ZEAL!
Twelfth
of twelve in Jesus’ Earthly Life & Ministry
Parallel Series
Psalm
69:9, John 2:17
Psalm
69:9: “for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult
you fall on me.”
John
2:17: “His disciples remembered that it
is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”
Zeal means enthusiasm, or passion. When people discover what they are passionate
about, their lives bloom with purpose. Passion
gets people out of bed every day, and gives them joy.
What does “zeal for your house consumes me” mean? Jesus laid aside His glory when He came to
earth as God clothed as a human. These
parallel devotions are designed to show readers that the Bible is Jesus’
story. He came in person to show people Almighty
God.
After Jesus spent a few days in Capernaum with His
mother, brothers and disciples, it was time for Jewish Passover (John 2:1-16). Jesus went to Jerusalem—and straight to the
temple. Jesus’ passion about His Father,
and His Father’s house was because that’s where God is worshipped and where He
dwells among His people.
In the temple courts, Jesus saw “men selling cattle,
sheep and doves.” He watched them sit at
tables exchanging money. Jesus’ blood
boiled and He lost His cool. “He made a
whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area.” The cattle mooed. The sheep bleated as they squeezed out
through the temple doors.
Then Jesus overturned tables, scattering money
everywhere. To the men watching in shocked
surprise, Jesus roared, “My house will be called a
house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” (Matthew
21:13).
Jesus restored the
building that housed God’s doctrine, discipline and glory.
Your body is God’s temple. (1 Corinthians 3 16, 6:19, 2
Corinthians 6:16). Jesus’ purpose was also
to die in your place—for the sins you commit.
Whoever believes in Jesus is forgiven of all sin and declared blameless
(Philippians 2:15).
Then, God gives you
His Spirit to live inside His temple of your body—sealing you as God’s child (Ephesians
1:13). Jesus’ zeal for His Father’s
house cost Him a great deal: His dignity.
His earthly life.
Take Home Nugget
Jesus’
zeal continues today. He’s still active,
interceding for you (Hebrews 7:25), sitting at the Father’s right hand. That’s why Romans 8:28 is true: “And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
(Emphasis mine).
What’s your zeal? Believers’ joy comes from knowing that we’re sealed
for salvation.
Joy, not happiness that is here today
and disappears tomorrow, is why I’m smiling.
Because I’m Jesus’ passion and purpose, I’m joyful every day, all day.
J.D. Griffith
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personal, private lesson experience with our staff
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