Jesus in the Temple Court (March 11th)

Season of the Church Year: Lent (purple) 

Story in Scripture: John 2: 13-22

This week, we discussed a story that frequently leads to more questions than answers for adults and children alike. In sharing the story of Jesus’ reaction to the Temple being treated as a “marketplace,” we explored the ways that we use the gifts of God. Whether these gifts are our home, our body, our family, or our church.... how we treat them shows how we care about them. This story provides an excellent opportunity to discuss with your child where blessings originate. They may have some interesting insights about what belongs to God. Do our family, home, friends, health, possessions belong to God? How can we show respect for them? When discussing Jesus’s actions, we explained that Jesus was not sinning in his emotion. He was doing God’s work to help the people understand. Sometimes God uses shocking moments in our lives to bring our attention to something important. Finally, here is an excerpt from what the teacher may have said during the lesson:

“Then Jesus said something that was confusing for most people there. He said, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”’ The people argued and wondered what he meant. They knew the Temple had taken a long time to build. How could it be built again in only 3 days?? Hmmmm… but we understand that Jesus was talking about HIMSELF. He was a special Temple of God. When he died before Easter, there were three days, then he was made alive again.” This is such a wonderful opportunity to begin conversing with your child about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Please let me know if you need any guidance or resources to help.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

Now I wonder what it was like for the people at the Temple who saw Jesus knock these things over?

I wonder what Jesus’ friends were thinking?

I wonder how Jesus felt when he saw the people treating God’s Temple like that?

I wonder what the sellers thought after they realized who Jesus was?

I wonder if there are certain ways that we should behave in our church, which is like a Temple?

When something is God’s, we must treat it with respect and care. Can you think of anything that belongs to God?

I wonder how we should treat the things that belong to God?

Prayer:

“Dear God, thank you for this story of Jesus and what he did in the Temple court. It is strange to think of Jesus so upset, but we know that he truly cares about what we do and how we treat sacred things. Help us to think about the ways that we use the blessings in our lives. Help us to always use them to show how wonderful YOU are. Amen.”