Temple Scenes in the Land of Promise
Just as Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher is the moral equivalent of the crossing of the Jordan, so Christ in resurrection in John 21 is the moral equivalent of the land with its temple in it. That is because, at the end of John's gospel, Christ has fulfilled the promise He made at the beginning "destroy This Temple and in three days I will raise it up." So John's gospel has retraced Israel's journey from Egypt to Canaan.
The Lord's promise was not understood by the Jews, who could not look beyond the temple of the day. They boasted to the Lord that it had been under construction for forty six years. However the Lord honored it as God's House, and John gives us a number of temple scenes in his gospel.
The Temple in the Mind of God
The synagogues of the Jews were worldwide, but the temple was only at Jerusalem. We know from the Gospels and the Acts that the synagogues were used both for social functions and religious instruction. However sacrifices could not be offered in them. It is clear from many Scriptures that animals could only be sacrificed in the temple. Why should this be?
The answer to this question is that God's throne the mercy seat was in the temple and nowhere else. Indeed the temple was built for one great purpose to be a resting place for the mercy seat and the ark which supported it. (1) God's throne was offended by sin. The cherubim on the throne constituted a silent witness of how God drove out our first parents from His presence and then posted "Cherubims and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way of the tree of life." God's throne could only be satisfied by sacrifice. Of course the animal sacrifices the Jews offered could not take away sins. They simply looked on to the blood of Jesus which can.
This helps us see why John does not record the tearing of the temple's veil in his Gospel. From John's perspective Jesus Himself is the Temple, and the Holy of Holies in the temple at that. He is also the Ark of the Covenant which, resting on the earth, supports God's throne above, for such is the teaching of the way these pieces of furniture were divinely constructed. This exposes the blasphemy of the Jews in denying the Son of the Father. Once these thoughts are understood the way is opened to consider two other temple scenes one in John 8 and the other in John 2. John 8 is past John 2 while historically past, looks on into the future.
The Adulterous Woman at the Temple—the Purging of Israel and Her Religious Leaders
This account goes much beyond the simple story John tells us.(2) It instructs us about two matters. First we see how the Lord purged the adulterous spirit of the people of Israel by forgiveness and His word "go and sin no more" which could only be carried out in the new covenant He would give them. Secondly the teachers of the law, convicted of their own inability to keep it, depart one by one in shame. To arrive at this interpretation we must first know that in God's eyes Israel was married to the Lord. It is a marriage on this earth the Lord's marriage with His earthly people "For your maker is your husband the Holy One of Israel" Isa. 54:55For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. (Isaiah 54:5). Yes, Israel is presented in Scripture as a married woman "turn O backsliding children, saith the Lord, for I am married to you" Jer. 3:1414Turn, O backsliding children, saith the Lord; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: (Jeremiah 3:14). But as the Scripture just quoted proves, the marriage has been a one sided one, with a poor response from the married wife. The Lord faithfully kept His wedding vows, so to speak. He showed His love to them at the Passover. Then He carried them on eagles' wings. In the last book of the sacred record He says "the burden of the Word of the Lord to Israel by Mal. 1 have loved you saith the Lord" Mal. 1:1, 21The burden of the word of the Lord to Israel by Malachi. 2I have loved you, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the Lord: yet I loved Jacob, (Malachi 1:1‑2). As to Israel, her wedding vow was "all that the Lord hath said will we do and be obedient" Ex. 24:77And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. (Exodus 24:7). This was a bad beginning because it ignored God's previous dealings with them in grace. The reason they took such high ground, putting themselves under law as though they could keep it, was that they did not know their hearts. Then they worshipped the golden calf in the desert and idols in the land. So they violated the great commandment of the law "you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" Matt. 22:3737Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Matthew 22:37). When the Lord their God, even Jesus, came to them, they disowned Him by trying to stone Him 8:59 and finally crucified Him. They cried "away with this Man" so denying their marriage relationship to Him. They cried "we have no king but Caesar" so committing spiritual adultery with the Gentiles. This is still true today. Israel, settled in the land, is unbelieving as to Christ and leans on Western Gentile arms to support her. So Israel the married wife has become an adulteress under the law only fit for stoning. As John 8 opens Jesus has returned from the Mount of Olives to the temple. This gives us a dispensational picture. The ascension was from the Mount of Olives. The ascended Christ has to leave His faithless Jewish wife while He called out His heavenly bride the Church. But now it is time to re establish His relationship with His Jewish wife.
