Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 85 No. 2, 2015.
Original scientific paper
Messiah – The Builder of the Temple (Jn 2:13-22)
Mario Cifrak
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The Gospel of St. John sees in the temple the central place of Jesus’ activity and multiplies his visits to Jerusalem. The key text for that is the one on purification of the temple, which is closely connected to the so-called temple logion (cf. 2:19). Jesus was coming to Jerusalem at the feast of Passover. If the energetic action of Jesus (2:14-17) could be interpreted for itself in terms of temple purification, as well as in terms of announcing the temple’s destruction, the short dialogue on signs (cf. 2:18-20) and some additional remarks by the Evangelist John (cf. 2:21-22) are on this point – doubtless.The sanctuary with its cult and its victims will be abolished and instead replaced by the sanctuary of Jesus’ body. The purification and destruction of the Temple were also announced by the Old Testament texts and the Pseudo-epigrapha, as well as by the Qumran texts, whereas the builder of a new temple will be the Messiah according to TgJ Is 52:13 – 53:12. The new temple is the Risen Jesus Christ and his resurrection reminded his disciples of the Scripture and the Logos.
Keywords
Passover; purification of the temple; signs; the Holy Scripture; the Messiah
Hrčak ID:
141168
URI
Publication date:
10.7.2015.
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