Last Sunday I taught some things that were new to me. We talked about the beautiful miracle that happened near the “Beautiful Gate” in Herod’s magnificently refurbished Temple. A man who had been disabled and unable to walk since early childhood was literally raised up in the name of Jesus Christ. He went into the “court of the women” “walking, leaping and praising God!” In all likelihood, this was in a portion of the temple he was never allowed to enter before. Given what had just happened to him, I can’t imagine his praises being quiet and contemplative. Instead, I can see him running around screaming at the top of his lungs, “I’m healed! I’m healed! Praise God, I’m healed!”
I believe this was the reason Peter and John took him out of that area of the temple, since it was the hour of prayer and the evening sacrifice. We read that they took him to the place where Jesus often taught, and where the first Christians congregated called “Solomon’s portico/porch”.
Solomon’s portico was one section of the roofed portion that lined the inner perimeter of the Temple mount complex. It was thought that the stones that made up that area actually survived from the time of Solomon’s temple which was destroyed by the Babylonians over five hundred years prior to the time of Jesus and His early Church. But when a Jewish remnant returned from their Babylonian exile in 538 BC, they “rebuilt” the temple foundation in Jerusalem and repaired the gates and walls in one year. The Prophet Ezra records what happened when the foundation of the “rebuilt temple” was laid in about 537 BC.
Ezra 3:11
…Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD had been laid. 12 But many of the older priests, Levites, and family heads who had seen the first temple wept loudly when they saw the foundation of this temple. Still, many others shouted joyfully. 13 The people could not distinguish the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people were making so much noise.
Why were the old timers weeping? Tears of happiness might be one explanation, but in all likelihood, they remembered the glories of Solomon’s temple. It was one of the wonders of the ancient world and even though I’m sure these former captives were happy to see the new foundation, they remembered the old…and they mourned.
Into this mix of happiness and hopelessness God sent some prophets to encourage and guide God’s chosen people. It was 520 BC, nearly 17 years had passed, and the new temple was still not finished. Haggai made a stunning prophetic declaration to motivate the people to rise up and “get ‘er done.”
Haggai said:
1:2 “Why is everyone saying it is not the right time for rebuilding my Temple?” asks the Lord.
2:3 “‘Who among you can remember the Temple as it was before? How glorious it was! In comparison, it is nothing now, is it? 4 But take courage, O Zerubbabel and Joshua and all the people; take courage and work, for I am with you, says the Lord Almighty. 5 For I promised when you left Egypt that my Spirit would remain among you; so don’t be afraid.’
6 “For the Lord Almighty says, ‘In just a little while I will begin to shake the heavens and earth—and the oceans, too, and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the Desire of All Nations shall come to this Temple, and I will fill this place with my glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. 8-9 ‘The future splendor of this Temple will be greater than the splendor of the first one!
The people were motivated and got to work. But alas, even when the new temple was finished, it was a shadow of what it had been. But hundreds of years later, a wicked king named Herod did some major renovations and once again, Jerusalem’s temple looked like a shiny diamond at which the world marveled.
And yet, behind the massive and beautifully embroidered curtain, the Holy of Holies was empty. The Ark of the Covenant had disappeared, along with the treasures contained within it and the precious covering named the “Mercy Seat.”
Even with Herod’s incredible remodeling job, Haggai’s prophecy was still unfulfilled.
But one day, a baby boy was brought to the temple to be dedicated, and for those who had eyes to see, the Glory returned to the temple! Later on a twelve year old boy, wise beyond his years proclaimed the temple to be his “Father’s House” and that Glory began to shine brighter. Finally, the same person not only cleansed this temple in righteous anger, but filled its courts with the sound of God’s voice, daily teaching with Heaven’s “authority” and revelation!
Then the day came when the One who called Himself “the Son of Man” boldly declared, “destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up!”
And He did.
Perhaps the early Christians touched the stones near where Jesus once taught them, and where they prayed together and congregated. Maybe they thought about Haggai’s prophecy when the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them. Maybe when that man who had never walked before followed them walking and leaping and praising God back to Solomon’s portico, someone said; “The Glory of this latter temple has finally become greater than Solomon’s because the prophesied “Desire of all nations” has come and filled it with His Glory…and that temple…is US.
PRN: Lord Jesus, you are the Desire of all nations. We are your temple. Holy Spirit, reveal the Father’s Glory in us and through us. May we be seen as your Glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, fulfilling your amazing promises, and manifesting your Glory for the world to see! In the name of Jesus, amen.
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