The first thing we notice is that the adulterous woman is brought before the Lord for judgment in contrast to Rebecca who comes voluntarily. Rebecca was asked "Will you go with this man" and she answered "I will go." Ignorant of God's ways, this contrast between the law and grace was the farthest thing from the hearts of those who brought her. Their motive was not to uphold the righteousness of the law. This is evident because they did not bring for judgment the man involved in the case. No! This was to be a test case to trap the Lord into violating His own law by showing grace or into carrying it out and denying grace. Or so they thought. They had left out of their counsels the One who came not to condemn the world but to save it. The law spoke "that every mouth may be stopped and all the world may become guilty before God" Rom. 3:1919Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. (Romans 3:19). Under law His finger had written the commandments on tables of stone and delivered them to Moses who came down from the Mount to find Israel worshipping a golden calf. They had broken the first commandment. The requirements of "the mount" the presence of God were too great for them. So in John 8 the Lord does not write in the mount. Instead He comes down from the mount, and finding the first commandment broken once more, writes down here, where our need is.
In John 8 the Lord writes twice. The first time may well indicate a retracing of His ways with His people of old. He wrote the law first the Old Testament and after that the New a message of grace. This He would not write on tables of stone like the law, but on the ground. "The ground" is man, who after all is but dust. Viewed this way, writing on the ground is really writing on "the fleshy tables of the heart." It is the New Covenant in figure. We get it in Jer. 31:3333But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33) "but this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they shall be My people." So it will be when Israel comes into New Covenant blessing and those who will not have grace must depart from the Lord like the woman's accusers.
In John 8 the full force of the law fell on them. They are told "he who is without sin among you let him first throw a stone at her." This finds the eldest going out first "even unto the last." So all the beggarly elements of the law depart "being convicted by their own conscience." They had stood in the presence of the One who had given the law, the first commandment of which was that they were to love Him. Instead they were seeking to confound Him with His own law. No wonder they were convicted!
When they depart the classes shrink to "he who is without sin" the Lord Jesus, the only One entitled to cast a stone, the woman, and the people. To the woman He says "neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." When the woman departs from the Lord only He and "all the people" remain. It was this way in the beginning John 8:2,2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. (John 8:2) but law and misconduct made the Lord their judge. Law did not deliver them at the Passover and the Red Sea. Then all was grace. At the end of their history they will return to grace. The Old Covenant, the Law, had failed, and Israel had become an adulterous woman in God's eyes. That must go from His presence, along with those who seek their own righteousness by it, that He may be free to bring in a New Covenant, founded on grace.
The Gathering Conspiracy Against Christ at the Temple
At winter time as Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch, a group of Jews surrounded Him. They accosted Him, saying "How long do You make us doubt? If You are the Christ tell us plainly" John 10:2424Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. (John 10:24). It was a specious question, for they knew He was the Christ from His works. When these works came to their zenith with the resurrection of Lazarus, their hostility knew no bounds. The chief priests and Pharisees convened a meeting of the Sanhedrin which was in the temple. Then they revealed the thought of their hearts that if they left Christ alone "the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation." From then on they conspired to put Jesus to death. They searched everywhere for Jesus, hoping to find Him in the temple John 11:47-5747Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 48If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. 49And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 51And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; 52And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. 53Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 54Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples. 55And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves. 56Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast? 57Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should show it, that they might take him. (John 11:47‑57). Finally they found Him, not in the temple but in a garden. Taken before the High Priest, Jesus witnessed "I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple" John 18:2020Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. (John 18:20).
The Money Changers at the Temple—Purging the Spirit of the World
In John 8 Jesus was left alone in the temple when the woman and her accusers left. In John 2 we have a reverse situation He drives away from Him those things which are offensive to God. These are the people who make big money out of God's things. We see them today in the T.V. non evangelists, those who make huge profits out of cutting records of hymns or religious themes publishers of "best selling" but frothy Christian literature and so on. They represent the spirit of the world business and money making preying on the gullibility of God's people. In the Lord's Day the excuse for their operations was convenience they provided a service for temple worshippers.
