JESUS FULFILLS THE LAW
JOHN 2:12-17
Introduction:
Here we have a short visit Christ made to Capernaum, v. 12. It was a large and populous city, about a day’s journey from Cana. It is called “his own city,” in Matthew 9:1, “And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.” because he made it his headquarters in Galilee, and what little rest he had was there. It was a place of concourse, a meeting place for commerce, and therefore chosen by Christ that the fame of his doctrine and miracles might spread from there and beyond.
Now He goes to Jerusalem for the first of four Passovers that He observed during His ministry in order to fulfill the Scriptures.
I. JESUS MADE UNDER THE LAW
Galatians 4:4, “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”
A. The first step in fulfilling the Law was His Baptism, Matthew 3:14-15, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
1. John sees his own need, v. 14, “But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”
2. John acquiesces or rests satisfied in the Lord’s word, v. 15.
B. The Lord’s First Concern was to do the Will of the Father, John 4:34, “Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.”
1. That is His “Meat,” John 4:32, “But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.”
2. Jesus felt as Job did, Job 23:12, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
3. That was His Delight, Psalm 40:8-9, “Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.”
C. He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith, Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
1. Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, determined to do God’s will.
a. Jesus KNEW what was ahead, Matthew 16:21, “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.”
b. His determination was to FINISH the work that God had given Him to do, Psalm 138:8, “The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.”
2. The Lord’s Example ought to motivate us to greater service for Him, John 13:15-17.
a. The Lord does not mean that we should wash each other’s feet.
b. He means that we should be willing to do as He did, 1 Peter 2:21, “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:”
II. JESUS’ ZEAL FOR THE LAW
A. The Lord’s zeal for the Law is seen in our text, John 2:14-17.
1. The money changers, Mark 11:15, “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;”
2. The disciples remembered the Scripture, John 2:17, “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
B. The Lord’s zeal for the truth.
1. Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, John 1:17, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”
2. Jesus is full of grace and truth, John 1:14, “And the Word was made 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.”
3. Jesus is the truth, John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
4. Jesus said the truth shall make you free, John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
5. Our worship of Jesus is to be in Spirit and in truth, John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”
6. Jesus’ Word is Truth, John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
C. Jesus expects His churches to have His zeal.
1. To repent of wrongdoing and do God’s will, Revelation 3:19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”
2. To be a people zealous of good works, Titus 2:14, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
CONCLUSION:
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:7.