Some folks look for the building of a new Temple at Jerusalem, but I think, if one is built, it will be of little consequence! So much of today’s eschatology is embedded in this presumption, but, in my opinion, this religious prophetic understanding rests upon the sands of the ignorance of literalism. Why would God want to rebuild what he already judged and destroyed?
In the Gospel of John, chapter four, Jesus struck up a conversation with a woman who came to Jacob’s well. Reading this account, I am struck with the ignorance of religious people, whose misunderstanding is founded upon a literal theology. It is spiritual truth, not literal theology that has any lasting significance. As Nicodemus before her, this woman, though seemingly well conversant in her religion, kept missing the point in Jesus’ words; and I have to ask whether we modern believers in God would fare any better than she or Nicodemus. Look at what Jesus is saying:
“Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. (John 4:21, 23 ESV)
In other words, “You will not worship the Father, either here in Gerizim, or in Jerusalem. True worshipers of the Father will worship him in Spirit and in Truth!” In just two sentences Jesus puts his finger on both the problem and its solution. Although he is speaking specifically about the Jews and the Samaritans, his reply can be applied to any faith. No matter which religious system you hail from, something other than God sets the agenda. What set the agenda for the Jews and the Samaritans? It certainly was not the Spirit. It was the Law. Was it not? Whether you claim you respond to the Law of God or the traditions of men, the commandments or the traditions are what set the agenda. The masses obeyed the beckoning of the majestic Temple! The Law/tradition demands our presence and the corporate mentality aligns itself accordingly.
But, wasn’t the Presence of God at Jerusalem? Certainly, the Shekinah Glory was there, and, as Christ said, “Salvation is of the Jews!” However, if God was fully revealed in the Shekinah Glory, what purpose did Jesus serve? Why did he have to become man? Was the prayer of the priest, arising from the Altar of Incense before the Holy Presence, coming from the posture of obedience to the Spirit or out of a posture of obedience to the agenda of the Law? What prompted that prayer? If Law—of what affect was the Spirit upon the worship?
Jesus is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:14), and God—God’s will, his character, his work—is made intelligible to us in Christ Jesus. The words of Jesus are the power of God that move our thoughts and will. Thereby are we brought under the power and authority of the Spirit. God speaks and on that basis, our human prayer responds to God with Truth. First, we acknowledge and affirm his will (i.e. his word in scripture) then we are united with what God desires.
We are the Temple of God made without human hands. Jesus builds us up, as though we were living stones (1Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22) fitly framed together for the habitation of God. We are the new priesthood, serving in the new Temple, offering up the new living sacrifices of our bodies to the will of God (Romans 12:1-2). Out of all this arises the new prayer of faith—not in the posture of obedience to Law, for the Law does not set our agenda. The new prayer in the Temple of God arises from the posture of obedience to faith and the Spirit. Not only do we pray about our worst trouble, but we petition God for that which is his own that he might be honored and glorified. Our prayer is no longer the hope arising from our own longing, but rather is the gift of God bestowed upon us—the Truth—turned back to him out of or desire, prompted by the Spirit within us, that God would be honored and glorified in our lives—in the work he has set before us from before the time of the rebellion of Adam (Ephesians 1:4, 2:10).
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