I gave this some thought, and came to the realization that I am at fault for not properly presenting things. I am humbly sorry.
I realize now that things need to be completely explained...ok, Temple discussion redux
Jesus was clearing the Temple. This is the early part of his ministry by the way. He actually cleared the Temple twice.
John 2 13 The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18 The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Verses 18 - 22 are quite important
There are quite a few anomalies, and once you see them, then the passage becomes harder to understand.
1) Jesus says he will raise the Temple up. In reference to his resurrection, Jesus did not resurrect himself, God resurrected him.
2) Jesus gives a sign. The assumption is that this is the same sign as the sign of Jonah, because Jesus only gave one sign. However, that sign was for that generation, which ended AD73. So Jesus could have given another sign for future generations. (Matt 24 we see another sign spoken of)
3) Verse 22 is a reference to Luke 24:25-27, 44-46, where Jesus explained the scriptures about his resurrection to the disciples, after he had risen from the dead. So Now we can see that verse 21 onwards is in no way to be construed as Jesus explaining anything there at that moment, to the Jews. This is John editing in his understanding that was revealed after Christ had risen.
So actually there is a lot more going on here than meets the eye.