The Real Temple

It seems amazing to me that we are reading (www.lifejournal.cc) the words that we are reading each day just after my return from Israel.  The correlation of the text with my experience is really fascinating!  Today we read about Jesus prediction of the Temple destruction. In Matthew 24:1-2- Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 

I mentioned yesterday that the Temple was destroyed about 40 years after Jesus made this prediction.   It was completely destroyed.  Not a stone was left on top of another.  It was leveled to the ground.  Historians have told me that the fire was so hot that the gold of the inner parts of the Temple melted into the grout of the street.  None of it stood.  I learned last week that the area was abandoned and nothing was done with the property for over 600 years.  After so much time of desolation, the Muslims then built their incredible mosque, the Dome of the Rock, on part of the Temple grounds. 

I also mentioned yesterday that the Western wall  was a retaining wall that actually set below the ground level of the Temple.   When you look at the accompanying picture, you can see how big the wall is (see the little people) and you can also see where the original stops.  The big stones that go about 25 feet up (or almost as high as the flag) are the originals.  That is the only part of the 1st century Temple that is left. 

That means a lot to the Jews that come to pray in that wall and put their requests in the cracks of the stone.  What should it mean to us?  Paul says we have to look a little deeper.  Things have changed.  I Corinthians 6:19-20- Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, ²⁰ for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.  It was wonderful to visit the historic places where Jesus walked...an eye opening, Bible understanding trip!   However, we don't worship a place, we worship the Lord...and He lives within us.  Let us honor God with our bodies...for our bodies are Holy Places!