Earlier this year, we read through the Gospel of John. In chapter 2 we saw ‘the bridegroom’ getting credit at a glorious wedding feast after Jesus demonstrated His power and authority by changing water into wine. Next, we saw Jesus clearing the Temple courts – for the house of God had been changed into a marketplace. The leaders challenge His authority and in John 2:19 Jesus answered them: ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’
🙏 Our Dear Heavenly Father – without Jesus we have no access to You. Without Jesus as our perfect sacrificial Lamb, our sins would still stain us, forever marking us as unholy – unworthy to be in Your Holy Presence. But You, God, in Your loving kindness, provided this sacrifice as well as His resurrection, ascension, and the promise of His return as The King of Your Kingdom. As committed followers of Jesus, let us draw near to You through some of the more challenging teachings of Your Son, Our King, Jesus. Let us hear these Words with open ears. Let the truth of these Words plant deep in our minds; let the roots dig deep into our hearts and our souls. It is in His mighty Name we pray. Amen.
We made note last time that John 2 precedes one of the most well-known verses in scripture, John 3:16. Yet, sometimes we project own interpretations on to this beautiful verse, neglecting what was taught in the previous chapters and verses. Today we focus on ‘The Temple’. Today we recognize that if Jesus identified with the temple, we should have some understanding of the temple as it unfolded throughout the Old Testament and into the first coming of Jesus.
The Bible reveals the unfolding story of God’s intervention in our world, since the day He create us in His image – Our history is HisStory – and it doesn’t change. (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8, James 1:17) This is true whether or not we understand it (Isaiah 55:8-9) – it is true whether or not we accept it. (Proverbs 1:24-25, John 3:36, Hebrews 11:6)
Let’s go through a high-level overview of the Bible with a focus on the temple. The temple’s first appearance in Scripture does not occur until 2 Samuel 7:2 when King David desires to build a ‘permanent house’ for the ark of God instead of a ‘tent.’ Prior to that moment God’s story reveals:
Genesis – God’s Creation
Genesis 3 – The first generation of mankind, Adam and Eve, succumbed to the temptation of evil and sinned against God. They were cast out of God’s presence, forfeiting eternal life with Him.
Genesis 4 – The second generation, Cain and Abel, showed one brother murdering another, rejecting God’s warning to rule over the temptation of evil. (Mankind is NOT off to a good start.)
From Genesis 5:1 through Genesis 6:11 – we see that although God created mankind in the His own likeness, the world under the authority of man was corrupt and full of violence. But God showed favor on one man, Noah. The flood came and all of the earth is destroyed apart from those saved in the ark – Noah, his family and the animals. God tells Noah and his family to be fruitful and multiply; He makes a covenant with Noah that never again will a flood be used to destroy the earth. (Genesis 9:11-12)
In Genesis 10 and Genesis 11 – we are told how the sons of Noah were fruitful in the table of nations and we see mankind’s bent towards self in the building of the tower of Babel – to make a name for themselves – apart from God. God’s response? Not a flood, but a confusing of their language, a scattering of the peoples, and an introduction to Abram – a descendant of Shem, a son of Noah.
From Genesis 12 through the end of Genesis, we see God’s selection of a single man through which a new nation would be established. The nation of Israel – a nation set apart for God, that could lead people from many nations back to God. These chapters contain some of most incredible stories of God’s presence and power, along with the continuation of man’s selfishness and disobedience; the reader is shown, very clearly, that if God were not faithful to His promises, we wouldn’t have a chance for eternal life – we wouldn’t have any reason for hope. These chapters follow this pattern of God’s goodness and man’s rebellion – this time, with the spotlight on the chosen nation of Israel.
Chapters 12 – 23 focus on generation 1 – Abraham. We see Abram and Lot, Melchizedek, God’s 1st covenant with Abram, Hagar and Ishmael, God’s 2nd covenant with Abram, now renamed to Abraham, circumcision, Abraham’s pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah – then God’s destruction of these cities, then Lot, his wife, and his two daughters – Lot’s wife’s disobedience and the incestuous relationships that lead to the birth of those who will father the nations of the Moabites and the Ammonites – future enemies of Israel. The birth of Isaac, the ejection of Hagar and Ishmael, the testing of Abraham’s faith and the death of Sarah.
Chapters 24 – 27 focus on generation 2 – Isaac. Here we see God’s beautiful provision of a wife, Rebekah, for Isaac. We can sense the murmurings of evil in the background – from Rebekah’s family, the reminder of Ishamel’s growing family, and the pregnancy of Rebekah – for inside her womb are two nations – Jacob and Esau – already beginning to jostle. (Genesis 25:23) Esau is depicted as stronger and self-reliant, Jacob as craftier. i.e. skilled at deception. Isaac favored Esau; Rebekah favored Jacob. We see Isaac repeating the behavior of Abraham in claiming his wife as his sister – an act of self-reliance for protection instead of trusting the covenantal promise of God. This sections ends after seeing Jacob take advantage of his brother Esau’s hunger (Genesis 25:34) and his father’s diminished capacity (Genesis 27:19) thus taking both the birthright and the blessing of Esau for himself.
