The Messiah in the Temple

Intro

Building of the Temple

REVIEW: Two weeks ago, we journeyed with King David as he brought the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. After a failed attempt and a time of repentance, we saw he prepared a tent for the Ark of the Covenant, and it was brought into Jerusalem according to the instructions God had given, and in an atmosphere of praise and worship.

As time went on, as the nation of Israel was established in its land, with Jerusalem as its capital, as it found rest from its enemies…we see in 1 Chronicles 17 (I’m just going to summarize it for us this morning), David had in his heart to build a permenant Temple to the Lord to replace the Tabernacle, the moveable tent that the Lord had led Moses and Israel to build and take with them through their wilderness wonderings. And basically, the Lord’s response was, Yes, this is good…but it would be David’s son who would build it.

So David moves forward…leading the army of Israel to defeat their remaining enemies, and he leads Israel into a time of peace. The Lord leads David to the place the Temple will be built, and then David begins preparing…He organizes the Levites, the priests, musicians, gatekepers, treasures, other officials and he begins collecting offerings for the temple: gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, were all given, and we’re told in 1 Chronicles 29:9 “Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.”

David then eventually dies, and his son Solomon becomes King.

And we pick things up…

2 Chronicles 3:1-2

This is a magnificent structure that is built. Far larger and more ornate than the tabernacle. It’s wideth and depth was twice that of the tabernacle, and its height 3 times that of the tabernacle. Instead of curtain walls and a dust floor, much of the Temple’s interior was covered in gold. It was a permanent building, rather than a tent. And it took 7 1/2 years to build.

When it’s finally completed, once all the the furnishings are brought in, and when the Ark of the Covenant is laid within the Holy of Holies, the innermost part of the Temple…Solomon dedicates the Temple. And that’s where we’re going to focus our attention this morning.

Turn with me to 2 Chronicles 6. We’re going to read chapter 6, verse 1, all the way through to chapter 7, verse 3, then we’ll walkthough and highlight certain aspects of this dedication.

READ 2 Chronicles 6:1 - 7:3

Understanding the Purpose of the Temple

What was the purpose of the Temple? What role did it play in the life of the people of God?

Here’s some important things we need to see and understand:

The location was chosen by God. “…but I have chosen Jerusalem that my name may be there…” (6:6)

The Temple was God’s plan. “You spoke with your mouth, and with your hand have fulfilled it this day) (6:15)

It was the place God would meet with His people.

2 Chronicles 6:18–21 ESV

“But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built! Yet have regard to the prayer of your servant and to his plea, O Lord my God, listening to the cry and to the prayer that your servant prays before you, that your eyes may be open day and night toward this house, the place where you have promised to set your name, that you may listen to the prayer that your servant offers toward this place. And listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen from heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.

As He met with His people in this place, we see the realities in Solomon’s prayer of what God would do and provide for them:

Provide Justice (vs. 23)

When someone is wronged and sinned against, God would “vindicat[e] the righteous”

Forgive (vs. 25)

This is really the first time in the narrative of Israel that we see the reality of forgiveness really expounded upon. Up until this, there’s been a lot of talk about obedience vs. disobedience and the consequences of both. But here we see this beautiful picture of the forgiveness God will bring to His people when they return to Him in repentance.

Restore (vs. 26-31)

When the people faced the just consequences for their rebellion, but then turned in repentance, God would restore their land

Save the Foreigner who Sought Him (Vs. 32-33)

This wasn’t just a place to meet with God for the nation of Israel, but we see here fleshed out this reality of God’s salvation reaching the nations of the world. When foreigners hear of God’s Great Name and seek Him in this place…God will hear their prayer.

Bring Victory to His People (Vs. 34-35)

As the people follow God’s lead, as they go to battle when He calls them, going “whatever way [He] shall send them”, God will “maintain their cause”

And in summary, again, reiterated: Bring Forgiveness and Restoration to His People

I love the language Solomon uses here… “We’re gonna mess up!” ; “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin…”

“…if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart…then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their please, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.”

This is a beautiful prayer of dedication, pointing to the realities of who God is and how He will meet with His people, providing for all of their needs. But it’s a prayer of Solomon…will it actually come to pass? Is this prayer in alignment with God’s plans and purposes and character?

What happens next shows us…

God’s Glory Fills the Temple

READ 2 Chronicles 7:1-3

God’s glory fills the Temple. Fire fell and consumed the offerings and sacrifices. The priest couldn’t even enter the Temple because of the glory that filled it. And the people’s response when they saw it: WORSHIP!

“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

What an amazing moment. What an absolutely remarkable, astounding thing to witness and be a part of!

And now here comes our question…

As the Glory of God fills the Temple, as His people cry out to Him in worship, WHERE IS THE MESSIAH? Where is Jesus?

The Messiah in the Temple

Turn with me to John 2. Jesus has just started His ministry. He’s turned water into wine…and then we pick things up in John 2:13-22, this interesting account…

READ John 2:13-22

So what’s going on here?

First thing to note: this isn’t Solomon’s Temple…that one gets destroyed. This is the 2nd Temple, what’s known as Zerubbabel’s Temple, built after the Babylonian Exile, and then was expanded by Herod, the King of Judea in the 1st Century, so just shortly before these events would have taken place.

