John 2

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:

And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come.

His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.

And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.

When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.

This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

But he spake of the temple of his body.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

What does John 2:20 mean?

Explanation

John 2:20 presents a dialogue between Jesus and the Jews that takes place immediately after Jesus cleanses the temple by driving out the merchants and money changers.

The Jews demand a sign to justify His actions.

In response, Jesus says, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews then reply with the verse in question, expressing skepticism.

They have misunderstood Jesus to be speaking about the physical temple structure in Jerusalem, which had been undergoing construction for forty-six years.

Their incredulity is evident; they find it preposterous that Jesus could rebuild such an elaborate structure in only three days.

However, John later clarifies in verse 21 that Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body, hinting at His resurrection.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The temple referred to is the Second Temple in Jerusalem, also known as Herod's Temple, which was extensively renovated and expanded under King Herod the Great.

The construction began in 20-19 BCE and continued for decades, so when the events of John 2 took place, around 26-30 CE, the temple had indeed been under construction for about forty-six years.

This historical detail authenticates the timeline of events in John's Gospel.

Theological Insights

From a theological point of view, this verse provides a basis for the concept of Jesus as the new temple.

As the physical temple was the center of worship for the Jews, Jesus introduces Himself as the new meeting point between God and humanity.

His mention of "three days" prophesies His death and resurrection, signaling that through these events, He will fulfill what the temple represents: atonement, mediation, and God's presence.

Thus, the verse contrasts the old covenant centered on a physical temple with the new covenant founded in the person of Jesus Christ.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire believers to reflect on the idea of Jesus being the cornerstone of faith rather than physical buildings or religious practices. It reminds Christians to focus on the spiritual relationship with Christ and the significance of His resurrection.

Additionally, it teaches that misunderstandings can occur when individuals interpret statements only in a literal or material sense, suggesting that spiritual discernment is crucial.

Cross-References

John 2:19: "Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
Mark 14:58: "We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands."
Acts 6:14: "For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, key words to consider include:

"Temple” (ναός, naos): This commonly refers to the inner sanctuary where God's presence dwells, rather than the entire temple complex.
"Forty and six years" (τεσσεράκοντα καὶ ἕξ ἔτεσι, tesserakonta kai hex etesi): Indicates the specific time period, emphasizing the long duration of the construction.
"Wilt thou rear it up" (ἐγερεῖς, egereis): Future tense of "to raise or rise," which in this context they understood as reconstructing the physical building.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other ancient cultures, temples were also seen as sacred places where gods dwelt.

For example, in Ancient Greece, temples were dedicated to deities like Zeus and Athena.

By claiming He would raise the temple in three days, Jesus is setting a new paradigm that differs from these cultural norms, focusing on personal resurrection rather than physical structures.

Scientific Perspectives

The Jewish temple was an architectural marvel of its time and its construction would have been a significant engineering feat. Modern historical analyses and archaeological findings corroborate the extensive time period for such constructions.

However, Jesus' statement about raising the temple in three days invites consideration of a reality beyond the empirical and physical world, which is more in the realm of theology and metaphysics than science.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have interpreted this verse in diverse ways:

William Barclay notes that the Jews took Jesus literally, while His intention was figurative, speaking of His body as the temple.
Matthew Henry comments on the spiritual blindness of the Jews who failed to understand Jesus’ deeper meaning, an illustration of how people can be engrossed in the material and miss the spiritual.
D.

Carson discusses the misunderstanding as part of John's overall theme of 'misunderstood signs', which are used in his Gospel to reveal deeper truths about Jesus' identity and mission.

John 2

John 2

What does John 2:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 2:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?