Chapters 28 – 50 depict the wild ride of Jacob, the last of the patriarchs of Israel. He must flee from his family to escape the ire of Esau. Jacob is told by his father, Isaac, to find a wife by returning to Rebekah’s family. At Bethel, in a dream, Jacob is given a covenantal promise from God. (Genesis 28:13-15) He travels on toward Harran, the place of Rebekah’s family. He sees Rachel and falls in love – she is the daughter of Laban, Rebekah’s brother. Here is where we see Jacob get humbled as he is now at the receiving end of deception at the hands of his Uncle Laban. He is first welcomed by Laban, then manipulated into working 7 years for the hand of Rachel only to wake up and find he’s married to her older sister Leah. He works another 7 years for Rachel. The two sisters fight for his love and involve their servant women, Bilhah and Zilpah. With these 4 women, Jacob fathers 12 sons and a daughter, Dinah. When Jacob and his family leave Laban, the trials of his family continue as he must first wrestle with God as he fearfully prepares to meet his brother Esau. Jacob is renamed, Israel, meaning ‘he who struggles with God.’ The story continues following Jacob and his family and focuses on Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph – the eldest son of Rachel. His brothers conspire to sell Joseph as a slave where he is brought to Egypt, serves honorably and ends up unlawfully imprisoned. But God has kept Joseph through these troubling times until the moment when Pharaoh is frightened by his own dreams. A former cellmate who was imprisoned with Joseph remembers his gift of interpreting dreams; Pharaoh calls for Joseph to help him. Joseph gives God the credit for interpreting dreams and reveals God’s truth to Pharoah. Pharoah elevates Joseph to 2nd in command over all of Egypt. The end of the story reveals the reconciliation of Jacob’s family – about 70 in all. Before he dies, Jacob pronounces his blessing on each of his sons; then Joseph extends great forgiveness to his brothers.
Exodus – God’s Deliverance
This book reveals that new leadership in Egypt had forgotten all that Joseph had done for them and now the Israelites were so numerous that they were feared by the Egyptian pharaoh. We read of how the Israelites were made slaves, the Hebrew midwives were told to kill the boy babies, the Egyptian people are ordered to throw the baby boys into the Nile river. But God… enter baby Moses who is left in a small floating boat on the Nile only to be found by Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses is raised in the palace until he witnesses an Egyptian beating a Hebrew slave and kills the Egyptian, then hides the body. The next day, two Hebrews are fighting and Moses tries to intervene and talk them into a peaceful resolution. He is mocked by one of them… Are you going to kill me like you did that Egyptian? Since his crime was known, Moses ran to Midian. He married Zipporah and tended the flocks of his father-in-law, Jethro.
One day, while tending those flocks, Moses sees a bush that seemed to be on fire, but it did not burn up. When he draws near to investigate, God speaks and reveals His plan to deliver the nation of Israel from their slavery to Pharaoh through Moses.
We read about the plagues of destruction that are inflicted on Egypt, by God, through Moses because of Pharaoh’s refusal to let the Israelites go to worship their God. (Each plague shows dominance over each of the gods that the Egyptians worshipped.)
The final plague is to send the angel of death to kill the first-born male of each household in Egypt. The Israelites are commanded to sacrifice a lamb and to paint their door frames with this blood indicating that the angel of death should ‘pass over’ these homes. (This Passover Feast is still celebrated today.)
After the death of his son, Pharaoh permits the Israelites to leave… only to change his mind shortly after. The ultimate showdown occurs when the presence of God stands between the Israelites and the Egyptian army. Israel was trapped – the army behind them and the Red Sea in front of them. But God… orders Moses to get going! Raise your staff, stretch out your hand over the sea and divide the water! He does and it does. The Israelites cross over on dry land, the Egyptians try to follow only to have the sea crash back over them, killing them.
Immediately, songs of praise rise from Israel. But three days of traveling through the desert without finding water – the people begin to grumble. Through Moses, God provides water and palm trees for them. (Exodus 15:25,27)
The ten commandments are issued – the first four remind us to honor and prioritize God, the last six remind us how we are to honor others made in His image. Love God; love others. (There is no commandment to love yourself.)
While Moses is getting these commandments, the first time, the Israelites are crafting a golden calf to worship and call their god. 🤦🏻♀️ After crushing this rebellion, Moses returns to get a new set of these commandments along with 613 laws. There are rules for feasts, sacrifices, the making of the Ark of the Covenant, the tabernacle and its furnishings. Moses’ brother, Aaron and Aaron’s sons are to be anointed to begin serving the people of Israel before God in the tabernacle, by a specific set of rules – they are called to be Israel’s first priests from the tribe of Levi.
