03.23. In the Jerusalem temple

In the Jerusalem temple

Now that Jesus had, with the help of the twelve and the seventy, covered most of the provincial regions, he concentrated his work in Jerusalem and nearby regions. He had always met his fiercest opposition in Jerusalem, and he knew the final months of his work would be tough. This was a time of constant argument with the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem, especially when Jesus went and taught in their stronghold, the temple.¹ When Jesus said he was the light of the world, the Jews accused him of bearing witness to himself and therefore of breaking the law. When he offered them eternal life, they accused him of claiming to be greater than Abraham. When he said he existed before Abraham, they accused him of blasphemy. When he healed a blind man, they accused him of breaking Sabbath rules.²

Two months had now passed since the Feast of Tabernacles, and people were becoming agitated. Another festival had come round and, as Jesus was walking in the temple, people confronted him. His teaching had been forthright, and though many were upset, others believed. A clear division emerged as people decided whether to follow Jesus or oppose him.³

Jesus had given plenty of evidence, through his activity of the past three years, that he was the God-sent Messiah, but he had not yet said the words many wanted to hear, ‘I am the Messiah’. Some wanted to hear these words so that they could be ‘safe’ in believing, but others wanted to hear them so that they could be safe in making accusations. Jesus still refused to satisfy them. They had all the evidence they needed, and those who accepted it in faith were his true people. Their eternal security was guaranteed by Jesus and hisheavenly Father, because the two were inseparably united. As usual, some believed and others just got angry.⁴ 1. John 8:20; John 10:21; John 11:56 2. John 8:12-13; John 8:51-53; John 8:56-59; John 9:13-16 3. John 9:16; John 9:38; John 10:19-22 4. John 10:22-31; John 10:37-39

Jerusalem today – from theological debate to tourism