The Temporary Physical Building Replaced by an Eternal Living Building

John 2 presents a radical change from God’s temporary physical building to His eternal spiritual building culminating in New Jerusalem. Verses 14-16 show Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem.

Verses 18-21, “The Jews then answered and said to Him, What sign do You show us, seeing that You do these things? Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then the Jews said, This temple was built in forty-six years, and You will raise it up in three days? But He spoke of the temple of His body.“

This is the change from the Old Testament, a time of pictures and shadows, to the New Testament, a time of the reality which is Jesus Christ Himself. His body, as the temple, the dwelling place of God, was resurrected from death in three days.

The Lord’s resurrected physical body was enlarged to become His spiritual Body including all His members. First Corinthians 12:12b-13a presents this: “all the members of the [physical] body, being many, are one body, so also is the Christ. For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one [spiritual] Body.”

Now we cooperate with Him to build up this Body in His life. Ephesians 4:15-16 speaks of growing up into Him, His rich supply, the gifted members of His Body, and the proper functioning in each one member. The outcome is “the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love.”

This building is the New Testament reality with New Jerusalem as the consummation.

Photo courtesy of pixabay.com

 

Posted by Don on September 28, 2022

The Temporary Physical Building Replaced by an Eternal Living Building