Why Did Jesus Say, "Destroy This Temple?"
When Jesus began His public ministry, one of His first dramatic acts was to cleanse the temple in Jerusalem. He drove out the merchants and money changers who had turned God's house into a place of business.
The religious leaders demanded an explanation.
"What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do all this?" (John 2:18)
Jesus answered with words that puzzled everyone present.
"Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)
The Jews thought He was speaking about Herod's temple, a building that had been under construction for decades.
They replied,
"It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and You are going to raise it in three days?" (John 2:20)
But John immediately explains what Jesus meant.
"The temple He had spoken of was His body." (John 2:21)
This is one of the most important statements in the New Testament.
Jesus shifted the focus from a building to Himself.
For centuries the temple had represented God's presence among His people.
Now God's presence was fully revealed in Christ.
John had already introduced this truth when he wrote,
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory." (John 1:14)
The word translated "dwelt" literally means "tabernacled."
In Jesus, God was once again dwelling among His people—not in a building of stone, but in His Son.
Jesus was also making another important point.
The temple that truly mattered could not be destroyed permanently.
His enemies would kill Him.
His body would be laid in a tomb.
But on the third day He would rise again.
His resurrection would demonstrate that God's saving purpose could not be defeated.
From that moment forward, the old temple was no longer the center of God's work.
Jesus Himself became the meeting place between God and mankind.
He is our perfect sacrifice.
Our great High Priest.
Our Mediator.
Our way into the Father's presence.
Everything the temple had pointed toward was now fulfilled in Him.
The building had served its purpose.
The reality had come.
Continue Your Study
Why Is the Church God's Temple Today?
If Jesus is the true temple, why does the New Testament later describe the church as God's temple?
What does that mean?
And where does God dwell today?
Related Bible Studies
Why Did God's Glory Leave the Temple?
How Did Jesus Fulfill God's Plan?
What Is the Church?
The Story of Redemption
Companion Video
Why Did Jesus Say, "Destroy This Temple?"
Read First. Conclude Later.