Now some [1] of the Jews who had remained in the Temple, being angry, asked Him: “What sign [2] dost Thou show us, seeing Thou doest these things?” Jesus, referring to His own Sacred Body, said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”[3]
The Jews, supposing that He spoke of the material Temple in which He stood, said to Him: “Six and forty years[4] was this Temple in building, and wilt Thou raise it up in three days?” But Jesus spoke of the temple of His Body[5]. Many other signs and wonders did He work in presence of the Jews, many of whom were converted. But many others would not be convinced of His Divinity. Like their fathers of old, they wilfully closed their eyes to the light of truth.
Among those who believed, was Nicodemus, a ruler[6] in Israel. He had a great desire to become a disciple of Jesus, and coming to Him by night[7] for fear of the Jews, he said to Him: “Rabbi, we know that Thou art come a teacher from God, for no man can do these miracles[8] which Thou doest, unless God be with him.” Then Jesus explained to him how he was to become a
- ↑ Some. These were the priests and elders, who were provoked at thisauthoritative proceeding on the part of Jesus.
- ↑ What sign. They meant to say: ‘‘This market is held in the outer court with our consent. If you take upon yourself to object to it, you must prove by some miracle (sign) that you have received the authority to do so from God Himself.”
- ↑ Raise it up. When Jesus perceived their unbelief, He would work no miracle then, but foretold to them his violent death at their hands and the miracle of his Resurrection on the third day.
- ↑ Six and forty years. Herod’s additions to the Temple were begun in the year 16 B. C. Jesus was now thirty years old, so that the building had already been going on for forty-six years.
- ↑ Temple of His Body. The Body of Jesus was, in fact, the temple of His Divinity. “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead corporally” (Col. 2, 9).
- ↑ A ruler. A member of the Sanhedrim. This was the highest court of justice among the Jews, and consisted of seventy-one members, priests, scribes, and elders, over whom the High Priest presided.
- ↑ By night. In order not to be seen. He feared to make known to his unbelieving townsfolk his belief in Jesus.
- ↑ These miracles. The miracles which Jesus had wrought in Jerusalem after the purifying of the Temple, had convinced Nicodemus that Jesus was sent by God. But he did not yet believe in His Divinity; he only believed Him to be a prophet. His will, however, was right, and he had an interior desire to be taught by Jesus about the kingdom of the Messias. Our Lord knew that Nicodemus desired to enter into the kingdom of God, and therefore explained to him the conditions of admission.
