The Anticipated King: Day Four
Day 4: Jesus: The Perfect Temple
Devotional
Everything the Temple pointed toward finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. When Jesus declared, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up," He wasn't talking about a building—He was revealing Himself as the true dwelling place of God. In Him, the fullness of deity lives in bodily form, making God accessible in a way the Temple could only foreshadow. This is why Christianity has no sacred geography. You don't need to travel to Jerusalem, climb a holy mountain, or enter a special building to meet with God. There's no pilgrimage required, no stones to kiss, no rituals to perform. God has come to you in Christ, making every place a potential meeting ground with the divine. The old Temple required countless sacrifices, each one pointing to the need for atonement but never fully providing it. Jesus changed everything with His perfect, once-for-all sacrifice. Where the Temple priests offered the same sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered Himself once and sat down, His work complete. The writer of Hebrews tells us that by this single offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. Imagine climbing a staircase your entire life, thinking you need to reach the top to find God, only to discover that God has walked down and is standing right beside you. That's Jesus—the end of our striving and the beginning of our rest.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell - Colossians 1:19
Reflection Question
How does knowing that Jesus is the perfect temple change your understanding of where and how you can meet with God?
“Jesus is the fullness of God come down to us.” - Pastor Mike Mura
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for being the perfect temple where God's fullness dwells. Help me to understand that I don't need to go anywhere or do anything special to meet with You—You have come to me. Thank You for Your perfect sacrifice that makes me acceptable to God.