Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleThe Sign Of Christ's Resurrection
Bible TextJohn 2:13-22
Synopsis After his crucifixion, Christ raising himself from the grave declares that his is the Son of God with all Power and all Authority over his temple, his church. Listen
Date20-Dec-2020
Series John 2020
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: The Sign Of Christ's Resurrection (32 kbps)
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Length 43 min.
 
Series: John 
Title: The Sign of Christ’s Resurrection 
Text: John 2: 13-22 
Date: Dec 20, 2020 
Place: SGBC, NJ 
  
John 2: 12: After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13: And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 
  
Picture the streets and the court of the temple packed with people. They came to observe “the Jews Passover.”  In Exodus it is called “the LORD’s Passover”.  But by now it was so corrupted it is called “the Jew’s Passover.”
  
The Lord Jesus Christ is the one typified in that legal ceremony.  Having been made under the law, as Head of his elect, he observed that ceremony as he did all the laws of the old covenant.  He satisfied justice for the sins of his people.  So he is the fulfillment and end of the law for righteousness to all who believe on him.  God passes over his believing people because he sees the blood of Christ our Passover which covers all our sins. 
  
But when he walked into the temple they were engaged in vain religion and none knew that THE TRUE Passover Lamb was present.  Instead, he found his Father’s house turned into a money-making den of thieves. 
  
John 2: 14: And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 
 
These animal sacrifices all pointed to Christ.  They were to take time to examine their sacrifice to make sure he had no blemish.  The true worshippers did so thinking on the spotless Lamb of God that Abraham said God would provide.  But these sellers made it convenient to rush into the temple, buy a sacrifice, offer it then go on about their business with no thought.  The sellers were the only ones who profited and that only monetarily. 
  
The ‘money-changers” were profiting as well.  The law required they pay the pure silver half-shekel of the sanctuary typifying redemption accomplished by Christ.  But every region had different money so they charged a fee to change their money.  The priests were renting these spaces, taking a percentage of the profits.  All of this was done in the name of worshipping God. 
  
It is a good illustration of all vain religion in our day.  The majority of religion has been turned into a convenience.  They have some kind of service for any day or hour convenient for you and all is for monetary profit but no spiritual profit. 
  
This was one occasion where the Lord Jesus was provoked to righteous indignation. 
  
John 2: 15: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16: And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17: And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
 
This was Christ’s first public act in Jerusalem.  It is called a miracle or miracles at the end of the chapter.  The miracle was that he purged the temple.  He did it again toward the end of his ministry.  It is called one of his miracles because it displayed his Authority and Power and none of the rulers dared stop him.  They did not stop him due to his Authority and Power keeping them from doing so.   He called the temple “my Father’s house.”  It means to the self-righteous Pharisee’s that a Man declared himself the Son of God, the Christ.  His disciples remembered the scriptures. 
  
Psalm 69: 9: For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. 
 
John 2: 18: Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19: Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20: Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21: But he spake of the temple of his body. 22: When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
 
In Isaiah 7 (which we heard in the first hour), God gave Ahaz the one sign by whom God’s word is ordered in all things and sure.  The sign is the Son of God come in human flesh, the holy GodMan.  Here the sign he gives is concerning his resurrection.  Christ crucified then raising himself the third day is the sign by which Christ declared that he is the Son of God with Power.  He declared another time that he is the only sign given and it was the same sign, the sign of his resurrection.
 
Matthew 12: 39:…there shall no sign be given…but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 
  
Subject: The Sign of Christ’s Resurrection 
  
Proposition: After his crucifixion, Christ raising himself from the grave declares that his is the Son of God with all Power and all Authority over his temple, his church. 
 
Divisions: 1) The declaration of his resurrection 2) The power of his resurrection 
 
THE DECLARATION
 
By Christ raising himself from the grave he manifest that he is the Son of God with power. 
 
He prophesied what they would do—Destroy this temple—speaking of his bodyThis was the very word they used to bare false witness against him during is mock trial.  Then and here they thought he was speaking of the temple.  Thinking themselves wise, seeing they saw not.  Christ word trips up the proud who think themselves wise and prudent because they say they see, apart from his power.  Therefore, Christ leaves them in darkness.  But the sign is that after he laid down his life on the cross in place of his people, he himself would raise his body from the grave and he did.
  
John 10: 17: Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18: No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. 
  
By raising himself from the grave he declared he is the Son of God with all Power and Authority over his church. 
  
Romans 1: 3: [Paul said the gospel is] Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4: And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 
  
The Lord Jesus Christ’s incarnation declares he is the Power who fulfilled God’s covenant promise to save his people from our sins and that he has all power over all and as Head over his church. 
  
Ephesians 1: 20: he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21: Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23: Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. 
  
