For the people of ancient Israel, everything centered around the temple in Jerusalem. This place is where their lives gained meaning and purpose. Where do you turn when the center of your life is destroyed? By the time John writes his gospel the temple has been destroyed in the rebellion of 70 A.D.
Jesus’ clearing the temple is more than a symbolic act. By his action that day, Jesus is pointing to what will replace the temple when it is gone. The disciples remember His words after the resurrection. “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days.” Jesus was talking about himself. He would become the center of life for people. Jesus would give life purpose and meaning.
In Jesus words are also a promise for us today. There are many things that can destroy a temple. The Roman army did. Today many a tragedy can cause us to destroy Jesus. We call it losing faith or declaring that God is dead. Jesus’ promise is that even when we do that He will not go away. He will rise again and remain with us when the very meaning of life is being taken from us. Jesus will not let us go. No matter what happens to us, Jesus will hold tight. In chapter 10 we are reminded that nothing can snatch us from Jesus hand. In his letter to the Romans Paul writes that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
What good news, God will always be faithful even if we are not. The disciples are truly seeing even greater things.