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, 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 in this statement, this _promise_, from Jesus.
Look at the Jews, completely misunderstanding. You can imagine them making themselves sad as they spoke of how long it took to make the current temple, which was a shade, a smidgeon, compared with the glory of what Solomon had built many generations previously (destroyed because of the sin of God’s people through Nebuchadnezzar).
Yet something greater than Solomon’s temple was here!
We find in Christ the heavenly realities that are mirrored dimly in the earthly copies (like the earthly temples).
Instead, Jesus calls us to think different.
Remember the kingdom is being built up, living stones, of which He is the capstone and the cornerstone.
His body was the temple of the Holy Spirit, and when placed into the earth 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 dwells with us!
And how much then this causes us to look forward, our great hope – 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 true, always the mirror that tells us the truth.
Please write Your word on our hearts today.
Please remind us of the promise of Jesus, that was fulfilled on that new Sabbath when He rose again.
Thank You for the gift of You the Spirit, who dwells with us here on earth.
Thank You for our great hope, glory – We hold onto this Lord.
Amen.