Passion at the Temple

Jesus leaves the wedding in Cana and heads up to Jerusalem with his disciples and family for the Passover feast. This seven-day Jewish festival commemorates God’s deliverance of his people from Egypt under Moses’ leadership. As Jesus arrives at the temple, something stirs him deeply. What could cause such a strong reaction?

As you read, ask yourself: are you passionate about the same things Jesus was?

Questions from your reading

• What message is Jesus sending through his actions in this passage?
• What do his priorities here reveal about his heart?
• In what ways is Jesus modelling something for his followers?
• What other questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

When Jesus enters the temple courts, he becomes angry. Yes—God gets angry. As Hebrews 12:29 says, “God is a consuming fire.” Jesus shows this righteous anger when he

“...made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15).

It’s important to note that Jesus didn’t arrive furious and wielding a whip—he made one. That detail matters. His response wasn’t impulsive or chaotic—it was deliberate. What did he see that provoked such passion? Two things: the selling of sacrificial animals and the exchanging of foreign currencies—both taking place inside the temple courts.

These weren’t neutral services. They were exploitative. Poor and foreign worshippers had come to offer sacrifices and seek God, only to be taken advantage of. The temple had become a marketplace—and Jesus wouldn’t stand for it.

His first followers watched, stunned. But then they remembered something they’d learned as children—a verse from Psalm 69:9: “Zeal for your [God’s] house consumes me.” The word zeal speaks of deep, driving passion—the kind that compels action. Jesus was jealous for God’s name and honour. He couldn’t allow anything to cheapen worship or turn it into a profit-making scheme.

It’s a sobering reminder: how easy it is to turn a living relationship into a lifeless religion. What fuels your passions? Whose reputation matters more to you—yours, or God’s? Jesus was consumed with the Father. What consumes you?

This moment shows us real human emotion in a real human Jesus—and divine courage in the Son of God. He loved the Father so deeply he couldn’t stand by while others corrupted what God meant to be freely given. When challenged by the religious leaders, Jesus said, “‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days’” (John 2:19). But they couldn’t see that he was speaking of himself—of his death and resurrection.

Root number five is passion—a passion for God’s name, God’s fame, and God’s glory.

Applying what you’ve read

Jesus was passionate for God’s name and fame. What are you passionate about? What causes stir your heart?

Take a moment to reflect: do the things that move you also move Jesus? If not, it might be time to realign your passions.

Talk with a friend today about what you're jealous, zealous, or passionate about. Share what you're learning about Jesus' passion for the Father—and how it challenges or inspires you.