Joh 2:21 | KingComments | STEP | The Jews react very differently from the disciples to whom the Spirit can remind the Word. He cannot do this with the Jews because they reject the Son. They ask Him to show them a sign as proof that He has authority for this action. Jews are always looking for signs ( ). In the Gospels they always ask for it ( ). But he who is blind to the greatest sign, that is He Himself, cannot be convinced by any other sign. Yet He gives a sign. The sign He points out to them has to do with His body. He indicates to the Jews that they will break off His body, kill it. However, that is not His end. The Lord says He will rise again after three days. He speaks here of the power He has to rise from the dead Himself ( ). The Jews do not understand what He is talking about. They think that He is talking about the temple of Herod, which took forty-six years to build. As unbelievers, they cannot understand that either ( ). John explains to us as his readers that the Lord Jesus spoke of His body as a temple (cf. ). Even the disciples did not understand the full meaning of His words until after His resurrection. Then they also give powerful testimony of His resurrection ( ). His resurrection proves that He is God’s Son with power ( ).

‏ John 2:21

Question about the Sign of His Authority

The Jews react very differently from the disciples to whom the Spirit can remind the Word. He cannot do this with the Jews because they reject the Son. They ask Him to show them a sign as proof that He has authority for this action. Jews are always looking for signs (1Cor 1:22-23). In the Gospels they always ask for it (Mt 12:39-40 ; Mt 16:4). But he who is blind to the greatest sign, that is He Himself, cannot be convinced by any other sign.

Yet He gives a sign. The sign He points out to them has to do with His body. He indicates to the Jews that they will break off His body, kill it. However, that is not His end. The Lord says He will rise again after three days. He speaks here of the power He has to rise from the dead Himself (Jn 10:17).

The Jews do not understand what He is talking about. They think that He is talking about the temple of Herod, which took forty-six years to build. As unbelievers, they cannot understand that either (1Cor 2:14).

John explains to us as his readers that the Lord Jesus spoke of His body as a temple (cf. 1Cor 6:19). Even the disciples did not understand the full meaning of His words until after His resurrection. Then they also give powerful testimony of His resurrection (Acts 2:24-32). His resurrection proves that He is God’s Son with power (Rom 1:4).