John 2:13-25

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. There in the Temple area he saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, exchanging and trading people’s money. Jesus made a whip with some pieces of rope. Then he forced all these men and the sheep and cattle to leave the Temple area. He turned over the tables of the money traders and scattered their money. Then he said to those who were selling pigeons, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a place for buying and selling!” When this happened, his followers remembered what was written in the Scriptures: “My strong devotion to your Temple will destroy me.” Some Jews said to Jesus, “Show us a miracle as a sign from God. Prove that you have the right to do these things.” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days.” They answered, “People worked 46 years to build this Temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?” But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. After he was raised from death, his followers remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scriptures, and they believed the words Jesus said. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Many people believed in him because they saw the miraculous signs he did. But Jesus did not trust them, because he knew how all people think. He did not need anyone to tell him what a person was like. He already knew.