Destroy This Temple

Destroy This Temple
Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” —John 2: 19
When Jesus walked into the temple and saw the disgraceful merchandising going on, He was so upset that He made a whip and began to drive out the moneychangers, overthrowing their tables and rebuking them. Of course, this upset the religious leaders who owned the concessions, and they demanded that Jesus show them some sign of His authority to do these things. He replied, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
They thought He was referring to Herod’s temple, but Jesus was talking about His own body. Jesus would later say of His life, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10: 18). That is quite a boast—a boast upon which the authenticity of the gospel rests.
**If the crucified body of Jesus had stayed in the tomb, there would be no Christian faith, no church.
The gospel is predicated upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. He did exactly what He said He would do. He rose from the dead, ministered to His disciples for forty days, then ascended into heaven where today He is at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us. And one day soon He is coming to take us to be with Him.
Father, we thank You for the resurrection. It is the sign that authenticates all that Jesus said—that You are loving, forgiving, gracious, and merciful. Thank You for giving us that full, rich life as we walk with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.