Theology Thursday
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.
John 2:18-22
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
God’s desire has always been to dwell with His people as they fulfilled His purpose of knowing Him and enjoying Him forever. In the Beginning, God walked with Adam & Eve in the temple-garden that was Eden. But sin led to their exile from the garden and from His presence.
God would occasionally come down to dwell with man again. He appeared to Abraham as the Angel of the Lord, to Jacob as a man he wrestled with and to Moses in a burning bush. But it was only with the redemption of Israel that God showed the next stage in His dwelling process.
Israel was commanded to build first a tabernacle (a big tent) where God would come and dwell in their midst. Eventually this turned into a great temple built in the time of Solomon. But even as God dwelled in the inner sanctum - the holy of holies. It was only one Israelite (the High Priest) and only once a year that He could truly enter God’s presence.
In Israel, compared to the Edenic walking in the garden, God held His presence at a distance to Israel and even more so to all humanity.
But in Jesus Christ, God tabernacled amongst us (John 1:14). The fullness of God’s presence in the person of Jesus dwelled among us and through His death & resurrection created a new temple. This temple is not made of timber or stone. Instead, it is Christ’s body. When we spiritually dwell with Him through His Spirit, we are joined to His body and His presence is with us always.
Now we too are the temple of the Holy Spirit where God dwells. We again walk with God. He never leaves us. And we worship Him with our whole lives. But one day, we will again see Him face to face. It will be greater than Eden because there will be no more trials, only eternity with God & His people, dwelling in the paradise of the new creation.
For Today:
Pray:
Praise the Father for His overflowing love and mercy. Give thanks for Christ who made a way for us to dwell with our God again. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help us know His presence and be strengthened by Him.
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.
John 2:18-22
We are doing a series on Biblical Theology. Tracing Biblical themes as they are revealed throughout the Bible and reach their ultimate expression in the person, work and effects of Jesus.
God’s desire has always been to dwell with His people as they fulfilled His purpose of knowing Him and enjoying Him forever. In the Beginning, God walked with Adam & Eve in the temple-garden that was Eden. But sin led to their exile from the garden and from His presence.
God would occasionally come down to dwell with man again. He appeared to Abraham as the Angel of the Lord, to Jacob as a man he wrestled with and to Moses in a burning bush. But it was only with the redemption of Israel that God showed the next stage in His dwelling process.
Israel was commanded to build first a tabernacle (a big tent) where God would come and dwell in their midst. Eventually this turned into a great temple built in the time of Solomon. But even as God dwelled in the inner sanctum - the holy of holies. It was only one Israelite (the High Priest) and only once a year that He could truly enter God’s presence.
In Israel, compared to the Edenic walking in the garden, God held His presence at a distance to Israel and even more so to all humanity.
But in Jesus Christ, God tabernacled amongst us (John 1:14). The fullness of God’s presence in the person of Jesus dwelled among us and through His death & resurrection created a new temple. This temple is not made of timber or stone. Instead, it is Christ’s body. When we spiritually dwell with Him through His Spirit, we are joined to His body and His presence is with us always.
Now we too are the temple of the Holy Spirit where God dwells. We again walk with God. He never leaves us. And we worship Him with our whole lives. But one day, we will again see Him face to face. It will be greater than Eden because there will be no more trials, only eternity with God & His people, dwelling in the paradise of the new creation.
For Today:
- What strikes you about the Biblical Theology of God’s dwelling place?
- Do you know that God dwells with you even now?
- What do you look forward to about dwelling with God forever?
Pray:
Praise the Father for His overflowing love and mercy. Give thanks for Christ who made a way for us to dwell with our God again. Ask God for His Holy Spirit to help us know His presence and be strengthened by Him.
Posted in Theology Thursday
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