But Jesus comes in, and the Temple, which was supposed to be the place of God’s presence among His people, the focal point of their worship, of forgiveness and restoration, it instead has become a house of trade. It had been turned into something it was never meant to be…

It was a market…buy your way into the presence of God…purchase your forgiveness and restoration.

And so…Jesus flipped tables.

Side Note Here: People like to point to this passage and use it to justify all sorts of civil disobedience, aggression, all sorts of things. But let’s be very clear hear WHY Jesus was flipping tables. It was when those who were supposed to be leading people to Him, were instead creating barriers and blockades, and turning the whole system into something it was never meant to be.

So…if you want to flip tables…if you want to cause a scene…let’s make sure we understand when and how Jesus did these things.

And if you want to talk more about that…let’s grab a coffee sometime…

But back to this narrative…Jesus flips tables, he runs them out, and then the Jews (this would be the Jewish leaders, the religious leaders), ask Him: “What sign do you show us for doing these things?”

Basically, what right do you have to do this, and what sign are you going to give us proving you have the right to come into the Temple, flip tables, and start defining where, when and how people can approach God?

Jesus’ response: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Don’t miss what’s happening here! Jesus isn’t just being pithy. He isn’t being flippant with His words. He’s making a startling, radical, and history - changing statement: He was identifying Himself as the Temple.

The Temple wasn’t the end game. The Temple was pointing forward to something else…to someONE else…

At one time, the Temple was the place of God’s presence among His people, the focal point of their worship, where they were to find forgiveness and restoration. But it was pointing ahead to something far great, to someONE far greater…

Jesus Himself. God Himself, who took on flesh.

Jesus is God’s Presence among His people. Jesus is the focal point of our worship. Jesus is the place we find forgiveness and restoration.

He fulfilled within Himself ALL that the Temple was pointing towards.

In Revelation 21, we’re given this amazing, spectacular picture of what Eternity is going to look like, when God’s dwelling place is with us, in the New Heaven and New Earth, and listen to what it says:

Revelation 21:22 ESV

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

There is now no need of a location, a structure, a system of rules and regulations and sacrifices and rituals…

Jesus is the fulfillment of all of these things.

I wasn’t sure where to put this part, but I felt it fit here really well: The location of Solomon’s Temple is Mount Moriah. This is the same mountain God led Abraham to when He tested him and said to sacrifice Isaac. You remember the story…God told Him to sacrifice his son, his only son…but God provided a ram, a sacrifice to take the place of Isaac. This is the mountain where the Temple was built.

Timothy Keller, he was a Pastor and author, he describes it like this: “The knife of God’s justice that did not come down on Isaac, and later on came down on animal, after animal, after animal, finally came down on God’s Son.”

Church, Christ is our Temple. He is the fulfillment, the substitution, the sacrifice that was made in our place, so that we could have life!

And then this mind blowing reality—

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

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.

Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. The presence of Christ, of God Himself.

For those who embrace Christ for who He is, for what He has done—as the one, the only one, through whome we know God—the One, and only one, through whom we find forgiveness and restoration—

His presence comes to dwell within us!

The same presence that decended on the Temple in 2 Chronicles—that caused all who were looking on to fall ont heir knees in worship—that same prsence, the Glory of God, lives in us.

Conclusions

What do we do with this. What should our lives look like in light of this remarkable reality?

We don’t have to go to a particular location in order to meet with God.

This building we are in is not a Temple. This building is not the house of God, or a house of God. We, the Church, the people of God, are the house of God, because the fulfillment of what the Temple was, Jesus Christ, dwells within us. This building is a tool, that we are thankful for, that we steward well and take care of, that we utilize for the Glory of Christ and the advancement of His Kingdom. But this building could burn down tomorrow and Maple Park Alliance Church would still be alive and well (though we might have to call ourselves something different if we start meeting in another part of town!) Every church building in town could be shut down—ever charitable status be revoked—ever website or social media presence deleted…and the Church of Quesnel would still be alive and well… And perhaps even more so than now, because so many of the things that distract us and steal our focus away from Christ, would be stripped away…

Do you live your life with an understanding and recognition of the magnitude of the reality that the very Presence of God dwells within you?

As you go to work…parent your kids…or interact with your parents…as you watch movies or shows…as you game, as you eat, drink and whatever else it is you fill your days with… We can ask the question: If Jesus was standing right next to you, would you still act that way, speak that way, watch or play… Well, He isn’t just standing next to you…He dwells within you. And that should absolutely impact our lives and the choices we make. That should absolutley lead us to lives of righteousness.

But also remember: The Temple was the place of Forgiveness and Restoration—and Jesus, as the fulfillment of these things, is the One dwelling inside you.

So yes, He leads us to walk holy and righteous lives, but when we mess up…when we sin…like Solomon said in 2 Chronicles, “If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not sin— When we sin… “…if they repent with all their mind and with all their heart…then hear from heaven your dwelling place their prayer and their pleas, and maintain their cause and forgive your people who have sinned against you.” We have this amazing promise:

1 John 1:8–2:1 ESV

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

So…Where is the Messiah in the Temple? He is the fulflillment of all it was meant to point to. And as we see His Glory, just as the Israelites on that mountain, our only response to these things can be praise:

READ Psalm 118