How could jesus do this?
18 November, 2009, 8:47 am
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
When Jesus destroyed this illegal market, he had the authority to do it. You see, its like if I were to walk into a group of hookers and drug dealers and start cuffing them and dragging them off, sooner or later someone is going to want to see a badge – some proof that I actually have the authority to do this.
We would all agree that their action is illegal. The question is, who am I to do something about it?
That’s what these people asked Jesus. They didn’t say “why are you doing this?” They wanted to see a badge. They had let it go on and even participated in it. But Jesus called them all out on their injustice and irresponsibility and they wanted to see a badge.
His answer was to tell them to destroy the “temple” (or the place where God lived) – and he would raise it again in three days. 
Of course they thought he was talking about this building that their fathers and grandfathers had labored for years to build. By the way, there is a piece of that building is still there – its called the wailing wall. It is a place faithful Jewish believers go and weep in anguish of their longing to see it rebuilt.
The dwelling of God that Jesus referred to was his own body. They did destroy it, and it was rebuilt – in three days.
Do not wail and wait for hope to come. It has already come. The one who has the authority has also proven that he has the power to wield that authority.
If you have ever thought to yourself – even in the quiet moments of your own soul, “who is Jesus to expect that I should do THAT?”
He is the one who restored his own life in three days, that’s who…
