Dear families,
Jesus’ cleaning of the temple reveals His holiness as the Messiah and His willingness to take on our sin so that we, too, may be cleansed. In this passage, Jesus demonstrated His desire to honor His Father and do His will—a foretaste of the lengths He would go to cleanse us of our sin when we trust Him by faith.
Jesus confronted the immorality taking place in His Father’s house; however, He was not reacting rashly. Scripture tells us He took time to fashion a whip out of cords. Imagine Jesus weaving each cord while He pondered the holiness of His Father in heaven. Christ displayed His authority as the Son of God as He fulfilled the Passover tradition of cleansing one’s home of leaven.
God’s temple was to be a place of worship and prayer, not a marketplace for people to turn a profit. As the disciples witnessed the scene unfolding before them, they recalled the words of Psalm 69:9, that zeal for the house of God would consume the Messiah. They watched Him cast off the sinful social norms of their day as He fulfilled the will of the everlasting Father.
When the Jews questioned Jesus’ authority in the temple, He responded with these prophetic words: “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” They failed, however, to realize that He wasn’t speaking about the structure in which they stood; rather, He declared that though His body would soon be destroyed on the cross, He would rise again after three days’ time.
Pray that the children you teach will recognize the holiness of God and the willingness of His Son to take on the punishment we deserve for our sins. Lead them to see that Christ has already borne our shame on the cross and completed the work needed to secure our salvation. May they turn to Him to be cleansed of their sin.
Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
STORY POINT
This is the main point to emphasize from today’s Bible story.
- Preschool: Jesus cleaned out the temple.
- Kids: Jesus knew people’s sin and cleaned out the temple.
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
- Babies & Toddlers: Jesus came to save sinners. When we trust in Him, God forgives our sins.
- Younger Preschool: Jesus came to save sinners. He did it by dying on the cross and coming back to life on the third day. When we trust in Him, God forgives our sins.
- Older Preschool: Jesus cleansed the temple. He also came to cleanse people from sin by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. When people trust in Jesus, God cleanses them of their sins, and they will worship Him forever.
- Kids: Jesus showed His desire to honor God by cleansing the temple of sinful practices. All sin offends God’s glory and will be punished. Jesus took the punishment our sin deserves so that anyone who trusts in Him will be cleansed of sin.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
- Younger Preschool: Did Jesus ever sin? No, Jesus never sinned.
- Older Preschool: Did Jesus ever sin? No, Jesus never sinned.
- Kids: Did Jesus ever sin? No, Jesus never sinned.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
- Babies & Toddlers: Jesus came to take away sin; there is no sin in him. 1 John 3:5
- Younger Preschool: He was revealed to take away sins, and there is no sin in him. 1 John 3:5
- Older Preschool: He was revealed so that he might take away sins, and there is no sin in him. 1 John 3:5
- Kids: You know that he was revealed so that he might take away sins, and there is no sin in him. 1 John 3:5
** Next week: Jesus and Nicodemus (John 3)
Imago Dei Church Kids Ministry 