Bethesda Chapel, 2000
SG Bible Study #2

JESUS CLEARS THE TEMPLE - JOHN 2:13-25

Think of a time when you saw something which, even though it did not involve you directly, really made you angry. Briefly describe the situation.

Background note: People came to Jerusalem from all over at the time of the Passover. They needed to buy animals such as sheep, cattle and doves to make sacrifices at the temple. They also often needed to change money, because the annual temple tax could only be paid with special coins.

1. Would you describe Jesus’ action in clearing the temple as ‘violent’?
   
   
2. Do you think anyone was physically hurt?
   
   
3. How would you describe Jesus’ emotions?
   
   
4. What exactly was wrong with the buying and selling? Was Jesus against the mere fact that business was being conducted in the temple area, or was there something more that he objected to?
   
   
5. Do you get the impression that the Jewish leaders and most the people of Jerusalem felt that the buying and selling in the temple was OK?
   
   
6. What do you think the buyers and sellers might have said in defence of their practice of doing business in the temple area?
   
   
7. How do you think ‘the Jews’ (probably the leaders) felt about Jesus?
   
   
8. What did the disciples learn about Jesus through this incident?
   
   
   

What is one thing you could begin to do, or one aspect of your behaviour you could change, in order to treat Bethesda Chapel with greater respect as the house of God?
(In answering this question you may think of Bethesda Chapel either in terms of the people or the building.)