In a few days, the world will think of a little baby born in Bethlehem in a manger.  But that birth is the sign that every word of God’s covenant promise is yes and amen in Christ.  He was born to lay down his life in place of a chosen people to save us from our sins.  Having accomplished the redemption of his people by his death, Christ’s resurrection is the sign that he accomplished it and that that same Jesus is LORD of lords and King of kings.  All authority and power are hisHe is THE HEAD of his church.  What does it mean for his temple, his church, that he has all Power and Authority over us? 
  
THE POWER
  
Christ’s resurrection manifest that he has authority and power to purge his temple, his church, his individual people.  God’s elect together as his assembled church is his temple. 
  
Ephesians 2: 21  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. 
  
Each of us born of his Spirit individually are his temple. 
  
1 Corinthians 6: 19…your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own 
  
Christ’s resurrection declares his death was an accomplishment.  He purged his temple—his elect—by his shed blood. 
  
Hebrews 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 
  
Raising himself from the grave, sitting at God’s right hand, is manifest proof to us that God accepts Christ’s sacrifice in our place“He was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.”  God accepts Christ as the Righteousness of his people.  Not only that, but Christ’s resurrection also declares he has Authority and Ability to purge us like he did the temple that day.  
  
Malachi 3: 1: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: 
  
He sends the gospel to his child like he sent John the Baptist as his forerunner. 
  
Malachi 3: 1…and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple,… 
  
He enters our bodies in spirit suddenly. 
  
Malachi 3: 1…even the messenger of the covenant,… 
  
He enters his child and his church declaring the truth of God’s everlasting covenant of grace accomplished by him. 
  
Malachi 3: 1:…whom ye delight in:… 
  
Some of us claimed we delighted in him though we were dead in sins.  But after Christ visits effectually we really do. 
  
Malachi 3: 1…behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2: But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3: And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,… 
  
When Christ comes in power he burns up our wood, hay and stubble and purges our dross so that all that remains is what he created: gold, silver, precious stones. 
  
Malachi 3: 1…that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 
  
By the work of Christ’s power within his child we come to God with Christ alone by faith in him.  By faith in Christ alone, God receives us because we come with the one offering God is pleased with, Christ our Righteousness.  But he comes in judgment to those who reject him, to those who are not his elect, as he did in the temple that day. 
  
Malachi 3: 5: And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6: For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. 
  
Christ finds us worshipping we know not what.  In religion or out, we were dead in sins, like those in the temple.  But because he changes not, he does not consume his elect sons of Jacob.  He cleanses us and refines us.  Christ comes suddenly to his temple, entering our body in Spirit with the gospel of sin-cleansing blood. 
  
Hebrews 9:14: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 
  
Like as he drove out the merchandisers Christ subdues our sinful flesh.  He purifies us his disciples making us believe on him.  He purifies us that we may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness which is Christ alone through faith in him. 
  
Then Christ sits in his temple.  He never leaves. The remainder of our days, he abides in us in Spirit.  He continues purging us.  He grows us in grace and knowledge of him.  He constrains us to turn from our sins by his precious blood by which he bought us, speaking effectually into our hearts, saying, 
  
1 Corinthians 6: 19…your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20: For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 
  
He personally keeps us separated unto him from sinful works and vain religion. 
  
2 Corinthians 6: 16: And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17: Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18: And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7:1: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, [outward and inward] perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 
  
Likewise, Christ’s resurrection declares he is the Authority over his assembled temple, his assembled church.  Christ keeps us as his assembled church cleansed so that we continue worshipping together with one mind and one accord, glorying in him alone. 
  
Zechariah 6:12:…Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: 13: Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both. 
  
Our resurrected Head has Power to purge his church from all corruptions of: strife and vain glory, making us endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; from worldly practices and methods—wood, hay and stubble; from a false gospel of man’s will and man’s works.  The apostle Paul said it was only by Christ’s Power that he was a minister of Christ. 
  
Ephesians 3:7: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 
  
Psalm 29: 9:…in his temple doth every one speak of his glory. 
  
Christ makes his church build with gold, silver, precious stones by his working in us.  He makes us preach Christ alone.  He makes us ask Christ to bless it by the Spirit.  He makes us wait on Christ to bless it.  Everything else is wood, hay and stubble.  Christ shall graciously burn it up and save us. 
  
Remember, believer, Christ also makes his people to be precious stones.  So, believer, do not think it a strange thing when you or your brethren endure the fire of trial.  Do not doubt, only believe.  Everything precious must be tried. 
  
Proverbs 17:3: The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 
  
But those Christ has made precious can abide the fire and it is a law of God that we must. 
  
Number 31: 23: Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean: 
  
But Christ promises to be with us and bring us through the fire and the result will be communion with him. 
  
Zechariah 13: 9: And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.
  
So one last thing, remember brethren, while we are his temple, he is our temple
  
Isaiah 8: 12: Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13: Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 14: And he shall be for a sanctuary; 
  
Let us abide in him: believe on him, look to him, wait on him.  He is our Head with all Authority and Power to save and he shall!       
  
Amen!