October 3, 2004
Morning Sermon Outline
“Responding to Christ’s Zeal”
John 2:18-25

In response to Christ’s cleansing the temple notice:

I. The Demand of a Sign

1. Who brought it: the Jews, their leaders, those who kept the temple, people who should have been helping Christ
2. Why they brought it: Jesus was threatening their profit
3. What they were demanding: A miracle, proof of authority
4. Their demand showed them to be in a fog spiritually

II. The Sign Provided

1. Not a simple answer: Matthew 13:8-16
2. An insightful answer: Jesus knew these men :24, He knew their hearts, He knew they would crucify Him / He knew also He would rise from the dead
3. An instructive answer: He speaks of His death and resurrection, later His disciples remember this

III. The Deeper Truths Communicated

1. See how the depravity of man leads him from bad to worse, their defiling the temple would lead to their crucifying Christ (they do all this not knowing how far they are from God)
2. Sadly, the History of the church shows that we too go from good to bad and from bad to worse
3. Happily, Christ is zealous to cleanse, and powerful to raise the dead, Christ overcomes our depravity with His vitality!
4. Note, too that Christ goes to the cross with the same commitment, dedication and zeal He shows in cleansing the Temple! Hebrews 7:27 Christ “offers Himself”

IV. Application

1. Be careful with your own depravity
2. Study to show thyself approved
3. Consider your own body the Temple of the Holy Spirit