Exodus ends when the tabernacle is completed. Moses could not enter the tent of the of meeting because the cloud had settled on it and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 40:35) At this point the tabernacle signifies the presence of the God among His people.
For forty years, in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, there are cycles of God’s people committing to God then grumbling, God providing, people satisfied, God defeating their enemies, people unsatisfied and rebelling, God crushing their rebellion, the people recommitting their promise to God… then the grumbling begins anew. (It is a sad read, to be honest.)
The tabernacle represented where God dwelled among His people, but it was not open to them. Only the purified, anointed priests from the tribe of Levi could represent the people of Israel before God. This was a great honor and a great responsibility, not to be taken lightly. In Leviticus 9 Aaron and his sons begin their priestly duties. In Leviticus 10, Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, presume to serve on their own terms… and they are struck down dead.
God had delivered Israel out of their bondage from Egypt for a reason. They are from the line of Abraham and are meant to lead many people from all nations back to God. (Genesis 22: 18) Only two of the original group that were delivered from Egypt will live to see the promised land – Moses’ assistant Joshua and Caleb, who demonstrated faith in the promises of God. (Numbers 14:9)
In Joshua, we read where the nation crossed over the Jordan river on dry land. They set up the tabernacle in Gilgal where the Israelites camped after crossing the river. Next, they conquered Jericho by marching around it 7 times and blowing trumpets, as the Lord commanded. But one man, Achan, disobeyed God by taking some of the forbidden things and hiding them in his tent. (A beautiful robe, some silver and gold.) Because of his disobedience, Israel fails to conquer the next town. We see a familiar pattern begin to emerge and we don’t hear about the tabernacle again until in Joshua 18:1 when it is relocated to Shiloh after most of the Canaanite nations have been defeated. And there it remains as the history of God and His people, Israel, moves into the books of Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel – where we see a few occasions of people returning to Shiloh to offer sacrifices. We are introduced to the prophet Samuel who guides the people with integrity, but his own sons don’t. The Israel people are determined to have a king as their ruler, like the neighboring nations – this is a complete rejection of God as their authority and their call to be a nation that stands apart from others.
God allows a king to be anointed as their ruler – one who meets all their expectations – King Saul. He too decided to honor God in a way that he saw fit and the kingdom is passed to David – a man after God’s own heart. Not a perfect man by any means, but by now, we’ve recognized that all men have a bent towards evil and human separation from God cannot be restored on man’s own terms.
After establishing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city, it is King David that determines to build a permanent house, a temple, to honor God’s presence among His people. (2 Samuel 7:2) It is his son, King Solomon, who actually builds the temple, but not until (1 Kings 5:5) in the 10th century BC. As with the tabernacle before, the temple signified God’s presence among His people. But the innermost part, the ‘Holy of Holies’ was an area that only the high priest could enter and only once per year, so that atonement of sins could be made through a sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:3,7) This area in both the tabernacle and the temple was separated by a thick curtain – reminding all who stood on the other side that going into the presence of God on their own terms would lead to the same result experienced by Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu – i.e., death. This is not a problem with man – who was created in the image of God – but a problem with the sin that inhabits man. Sin cannot be in the presence of a Holy and pure god.
After the reign of King Solomon, the Israelite nation is torn in two – two tribes in the south retain the capital city of Jerusalem but are renamed, Judah. They continue to worship at the temple. Ten tribes in the north retain the name Israel, a capital city is set up in Samaria and two golden calves are set up as their new places of worship. 😲 🐂 🤦🏻♀️
God sends prophet after prophet with warnings to remember all He has done for them and to return to their one true God. Most don’t listen. The northern tribes are defeated by Assyria and the people are taken into exile. The southern tribes hold out a little longer, but eventually they’re exiled to Babylon. Ending the reign of kings for the Israelite nation. Apparently having a ‘king’ like the surrounding nations wasn’t the answer. It is during this time we have the wonderful book of Daniel, a teenager exiled into Babylonian captivity with the capacity to interpret dreams through his faithful obedience to God. Readers see the hints… flashback to how God was with Joseph during his captivity in Egypt, God is faithful – never forgetting His people. God is with Daniel in Babylon blessing him with visions of the future earthly kingdoms. (Not to mention rescuing Daniel and his friends from a fiery furnace and a lion’s den! 😁)
After 70 years of exile, and the overthrown Babylon empire, Cyrus the king of Persia, allows the exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. We’re in the 5th century BC and into the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. There is great opposition from the surrounding people to allow the returning exiles to rebuild the city, the wall, and the temple.
