith.
The next Passover Jesus was teaching the people and they were getting hungry so Jesus took a boys lunch of 2 fish and 5 loaves and fed the multitude with fish and bread left over.
The last Passover Jesus gave himself as the living bread to be a sacrifice for us all.
So Jesus' Passovers were a succession of preparation. First we choose to "be about our Father's business"; we choose to follow God. Next we cleanse our earthly temple and ask God to forgive us. Then we feed our spirit with the bread and meat of the word which multiplies within us so we can give it out to feed the multitude. Then we finish this life on earth and are raised to live with God in heaven.
Lord, we want to be about your business. Take our day and fill it with your plans. Fill us with your word that we might distribute it to all we meet. We love being your kids.
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