John tells us that Jesus "found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves and the changers of money sitting, and when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen, and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables. And said to those who sold doves, take these things away. Make not My Father's house a place of business.”
In Matthew's Gospel when the Jews demanded a sign to authorize His right to do such things the Lord replied "an evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it but the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish thus shall the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights" Matt. 12:39,4039But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (Matthew 12:39‑40). In John's Gospel He repeats the same truth using a different figure. His reply to the Jews for a sign (3) was "destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." To make the Lord's words unmistakably clear John adds "but He spoke of the Temple of His body.”
Why does the Lord link the sign of His death and resurrection with driving the money changers out of the temple? Simply because all power was given to the risen Lord in heaven and in earth Matt. 28:1818And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (Matthew 28:18). It is the risen Christ who judges all flesh. John never knew Christ as Judge, and when He saw Him about to act in that capacity he fell at His feet like a dead man through sheer fright Rev. 1:1717And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: (Revelation 1:17). At the beginning of Revelation the Lord was about to judge the responsible Church at the beginning of John's Gospel to purge the temple the symbol of responsible Israel. In both cases God dwelt with a people one heavenly, one earthly, and God will assert His rights to holiness over those in whose midst He dwells. The money changers must be driven out, that the Lord's house should no more be a den of thieves. In doing this the Lord looked forward to the time of which the prophet wrote "in that day there shall no more be a Canaanite" (also translated as merchant or trafficker) "in the house of the Lord of Hosts" Zech. 14:2121Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts. (Zechariah 14:21).
The Holy Temple of Our Days
When the Lord was on earth man thought little of Him. The master of ceremonies at the wedding feast complained about the order in which the wine was served and the Jews complained about His driving out the money changers without a sign to back up what He did. Without Christ there can be no wine, that is no natural joy in the outside place, and no worship in God's House the inside place. So when the Ethiopian eunuch travelled to Jerusalem to worship, he found nothing there, because Christ had been rejected. What had God done? He made Him the cornerstone in the Holy Temple He is building now. That is why the Lord spoke these words to Peter on the first day which we have seen is a figure of the Church age "You are Simon the Son of Jona. You shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone" John 1:4242And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:42). So the Holy Temple became Peter's view of the Church. It is still under construction, stone added to stone as believers are saved. When the last stone is put in place in that mystical building, the coming of the Lord will take place. Then the way will be opened for the construction of a visible temple at Jerusalem. This will be the world's last and glorious earthly temple.
Waters to Swim in
The future house of the Lord of Hosts will be the enormous temple of Ezekiel's prophecy. This will far exceed in magnificence the temple Solomon built, for God says "the latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former" Hag. 2:99The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts. (Haggai 2:9). It will be the worship center not just of Israel but of the entire world "many nations shall come and say come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob" Mic. 4:22And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2). Zechariah tells us that any nation which refuses to come to Jerusalem to worship there will be punished by the Lord Zech. 14:16 19. In that day Israel will have accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Because of this change of heart they will be a suitable conduit for God's blessing of the nations. The ancient sin of Jewish religious haughtiness and superiority over the Gentiles will yield to the New Covenant spirit of grace and supplication. This will suit the heart of the God who will dwell among them. To celebrate the joy of the earth God will give all men a sign of His presence at the temple. In the beginning of things rivers flowed out of the Garden in Eden. At the end they will flow out of the temple of God Ezek. 47:1 5.
These waters are progressively deep "waters issued" "to the ankles" "to the knees" "to the loins" "waters to swim in." In Gen. 1 The waters covered a ruined earth. Then the Spirit of God began to work. The end of God's work as already noted found a renewed earth refreshed with rivers flowing out of Eden. Only God could turn waters of death into waters of life. Indeed the Bible ends with "a pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" Rev. 22:11And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Revelation 22:1). So at the end God's throne becomes the source of the water of life for both heaven and earth.