Advent Day 16 :: The Rebuilt Temple

“18So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.” (John 2:18-22)

So far we have seen Christ as Prophet (the mouthpiece of God), as Priest (the intercessor of man) and as King (ruler over all created things). Today we will see Christ as the rebuilt temple.

In our passage for today, Christ was referring to Himself as He spoke to the Jewish leaders who were questioning Him concerning the events that took place right before. Jesus came into the temple during passover only to find that it was riddled with tables in which people were selling “oxen and sheep and pigeons,” as well as “the money-changers sitting there.” (John 2:14). Jesus wasn’t too thrilled as we see that He clears out the temple by flipping over tables and driving out people and animals alike with whips of cord.

The temple was not made to be “a house of trade” (John 2:16).The temple was meant to be the center of worship. The first temple that was built was at the hands of King Solomon and was later destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar the Second of Babylonia. When Babylon was taken over by the Persians, the temple was rebuilt in a less elaborate state by Jewish exiles who were released to return to their homeland.

This brings us to Ezra. The opening verses of Ezra declares that God puts into motion these events that He foretold through the prophets. God’s hand becomes evident all throughout: sovereignly directing events and people whose aim it was to have a hand in Zerubbabel’s return and rebuild the temple (Ezra 1–6). It all continues to bring to life the redemptive plan God made from the very beginning in the Garden.

In God’s plan of redemption His focus was on His people who were created to worship Him. So, by the efforts of the returning exiles of Israel, amid the rubble and destroyed Jerusalem ruins, hope started to emerge more clearly for God’s promised King. God was providing the temple as a way for the Israelites to see His continued presence and promises. It would be a temple whose sacrifices would point ahead to the perfect sacrifice that would be needed for the redemption of God’s people. His very own Son, Jesus Christ. It was to be a temple that would incite worship to God and His glory, not to ourselves and our glory.

The book of Ezra closes (chapters 7-10) with the people of Israel gathering around the Word of God.

What’s at the center of your life right now? Have things been in disarray lately? With the chaos that has been happening all year long coupled with becoming caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season we begin to lose hope, or maybe you have lost it already. It continues to surround us and engulfs as we begin to prepare for Christmas morning. Let me encourage you not to forget the Advent, the coming, of our King and Savior. Hope isn’t lost. Hope is not found in our situations we face or the failed relationships that plague us. Hope is not found in a political party or the state of our finances. Hope is not a place or a thing. Hope is a person, and His name is Jesus. The One we were created to worship. The One we were created to be in relationship with since the Garden of Eden.

Maybe this Christmas you can start by gathering your loved ones and yourself to read the account of Jesus’ birth and reflect on all that God has done for you this year. Reflect on the fact that Hope is well and alive. The celebrations and gifts aren’t a bad thing, but let’s not let them overshadow the ultimate gift given to us by God the Father which became the reason for the angels to celebrate that night before the shepherds.

Let us begin to rebuild in ourselves a heart of worship to God and give glory to the One who is our hope.

Further Reading: Ezra 3:7-13; Nehemiah 2:11-20

Photo by Levi Meir Clancy on Unsplash