John 2:18-21, The Real Temple

18 So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

“The Jews” refers to the Jewish leaders, who represent the people. To these leaders Jesus spoke quite enigmatically about the temple referring to his body. They did not understand that Jesus spoke of an age beyond the physical temple, which was only a shadow of the reality of the heavenly temple, to the time of worship in the Holy Spirit after his death that gave access to all believers without an entrance fee.

The sacrifice of the Lamb of God would make this possibility a reality. The sacrifice of the Passover lambs, which Jesus, in an ironic act, drove out of the temple, prefigured his own sacrifice in which the wrath of God passed over us sinners and onto the only sinless One. These leaders would not comprehend the sign of the plans of God because they rejected Jesus.

Jesus boldly proclaimed the reordering of worship around his very person. He would fulfill the temple itself. Where it was imperfect would become perfect in him. Where it was corrupt would be purified in him. Where it was exclusive for one nation would become inclusive for all nations. Yet none of this would happen without the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Scripture tells us that we are the temple of the Lord because he dwells in us through his Spirit. Reflect on where you need some renovation in your life in issues of corruption, impurity, and exclusivity, and ask the Lord to help you make some changes.