Introduction

Good morning, beloved. It's a joy to gather together again in this sacred space, to be in the company of fellow believers, and to stand on the common ground of our shared faith. There's a certain comfort in knowing that we are all here seeking the same thing - a deeper understanding of God's word and a closer relationship with our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Today, we turn our hearts and minds to the Gospel of John, chapter 2, verses 13 through 22. Let's read together:

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, 'Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!' His disciples remembered that it is written: 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' The Jews then responded to him, 'What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?' Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.' 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. 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.

Jesus: The New Temple

In the passage we read, Jesus speaks of the temple in a way that confuses those around him. He speaks of destruction and resurrection, of a temple not made by human hands but by divine power. This is not the temple they know, the one they can see and touch, the one built of stone and wood. This is something different, something new. And it is in this newness that we find the heart of our message today.

Jesus is the new temple: He is the place where God dwells, the place where heaven and earth meet. He is the place of sacrifice, of atonement, of reconciliation. He is the place where we come to meet with God, to worship Him, to offer our prayers and our praises. And he is the place where God meets with us, where He reveals Himself to us, where He speaks His words of life and love. This idea of Jesus as the new temple is not just a metaphor or a symbol. It is a profound truth that shapes our understanding of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. It is a truth that has deep implications for our lives and our faith.

Consider the temple as a place of God's dwelling: In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where God's presence dwelt in a special way. It was the place where God met with His people, where He revealed His glory and His holiness. But now, in Jesus, we see a new and greater revelation of God's presence. Jesus is God in the flesh, the Word made flesh, the one in whom all the fullness of God dwells bodily. In Him, we see God's glory and holiness revealed in a new and greater way. We see God's love and mercy, His grace and truth, His power and wisdom. In Jesus, we see God as He truly is.

Consider the temple as a place of sacrifice: In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where sacrifices were offered for the sins of the people. It was the place where the blood of bulls and goats was shed, where the smoke of burnt offerings rose to heaven. But now, in Jesus, we see a new and greater sacrifice. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the one who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one who offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sins, the one whose blood was shed for us. In Him, we see the fullness of God's love and mercy, the depth of His commitment to our salvation.

Consider the temple as a place of worship: In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where the people of God came to worship Him, to offer their prayers and their praises, to seek His face and His favor. But now, in Jesus, we see a new and greater way to worship. Jesus is the true worshiper, the one who worships the Father in spirit and truth. He is the one who leads us in our worship, the one who teaches us to pray, the one who sings praises to God in the midst of the congregation. In Him, we see the fullness of God's desire for our worship, the beauty of His worthiness to be praised.

Consider the temple as a place of revelation: In the Old Testament, the temple was the place where God revealed Himself to His people, where He spoke His words of life and love, of law and promise. But now, in Jesus, we see a new and greater revelation. Jesus is the Word of God, the one who speaks the words of God, the one who reveals the heart of God. He is the one who shows us the Father, the one who makes known the mysteries of the kingdom, the one who declares the good news of God's love and salvation. In Him, we see the fullness of God's revelation, the clarity of His truth, the power of His word.

Jealousy for Righteous Worship

As we continue to reflect on the actions of Jesus in the temple, we are confronted with a powerful display of his zeal ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO