After the wedding, where did Jesus go for a few days? Who was with him?
Do we know what happened there?
After that, where did they go?
Why? What holiday was it?
What did Jesus find in the temple?
What were the three things that he did to the moneychangers?
Who did Jesus say the Temple belonged to, or was for?
What did that action inspire the disciples to remember?
How did the Jews respond to this action?
What was Jesus’ answer?
How long had the temple taken to be built?
What was Jesus really talking about?
What was one of the long-term results of this statement?
During this Passover feast, what was the reason why many people came to believe him?
Why didn’t Jesus trust (or commit Himself to) them?
Why didn’t He need to have anyone tell Him about them?

Thought Questions

Do you think Jesus was out of place in his actions in the Temple? Why or why not?
What really was the Temple supposed to be? Who did it really belong to?
Of course churches don’t sell animals now; most churches don’t even have gift shops. Are there any other possible applications to what happens in churches today?
How do you think Jesus would feel, and what would He do or say, if He were to go to your church? Why?
Did the disciples understand the prophecies of the Old Testament? What was the result of their learning? Do you understand the prophecies? Considering this situation, do you think it might be an advantage to understand the connection between Biblical prophecies and being able to recognize their fulfillment?
Why do you think Jesus answered the Jews so cryptically? Was the purpose of His response for that situation then, or was He looking ahead to a future time?
Some of Jesus’ statements, as well as a great many others in the Bible, are difficult to understand. Looking at the difference in reaction between the Jews and Jesus’ disciples in this situation, what do you think a prerequisite for understanding some of those difficult statements might be? Can we always understand them right away, or might they be reserved for special times?
Does simply seeing miracles always cause people to believe? How about short-term versus long-term? Did Jesus trust all the people’s initial beliefs?
How does it make you feel to know that Jesus knows what is in you? Is there anything you would rather He not know so much about? Since you can’t change the fact that He knows it, what other choices can you make? What do you want Jesus to see in you?

My prayer is:
that I would know how best to honor God in His house;
that I would be able to know and understand the expanse of prophecies throughout the Bible;
that they would give me faith in Christ and the fulfillment of His word;
that my faith would not be based on signs and miracles but a deeper understanding of God’s character;
that, knowing and remembering that God sees all that is in my life, I would make choices that please Him.