John 2:18. Then the Jews said, ‘What sign do You show us to establish that You may do such things?’
While I was still speaking in this way to the fearful disciples, some Jews came up to Me and said, ‘You have now performed a mighty deed. People and livestock fled before Your hand like chaff in a storm, and no one came back to retrieve his scattered money! Who are You, and what sign (they meant from the emperor) can You show us that permits You to do such things? Do You not know the iron severity of the laws, which can destroy You for this?’
John 2:19. Jesus answered them, ‘Tear down this temple, and on the third day I will raise it up.’
I say, ‘If I did not know the laws and were afraid of them, I would not have done this. You demand an official sign from Me, and I tell you that I have none. But tear down this temple, and on the third day it shall stand complete again.’
John 2:20–21. Then the Jews said, ‘Forty-six years were needed to build this temple, and You mean to do it alone in three days?’ For they did not know that He was speaking of the temple of His body.
At this definite statement of Mine, the Jews had a very strange look in their eyes and could not immediately collect themselves. Only after a while did one of them recall that building the temple had required a full forty-six years and given many thousands of hands unceasing work. This Jew, who was well versed in history, therefore turns to Me and says, ‘Young man, have You considered what a foolish thing You have just said? Look, forty-six full years were needed to build this temple, keeping many thousands of hands fully occupied. And You mean to do it all alone, without the help of other hands, in three days! Oh, oh, oh, what testimony You have given about Yourself, and in the temple at that, where one ought to speak most reasonably!
Your earlier deed greatly surprised us. As elders of Jerusalem, we had already begun discussing among ourselves by what power You had performed this deed, which in itself is truly very praiseworthy: whether by worldly or prophetic power. That is why we questioned You. If You had told us in wise words that we could understand that You were a prophet raised up by God and were doing this through God’s power, we would have believed You. But instead of wise words, You gave us, against all expectation, an almost indescribably impious, boastful and foolish answer, with not one true syllable in it. We therefore see in You only a man who perhaps learned a little magic in some heathen school and now wants to make himself important with it here in the city of David, either in the pay of Rome or secretly in the pay of the Pharisees, priests and Levites. For these may have reaped their best temple harvest today as a result of Your magical deed! We are all truly sorry that we have so greatly misjudged You.’
I then said, ‘I too am sorry with all My heart that I had to find you so terribly blind and deaf! For whoever is blind sees nothing, and whoever is deaf and mute hears nothing. I perform a sign before your eyes that no one before Me has performed, and speak the fullest truth, yet you say that I am either a foolish braggart versed in heathen magic who wants to make himself important before you, or a magician in the pay of Rome, or in the contemptible pay of the temple priests! Oh, what a disgraceful imputation! Look over there: a very considerable company has followed Me here from Galilee. They have recognized Me, although you say the Galileans are the most unbelieving and worst of the Jewish people. Yet they recognized Me and followed Me. How is it that you will not recognize Me?’
The Jews say, ‘We too wanted to recognize You, and that is why we questioned You, for we are neither blind nor deaf, as You think. But You gave us an answer of which natural understanding can make nothing other than what we openly told You to Your face! We have good will; why, if You are perhaps a prophet, do You fail to recognize it? We are honorable men of Jerusalem and have many possessions. If You were a true prophet, You could fare well among us. But You do not recognize this, and therefore You are no prophet, but a mere magician who desecrates the temple more than those whom You drove out earlier!’
I say, ‘Go and confer with those who came with Me. They will tell you who I am!’
The Jews now go to the disciples and question them. The disciples tell them what they had heard about Me at the Jordan, John’s testimony, and what they had seen and experienced at My side. But they also admit that they do not understand what I have said to the Jews.
John 2:22. When He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and believed the Scripture and the words He had spoken.
For even they understood this only after My most wondrous resurrection, which took place three years later, and then also understood the Scripture that had foretold these things about Me.
When the Jews had learned all this from the disciples, they came to Me again and said, ‘According to everything we have learned about You from Your very sincere company, You would evidently be the Promised One! The testimony of John, whom we know, speaks powerfully for You, and Your deeds no less. But Your words are the very opposite of everything else. How can the Messiah be a god in His deeds and a fool in His words? Explain this to us, and we will all accept You and support You in every possible way!’
I say, ‘What can you give Me that you have not first received from My Father in heaven? But if you have received it, how can you speak as though you had not received it? What do you mean to give Me that is not Mine? For what belongs to the Father also belongs to Me, for I and the Father are not two, but one. I tell you: nothing but the will alone is yours; everything else is Mine! If you give Me your will in the true love of your heart and believe that I and the Father are perfectly one, then you have given Me everything I can ask of you!’
The Jews say, ‘Then perform a sign, and we will believe that You are the Promised One!’
I say, ‘Why do you demand signs? O perverse kind! Do you not know that signs awaken no one, but only judge? But I did not come for your judgment, but so that you should receive eternal life if you believe in Me in your hearts. Many more signs will indeed take place, and you will see some of them; but they will not give you life, but will kill you for a long time.’