Jn 2:13-22
The Temple of the body: Jesus’ statement on the destruction of the Temple—“Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (v 19)—is a Johannine reference to Jesus and his resurrection. John makes it clear in an editorial comment which follows the dialogue, “He was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this” (vv 21-22).
The cleansing of the Temple illustrates that the old ways have been eliminated by Jesus, according to John. Jesus declares that those who are members of his body no longer have need of the Temple.
The new Temple, the new dwelling place of God, is in the incarnation, the body and blood of Jesus, and in those who form the body of the Church. God is not interested in temples, according to John; God is interested in believers who form the temple of the body of Christ.
Those who believe know
that they worship the Father by their faith in his only Son. Those who do not believe demand for a sign. The sign has already been given—the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.