A song of David for the dedication of the Temple.

LORD, you lifted me out of my troubles.

You did not give my enemies a reason to laugh, so I will praise you.

LORD my God, I prayed to you, and you healed me.

LORD, you lifted me out of the grave. I was falling into the place of death, but you saved my life.

Praise the LORD, you who are loyal to him! Praise his holy name!

His anger lasts for a little while, but then his kindness brings life. The night may be filled with tears, but in the morning we can sing for joy!

When I was safe and secure, I thought nothing could hurt me.

LORD, hear my prayer, and be kind to me. LORD, help me!" You have changed my sorrow into dancing.

You have taken away my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.

You wanted me to praise you and not be silent.

LORD my God, I will praise you forever!

The LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: Change your lives and do good things. If you do this, I will let you live in this place. Don't trust the lies that some people say. They say, "This is the Temple of the LORD, the Temple of the LORD, the Temple of the LORD!" If you change your lives and do good things, I will let you live in this place. You must be fair to each other. You must be fair to strangers. You must help widows and orphans. Don't kill innocent people! And don't follow other gods, because they will only ruin your lives.

If you obey me, I will let you live in this place. I gave this land to your ancestors for them to keep forever. "'But you are trusting lies that are worthless. Will you steal and murder? Will you commit adultery? Will you falsely accuse other people? Will you worship the false god Baal and follow other gods that you have not known? If you commit these sins, do you think that you can stand before me in this house that is called by my name? Do you think you can stand before me and say, "We are safe," just so you can do all these terrible things? This Temple is called by my name. Is this Temple nothing more to you than a hideout for robbers? I have been watching you.'" This message is from the LORD

Jesus came near Jerusalem. Looking at the city, he began to cry for it and said, "I wish you knew today what would bring you peace. But it is hidden from you now. A time is coming when your enemies will build a wall around you and hold you in on all sides. They will destroy you and all your people. Not one stone of your buildings will stay on top of another. All this will happen because you did not know the time when God came to save you."

Jesus went into the Temple area. He began to throw out the people who were selling things there. He said, "The Scriptures say, 'My Temple will be a house of prayer.' But you have changed it into a 'hiding place for thieves.'" Jesus taught the people in the Temple area every day. The leading priests, the teachers of the law, and some of the leaders of the people wanted to kill him. But they did not know how they could do it, because everyone was listening to him. The people were very interested in what Jesus said.

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. There in the Temple area he saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, exchanging and trading people's money. Jesus made a whip with some pieces of rope. Then he forced all these men and the sheep and cattle to leave the Temple area. He turned over the tables of the money traders and scattered their money. Then he said to those who were selling pigeons, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a place for buying and selling!"

When this happened, his followers remembered what was written in the Scriptures: "My strong devotion to your Temple will destroy me." Some Jews said to Jesus, "Show us a miracle as a sign from God. Prove that you have the right to do these things." Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days." They answered, "People worked 46 years to build this Temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?"

But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. After he was raised from death, his followers remembered that he had said this. So they believed the Scriptures, and they believed the words Jesus said. Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Many people believed in him because they saw the miraculous signs he did. But Jesus did not trust them, because he knew how all people think. He did not need anyone to tell him what a person was like. He already knew.

The Jewish Passover

Jesus went to Jerusalem

Jesus saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. He saw others sitting at tables, exchanging and trading people's money.

Jesus made a whip with some pieces of rope. Then he forced all these men and the sheep and cattle to leave the Temple area. He turned over the tables of the money traders and scattered their money.

Jesus said to those who were selling pigeons, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a place for buying and selling!"

"My strong devotion to your Temple will destroy me."

They said to Jesus, "Show us a miracle as a sign from God. Prove that you have the right to do these things."

Jesus said, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days."

They said, "People worked 46 years to build this Temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?"

No, the temple Jesus meant was his own body.

The followers remembered that Jesus had said, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days."

The scriptures and the words Jesus said.

The Passover festival

They saw the miraculous signs Jesus did.

Because Jesus knew how all people think.

He already knew.