John 2:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

NIV: They replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?'

NASB: The Jews then said, 'It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?'

CSB: Therefore the Jews said, "This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days? "

NLT: What!' they exclaimed. 'It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?'

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

NKJV: Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”

The temple was massive and beautiful. Solomon had built a gorgeous structure (1 Kings 6), which was unfortunately raided by the Egyptians a few decades later (2 Chronicles 12:1–5). Israel eventually rebuilt it, as described in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. This "Second Temple" was being upgraded by Herod at the time Jesus began His ministry. It was the center of Jewish worship, and absolutely necessary for proper sacrifices to God. In verse 19, when asked to perform a miracle, Jesus claims that He can rebuild a destroyed temple in three days.

In this gospel, "The Jews" are usually the scribes, Pharisees, and other religious leaders. They would have been offended at the idea that something so important could be so easily rebuilt. In fact, Jesus was predicting His own death and resurrection. This statement will be used against Jesus both during His trials (Matthew 26:61) and as heckling when He was crucified (Matthew 27:40). Sadly, in AD 70, the temple would be completely obliterated by Rome.

John 2:13–23 describes Jesus driving corrupt businessmen from the temple. Selling sacrifices to travelers was not a problem. The sin was in gouging the people, focusing on money, rather than serving God. Jesus is never depicted as out of control, but His anger is clear. It’s likely that this is an early temple cleansing, and the other gospels record a second, separate cleansing. Jesus’ authority is challenged by the authorities. In typical Hebrew style, they demand a miraculous sign. Jesus instead predicts His own death and resurrection. This passage is in contrast to the quiet, joyous miracle at the wedding.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This is symbolic of His transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred place into a market place.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus’ “signs,” or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will grow more and more spectacular, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is very different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus’ first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 4/28/2024 8:14:52 AM