For our purposes, there are two things to note here: (1) While the exiles had time and materials to rebuild their own homes, the work of the temple constantly stalled. (2) Haggai reminds them of their calling to be God’s people and to put God first – FINISH THE TEMPLE and He will bless all your work. Both of these notes are eerily familiar, even to Christians today – the first is where we tend to focus our resources, the second is what Jesus tells us to do instead. We should periodically reflect on our priorities. (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 11:28-29)
It is this 2nd temple that stood through the many regime changes – Persians, Greeks, Ptolemies, Seleucids, Romans… around 20 BC, Herod the Great renovates the Temple and renames it Herod’s Temple.
It is this elaborate rebuilt temple that stood in the day of Jesus. We read in John 2:13-22:
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Without knowing the history, it is difficult to understand this section of the Gospel where Jesus basically claims to be ‘the temple.’ THIS IS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.
- The ‘presence of God among His people’ is no longer confined to a single space where only a High Priest can enter once a year. The glory of God in Jesus – a man who travelled to some of the most hopeless people in the area – brought new life, new understanding, strength, and peace to real people in the midst of their real problems.
- At the death of Jesus, the actual curtain in Herod’s Temple was torn in two – from the top to the bottom – thus signifying there was no longer any barrier between man and God. This is ‘Good News’ indeed. Jesus’ death was the price paid for our sin – we can now come into the presence of God without suffering the same outcome of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Elihu. (Still, we must choose to go to Him in repentance, confessing our sins.)
- At the resurrection of Jesus, 3 days later, there is the empty tomb and a risen temple! We see His victory over death. It may have cost Jesus His earthly life, but he loved us enough to pay that cost – as a ransom for our slavery to sin. Though our earthly bodies may perish, our souls are guaranteed eternal life in His presence in new heavenly bodies.
- At the ascension of Jesus, sitting at the right hand of God the Father… the Lamb of God, our High Priest, is now our Eternal King – the fulfillment of all that Israel was called to be.
In 70 AD, Herod’s temple was completely destroyed by Rome, thus ending the sacrificial system to atone for sins. (God presence was no longer confined to a building.)
God doesn’t change and He is faithful. He surprises us continually – throughout history and daily in our own lives. He promised Abraham that he would be a father of many nations. (Genesis 22:18) Believers in Jesus Christ may have started as just His own Jewish disciples, but there are now followers of Jesus from all nations. Those of us that see Him as the fulfillment for all of God’s promises are compelled to stop and say… I believe. But I’m not sure what I believe. Now what?
We’re not alone in this response – Acts 2:14-37 records Peter’s words to the Jews at Pentecost, the last two verses show Peter ending with … ‘God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter’s answer was not complicated – Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.
We reflect on the moment that we became believers. We too were changed. We were given new life, we were given His Holy Spirit. We are now mini temples walking around with the power of the presence of God within us. How else do you explain the transformation of Peter – the former fisherman – denier of Jesus – now standing to address a large crowd of Jews during the feast of Pentecost. This takes some mental gymnastics to gain just a hint of understanding, but we see it demonstrated by the apostles in the New Testament. We see it demonstrated by followers of those apostles… and followers of those followers… it’s still generational, just as God had outlined for the nation of Israel. (Psalm 78:6-7, Psalm 71:18, Psalm 145:1-9 remind us to teach our children all that God has done – how He rescues, delivers, and saves.)
SUMMARY: There is no longer any tabernacle; no longer any temple. Ezekiel 36:26 tells us we are given a new heart and a new spirit. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 12:2 not to be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that it is impossible to please God on our own terms.
The prophet Haggai told the exiles when they returned from Babylon… Give careful thought… is it time to build your own house when the Lord’s house is not yet completed? Examine your priorities, its not too late. Jesus tells His listeners… Do not worry… Your Father knows what you need. Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.
If reading the Bible seems too daunting, maybe try the Gospel of John first. Or, read the book of Hebrews, it is a great summary of God’s unchanging nature and how the Old Testament is now fulfilled in Jesus. Or watch The Chosen for a fresh look at the life of Jesus and His disciples. Find a church with Bibles available and leaders that teach from them. There are so many resources available, there is no excuse.
It is wrong to put God second, thinking you can address your current issues today and deal with Godly things tomorrow. (Hebrews 3:13) Tomorrow is not guaranteed – if you’re breathing, thank God for the breath you take and spend time in His presence. He is with you so take time with the One who rescued you.
🙏🏻 Heavenly Father – it is almost too much for us to bear. Your goodness, your faithfulness, your love for us is like nothing we experience here on earth. But Paul tells the new believers in Philippi that You who began this good work in them will see it through until the return of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6) Help us see the truth of this in our own lives. Let us hold onto this truth so that we walk faithfully with You, leading the next generation to this same eternal kingdom. We ask this in the mighty name of our King Jesus. Amen.