The Finished Word

Jesus revelou que a presença e a adoração a Deus não estão mais limitadas a localizações geográficas ou estruturas feitas pelo homem - João 4:20-24. Jesus revelou a forma e o local apropriados da adoração do Pai a uma mulher samaritana. Com a chegada do Messias de Israel, conceitos e tradições sobre o espaço sagrado e o tempo sagrado são irrelevantes. A presença do Filho de Deus torna inútil o debate histórico sobre a localização do Templo. De agora em diante, a adoração deve ser realizada em espírito e verdade – (Jo 4:20-24).

Jesus revealed that the presence and worship of God are no longer limited to geographic locations or man-made structures – John 4:20-24. Jesus revealed the proper form and location of the worship of the Father to a Samaritan woman. With the arrival of Israel’s Messiah, concepts and traditions about holy space and holy time are irrelevant. The presence of the Son of God renders the historical debate over the location of the Temple pointless. From now on, worship must be performed in  Spirit and Truth – (John 4:20-24).

Jesus é o Verbo feito carne, o maior Tabernáculo onde a glória de Deus se manifesta e reside para sempre - João 1:14. O prólogo do Evangelho de João apresenta temas-chave do livro, mais criticamente, que Jesus é “ o Palavra que se fez carne .” A vida e a luz encontram-se em Cristo. Ele é o verdadeiro e último “ Tabernáculo ” onde a presença de Deus habita permanentemente. Neste Ser Humano de carne e osso, a glória de Deus se manifesta para todos os homens e mulheres verem.

Jesus is the Word made flesh, the Greater Tabernacle where the glory of God is manifested and resides forevermore – John 1:14. The Prologue of John’s Gospel presents key themes of the Book, most critically, that Jesus is “ the Word that became flesh .” Life and light are found in Christ. He is the true and final “ Tabernacle ” where the presence of God permanently dwells. In this flesh and blood human being, the glory of God is manifested for all men and women to see.

Jesus is the High Priest of the greater sanctuary “made without hands” foreshadowed by the Ancient Tabernacle . Jesus is the High Priest who serves in the “ True Tabernacle pitched by the Lord and not man ” and foreshadowed by the religious structures and rituals of Ancient Israel.  The Son of God has become our “ priest forever ” who ministers for us “ at the right hand of the Throne of the Majesty in the Heavens ” – (Hebrews 8:1-2).

Jesus is the Greater and Final Temple prefigured in the ancient Tabernacle and the later Temple building in Jerusalem . Jesus is the true Sanctuary of God foreshadowed by the ancient religious structures and worship rituals of the nation of Israel.  He is the dwelling place of God’s presence, the living “ tent ” where the Divine Glory is seen, and the only Mediator between Heaven and Earth. The man from Nazareth is the Temple “ made-without-hands ” that was destroyed by evil men but restored when his Father raised him from the dead.

The New Testament applies temple language from the Hebrew Bible to the Body of Christ, the habitation of the Living God . Except for contacts between Jesus and the early church with the priestly authorities, the New Testament shows little interest in the Jerusalem Temple. Instead, we find that terminology and imagery from the Temple are applied to the New Covenant community of Jesus. What the Temple and earlier Tabernacle foreshowed has come to fruition in Christ and his Church.

Jesus is the Greater Tabernacle in whom the presence and glory of God permanently reside and are manifested to his followers – John 1:14. The  Gospel of John  presents Jesus as the place where the glory of God is seen, the True Tabernacle in which His presence abides forever. The worship of men desired by the Father is not limited to dedicated buildings or geographic locations. From now on, the worship of God takes place “ in the spirit and truth ,” and we experience the majesty and nature of God in the “ face of Jesus Christ .”

Jesus is the Living Word in flesh, the true Tabernacle where the Glory of God is revealed. He is the man who reveals God’s Grace and Truth  – John 1:14. The Prologue of the  Gospel of John  presents key themes to be expanded in his gospel account. Jesus is the ‘ Logos ’ (λογος), the “ Word that became flesh .” In Christ, Life and Light are revealed to penitent men and women. He is the true “ Tabernacle ” where God’s “ Glory ” resides. John employs imagery from the history of Israel to illustrate what God has provided in His “ only born Son .”

The use of the English term ‘church’ or ‘ekklésia’ is derived from the “assembly of Yahweh” gathered for worship in the Hebrew Bible . The use of the term “ assembly ” in the New Testament is based on the language and imagery of Israel when the nation assembled before Yahweh for worship. The Greek noun translated as “church” in many English translations of the Bible is ‘ ekklésia ’, which means “assembly, congregation, convocation.”

The parable of the “ budding fig tree ” is a graphic illustration of Christ’s answer to the question – “ When will these things come to pass? ” The fig tree sprouting foliage is the clue for the “when” of the predicted events. Its leaves signal the arrival of “ summer ,” the time when “ all these things ” will be fulfilled.

In his ‘Olivet Discourse,’ Jesus provided his disciples with a chronological key – they would know the time of the demise of the Temple when they saw all “ these things ” coming to pass - Before “ this generation ” reached its inevitable end. That was his definitive answer to the question, “ When will THESE THINGS come to pass? ” Within one generation, Jerusalem and its Temple would be destroyed, and some of his followers would live to see it.

According to Jesus, the “ Abomination of Desolation ” will appear in Jerusalem - It will be a local, not a global event. And his admonition for disciples to flee is applicable to Jerusalem and the immediate vicinity. Disciples must flee to the hills to escape the imminent calamity signaled by this abominable thing or person.

The ‘ Olivet Discourse ’ in the thirteenth chapter of  Mark  is the last recorded block of teachings by Jesus given shortly before his death on the Mount of Olives. It followed a series of confrontations in the Temple between him and the Pharisees and the priestly authorities, disputes that set the stage for his trial and execution. Thus, his “trial” effectively began in the Temple, and inevitably, it concluded with his unjust death on a Roman cross.

At the end of his journey, his destination was the Temple in the center of the city.  The next several stories prepare the reader for his final days, A full third of Mark’s gospel account concerns the events of that week that culminate in his death and resurrection. All that preceded his arrival in the city was moving inexorably forward to his arrest, trial, and execution in the city of David and the prophets.

Before his final departure from the Temple, Jesus fielded challenges from the “ Scribes and Pharisees ,” confrontations that set the stage for his arrest and trial, as well as his execution by the Roman authorities. As he left the building, he pronounced its impending judgment and destruction. From start to finish, priests, Scribes, Herodians, Sadducees, and especially Pharisees resisted him, and some of the Temple authorities became complicit in the plot to put him to death.