John 2: 20-21
“They replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?’ But the temple he had spoken of was his body.”
The temple had always been the focal point of Jewish worship. Originally, at God’s instruction, the Israelites built a mobile temple they called a tabernacle. Then, in the time of Solomon, God allowed a stationary structure to be built; the First Temple. This temple was destroyed when the remainder of Israel was sent into exile for 70 years. The second temple was constructed about five centuries before the birth of Jesus and “rebuilt” by Herod beginning about 20 years before Jesus was born. The “forty-six years” mentioned to this passage refers to what was known as “Herod’s Temple” because Herod financed the project.
The Glory of God had been seen in the First Temple (1 Kings 6, 8), but not in the second. Not until Jesus arrived did the Temple see the Spirit of God again.
Q: If Jesus’ body was the new temple of God, what was in the temple that Herod had built?
1. Christ is God, therefore God was in the temple.
2. God is Omnipresent and continued to also reveal Himself to the High Priest within the Holy of Holies each year until His Son gave Himself as the sacrifice for all sins. At that moment the veil surrounding the Holy of Holies was torn from top to bottom allowing all mankind access to Himself through His Son Jesus Christ.
Herod’s temple became a statement of status and power for men.
If it was a place where sacrifices were done,..then it would be really smelly in there,..not to mention all the feces,..maybe there were a lot of people in there seeking for someone other than The One God has given them,..also all the smoldering fires from the burnt sacrifices,..and then there is the fly population because of all the dead carcasses,..I don’t picture the temple being a pretty place,..
Very interesting thoughts as always! Thank you for your comments. I found this verse personally challenging. How did God view the second temple? Was it different than his view of the first? Jesus clears the temple courtyard because of his zeal for his Father’s house. Clearly, Jesus saw the temple in the light of it’s role as the meeting place between God and Israelites. Until he died on the cross, the old covenant was still in place. The mind of God is amazing to study.
If Jesus’ body was the new temple of God, what was in the temple that Herod had built? I had to ask myself “Why did Herod rebuilt the temple in the first place?” In research I discovered that Herod’s true motivation for rebuilding the temple was to make it “bigger and better” than the one Solomon had built. Herod spent most of his time as the Roman-appointed king of Judaea building many fortresses, aqueducts, theatres, and other public buildings in an effort to “make a name for himself.” Herod’s “offering” was not to God, but to the world. I am reminded of Cain in Genesis 4:3-7
In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”
I think Herod’s temple was full of impression and not confession.
SPOILER ALERT (https://www.gotquestions.org/Herod-third-temple.html): Herod’s temple lasted until AD 70, which marked the end of the second temple era. At that time, after a long war between the Jewish Zealots and the Roman authorities, four Roman legions, led by Titus, besieged Jerusalem and burned down the temple. As the temple burned, the gold and silver ornamentation melted and seeped between the cracks in the stones. In their zeal for a stipend, the Roman soldiers took the temple apart, stone by stone, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy in Matthew 24:1–3.
Chris,
That is an interesting tidbit about why the temple was dismantled “stone by stone.” I also appreciate your comparison between Herod’s temple and Cain’s offering. You remind me that we are destined to struggle between motivations in this life. Why do we do what we do? God knows! My problem (well, one of my problems!) is not being sure of my own motivations. Well worth thinking about!