John 2:18 The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?”
Today, we consider the reaction of the Jews to Jesus’ zeal for His Father’s house. Of course, they didn’t understand it. It’s interesting to me that His disciples remembered Psalm 69:9, but the Jews did not. “For zeal for Your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.” In this verse, we see the beginning of the reproaches of God that fell on Jesus. The Jews displayed contempt for Jesus. They scorned, shamed, and taunted Him. Their reproaches of Jesus were toward God, for Jesus is God. The zeal Jesus expressed for holiness and God’s house was the Father’s zeal. The Jews couldn’t see it because they didn’t believe He was the Son of God, God in the flesh. So they demanded a sign to verify His authority.
Tomorrow, we’ll look at the sign Jesus was to give them. But today, let us be encouraged by this: Jesus is God in the flesh, and we not only have trusted in Him, but we have His life in us. We can expect two things. One, that as we live to love with Him, we will have a zeal for holiness and love for His people which will motivate us to drive out sin in our lives. Two, we may expect religious people who don’t have the life of Christ to reproach us, even as the Jews reproached Jesus. The reproaches of those who reproach Jesus will fall on us. We should not be surprised if we are scorned, shamed, and taunted because of our zeal for holiness and love for God and His people.
May we not be discouraged by their reproaches, but instead consider ourselves honored that we would be considered worthy of such reproaches. As Jesus said in His sermon on the mount.
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you (Matt. 5:10-11).
Living to love with Jesus isn’t always easy or comfortable. However, there is a blessing and hope that should fill us with joy. It’s the same hope Jesus had that day when He cleansed the temple. He foresaw the new house that was to be built by His Father and Himself, of which all who believe in Him until the end of their lives are living stones. So walk in love and holiness today with great hope and joy.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of “giving it forward,” so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
