No particular reason is given in the Bible for this trip. Perhaps it is to visit friends or relatives; perhaps it is an
exploratory trip, since Capernaum would later become His headquarters. What is noticeable here is that He
is traveling with His family. This would soon not be the case, as many believe that a rift develops between
Y‘shua and His family, probably over His Messianic claims.
That brings us to our second adventure with Y‘shua. It is the account of those events that took place as
when Y‘shua was at Jerusalem celebrating His first Passover after being anointed by YHWH with the Spirit.
In Kanah, Y‘shua showed kindness to a family in need. In Jerusalem, Y‘shua will show another side of
Himself to a different group of Jewish people. He will deal with them in a very different way. Let‘s look at
verse 13:
Y‟shua clears the Temple In Jerusalem―And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem‖. (John 2:13)
He comes to Jerusalem at the Passover, and this is the first of four Passovers that will be mentioned in His
ministry. It is by the mention of these four Passovers that we are able to date His public ministry as lasting
approximately 3 ½ years.
Going up to Jerusalem to observe the Passover was not new to Y‘shua. He had done it yearly with His
family. But this year, having been immersed by Yochanan, and anointed with the Spirit of YHWH, it will be
different.
Let me ask you another question: what is every Jewish family supposed to do before they celebrate
Passover? Cleanse their homes of leaven - which is a symbol of sin, right? Well, the most important home in
Israel was YHWH‘s House - the Temple; and so Y‘shua, the rightful Son over YHWH‘s House, will cleanse
YHWH‘s House and remove those things which keep people from the worship of YHWH.
The prophet Malachi warned us that this is what the true Messiah would do. ――Behold, I (Adonai - the Lord)
am going to send My messenger (John the Baptist), and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord (Ha
Adon – the Messiah), whom you seek, will suddenly come to His Temple; and the Messenger of the
Covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming‖, says the Lord of hosts‖. (Mal 3:1)
YHWH speaking through the prophet Malachi, forewarned us that He would send the Messiah, who is the
Lord and YHWH‘s Messenger; the Messenger who brings the New Covenant. He would suddenly come to
His Temple, His Holy House in Jerusalem, and the first thing He would do is cleanse it thoroughly.
(2) ―But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a
refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap:
(3) And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness‖. (Mal 3:2-
3)
The Messiah would start with the leaders of the Temple: the Priests and the Levites, cleansing them like gold
and silver are purified by the refining fires, purifying them like dirty clothes are cleansed by strong laundry
detergent.
(14) ―And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of
money sitting:
(15) And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the
sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;
(16) And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an
house of merchandise‖. (John 2:14-16)
The cleansing of the Temple by Y‘shua is steeped in Jewish background. Rabbinic sources tell us that this
was a business venture of selling animals in the Temple area. The Pharisees called it ―the bazaar of the sons
of Annas‖. This was the name used because the family of Annas, which were Sadducees, controlled the
entire business venture in the Temple. Rabbi Shaul of Jerusalem said, ―Annas was the High priest, his sons
were the treasurers, and his sons-in-law were the assistant treasurers‖. Josephus tells us that the sons of
Annas were the holders of money, very rich and despoiling the common priests by open violence.
It is thought by some scholars that Y‘shua‘s action of cleansing the Temple of the moneychangers was
aimed at the early Shammiaite view adhered to by the Zealot priests who refused many of the offerings of