The True and Greater Temple
Jesus is the true Sanctuary of God that was foreshadowed in the ancient religious structures and worship rituals of the nation of Israel. He is the dwelling place of God’s presence and glory and the true and final mediator between Heaven and Earth. The man from Nazareth was the Temple “made-without-hands” that was destroyed by evil men but restored when his Father raised him from the dead.
With his death and
resurrection, questions about the proper
location of the Temple building are no longer
relevant. With his arrival, “the hour is coming, and NOW IS when the true
worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Holy ground is
found wherever he is - (John 4:20-24).
[Photo by Tim Bogdanov on Unsplash]
In him, the fullness of God
dwells forevermore, and Jewish
and Gentile believers are “circumcised with
the circumcision made-without-hands.” Once restricted to the outer courts
of the Temple complex in Jerusalem, Gentile followers of Jesus now have full
access to the presence of Yahweh through His Son.
Moreover, the “middle wall”
of separation between Jews and Gentiles has been dismantled by Jesus FOREVER. Attempting
to erect it again by rebuilding the old structures is a fool’s errand - (Colossians
2:9-17).
His disciples are quickened in
him. No longer are they subject to the calendrical cycles, dietary restrictions, and assigned holy
spaces of the old Levitical order. Such practices
were no more than “shadows of the coming things.” What was foreshadowed in
the old system has come to fruition in Jesus in all its glory and fullness.
God never
intended to achieve perfection through the Levitical system; otherwise, He
would not have promised a greater priest and a “better sacrifice.” The
change of priesthood meant also a “change of law.” The Levitical system
was powerless to perfect anyone, therefore, Jesus became the “guarantor of a
better covenant,” appointed to a better and an “un-transmissible
priesthood” - (Hebrews 7:11-28).
He inaugurated the “new and better covenant” that was “legislated on better
promises.” The old covenant was “not faultless,” and it was incapable
of achieving the “purification of sins” so desperately needed by his “brethren.”
Moreover, the arrival of the promised New Covenant has rendered the old one “obsolete”
- (Hebrews 1:1-3, 8:1-13, Jeremiah 31:31-33).
THE SUPERIOR HIGH PRIEST
The Son is the supremely superior High Priest, the
final mediator who entered the “greater and more perfect Tabernacle, one NOT
made-with-hands,” where he appears in the presence of God to intercede for
his people. He is the “True
Light of the World,” and not Ancient Israel or any stone building erected
by men in old Jerusalem - (John 1:4-9, Luke 1:78-79, 2:32, Acts 26:23, Hebrews 9:11-24).
The
mission given to Israel at Sinai to be a witness and light to the nations has now
fallen to Jesus and his disciples. He fulfills that role because he is the true
Israel of God and the “light” that enlightens all men who embrace him. Likewise,
his disciples are lights in this world but only as they reflect his light and
testimony - (Matthew 5:14, Philippians 2:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:5, Revelation
1:20).
He came to
the “circumcision to confirm the promises made to the fathers.” This
included the promise that the “Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.”
As Isaiah prophesied, Jesus was the “root of Jesse risen to reign over the
Gentiles,” and he now reigns over the nations in this present age, the “Ruler
of the Kings of the Earth” - (Romans 15:8-9, Revelation 1:4-6).
The Gospel is proclaimed to all
nations “for the obedience of faith,” as promised by the prophets. The Scriptures
foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles just as Yahweh promised Abraham - “In
you will all nations be blessed.” This is occurring now in Abraham’s seed, Jesus, whenever and
wherever his Gospel is proclaimed - (Romans 16:25-26,
Galatians 3:16).
[Photo by Alberto Restifo on Unsplash]
When he
testified before the Sanhedrin, Stephen reminded the priestly authorities that
“the Most High does not dwell in places made-by-hand.” The Temple
building and the Tabernacle were man-made structures – Shadows and types
of the true habitation of God’s Spirit, namely, Jesus Christ and his “Body,
the Assembly of the saints.”
With his
victory over sin, Satan, and death, the time of shadows has come to an end. He
is the ‘telos,’ the “goal” of the Mosaic legislation. The structures of
the old regime have reached their intended conclusion, and now Jesus is the True
and Final temple forevermore - (Romans 10:4).
The New Testament does not abandon
the promises of an ideal temple described in the Hebrew Bible, but it reinterprets
them in consideration of the teachings, death, and resurrection of Jesus of
Nazareth. The promises are not forsaken or replaced but
fulfilled in and by him.
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| [Photo by Tim Bogdanov on Unsplash] |
In him, the fullness of God dwells forevermore, and Jewish and Gentile believers are “circumcised with the circumcision made-without-hands.” Once restricted to the outer courts of the Temple complex in Jerusalem, Gentile followers of Jesus now have full access to the presence of Yahweh through His Son.
He came to the “circumcision to confirm the promises made to the fathers.” This included the promise that the “Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.” As Isaiah prophesied, Jesus was the “root of Jesse risen to reign over the Gentiles,” and he now reigns over the nations in this present age, the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth” - (Romans 15:8-9, Revelation 1:4-6).
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| [Photo by Alberto Restifo on Unsplash] |
When he testified before the Sanhedrin, Stephen reminded the priestly authorities that “the Most High does not dwell in places made-by-hand.” The Temple building and the Tabernacle were man-made structures – Shadows and types of the true habitation of God’s Spirit, namely, Jesus Christ and his “Body, the Assembly of the saints.”
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