John opens his gospel with some profound statements and stories. He says some startling things that are meant to stir in us a curiosity to discover the source of creation and the greatest power on earth. Consider this statement: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
How can a word—what Word—the Word—become flesh? What glory are we to behold? What fullness of grace and truth are we to realize? We then read of a man baptizing people in water. He sees Jesus and says, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
In the next scene we read a story about a wedding. Jesus sees six large pots meant to be filled with water and used for ritual washing. He tells people to fill them with water and bring them to the wedding host. The host tastes the wine and is amazed how delicious it is. We then read, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11).
So, what does Jesus do next? He goes to the temple. And He sees the very sacred place of the temple being turned into a foul marketplace. He sees oxen, sheep and doves being sold and money changers exploiting the people. He sees the epitome of corruption in God’s house of worship—His Father’s sacred holy place. So, he drives them out and overturns the tables of the money changers.
The people are then reminded of the words of David’s psalm, “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up” (Psalm 69:9). The people were reminded of David’s zeal and passion for God. They witnessed the intensity of the passion of Jesus. They would soon experience His compassion and more of the fiery love of God that looks to warm the human heart. Yes, Jesus was about to show them the intense love of God that yearns to heal broken hearts and all manner of diseases, release people into true freedom and peace and restore vision to live life more abundantly, according to God’s greater purposes.
RELEVANCE
Yes, Jesus wants to manifest God’s glory in our midst. His glory reveals the preciousness of God’s love, His amazing grace and reality of His truths. His glory brings to the forefront God’s words to Moses:
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…(Exodus 34:6-7)
Paul grasped hold of the intensity of God’s love. God’s love consumed him and burned in his heart with a fiery passion. He came to realize that very fiery love of God is available for all to receive. It is poured out into our heart by the Holy Spirit. It gives us a very real divine and dynamic hope that extinguishes disappointment and frustration and enables us to live overcoming in a conflicted world. Hear his heart encouraging you to receive the same fiery love of God.
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
Paul was greatly filled with the intense love of God. He knew God had so much more of His grace and truth for us to receive and experience. Take notice as he repeats the phrase much more so many times:
“…much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10)
“For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many” (Romans 5:15)
For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 5:20-21)
The more we are grateful for God’s grace and receive His truth, the much more He has for us to realize!
REFLECT, RELATE AND RESPOND
What do you need much more of in your life? What much more has God inspired and encouraged you to be curious about? The words of Jesus echo today.
Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 AMP)