Reading
SAA Notes
These two incidents set the scene for the whole of Jesus’ ministry. As Jesus began, so He will finish. Hence the Bible finishes with a wedding feast and a cleansed temple in Revelation.
SJA Notes
* Great God of hope and love, thank You for the steady and sure promises we read in Your word.
“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.'”
There is so much depth to this statement, this promise, from Jesus.
Look at the Jews, completely misunderstanding what Jesus said. You can imagine them making themselves sad as they spoke of how long it took to make the current temple – after their return from exile, a building which was a shadow, a smidgeon, compared with the glory of what Solomon had built many generations previously.
Yet something greater than Solomon’s temple was here!
We find in Christ the heavenly realities that are mirrored dimly in the earth copies (such as the temple buildings).
Jesus calls us to think different.
We are to remember that the kingdom is being built up, living stones, of which He is the capstone and the cornerstone.
Jesus’ body was the temple of the Holy Spirit, and this temple was raised back to life on the third day!
Our bodies here on earth, through the new birth, our hearts made new, are to be little tabernacles – Emmanuel, God dwelling with us!
How much then we look forward with great hope – To when the shadow and earthly will be no more. Instead we will be transported and transformed into the heavenly, the true realities – God with us in all fullness!
What a day that will be!
* Dear God Above,
Your word is always true, the mirror that always tells us the truth.
Please write Your word on our hearts today.
Please remind us of the promise of Jesus that was fulfilled on the first new Sabbath when He rose again.
Thank You Lord!
Amen.