Christ: The Great Temple

"And he measured the court, a hundred cubits long and a hundred cubits broad, a square. And the altar was in front of the temple"

~ Ezekiel 40:47

"I tell you, something greater than the temple is here."

~ Matthew 12:6

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

"And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb."

~Revelation 21:22

Throughout biblical history, the temple (unlike other religious structures) signified God's presence with His people (as opposed to people's attempts to reach God in other religions). But the temple blueprint that God had given Israel was only meant to foreshadow the One who is Greater than the temple: Jesus the Christ. Let us see how that is so:

1) The Jewish temple was the place where God had chosen to dwell with His people (that is, those who had entered into the covenant by worshipping Him as the only true God). In Jesus Christ, God dwells with us since the Triune God dwells in Him (Colossians 2:9).

2) The temple was filled with the visible glory of God. In Jesus Christ, the glory "as of the only Son of the Father" shines in unparalleled radiance and splendour. (John 1:14)

3) The temple was where sacrifices were offered for sins by the High priest on behalf of the people. Jesus Christ on the cross became our excellent High Priest by offering nothing less than His own sinless body as the ultimate sacrifice for all our crimes (blessed be His name!).

Because of Him, anyone who repents of their sins against God Almighty and believes in Him becomes a priest unto God our Father (Revelation 1:6). We receive the Holy Spirit who makes our bodies the very temple of God so that the Creator Himself can live in us. And as priests, we must offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him by serving Him and not ourselves.

And praise be to our God who delivers those who love Him from an eternity without Him to dwell in that beautiful new earth where our beloved Lord Jesus will Himself be the Temple shining His goodness throughout Beulah land.