The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
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The Food for Thought Faithcast with Be Rob
Ep. 6- Holy Monday- The Sacred Temple: From Eden's Garden to Christ's Resurrection
The sacred symbolism of the temple reveals God's magnificent plan throughout Scripture. From the cosmic temple of creation to the garden sanctuary of Eden, God has always sought to dwell with His people. When humanity's rebellion led to exile from these sacred spaces, the prophets anticipated a new temple—one not built with human hands.
Enter Jesus, who revolutionized temple theology during that fateful Holy Week in Jerusalem. His dramatic cleansing of the temple—overturning tables and driving out merchants—wasn't merely religious reform but a declaration that He Himself embodied God's dwelling place on earth. "Destroy this temple," Jesus boldly proclaimed, "and I will raise it again in three days." His listeners, fixated on the magnificent structure that had taken 46 years to build, completely missed His meaning. Only after His resurrection did His followers grasp the profound truth: Christ's body was the ultimate temple.
This revelation transforms how we understand our spiritual identity. Through Jesus, we ourselves become living temples where God's presence dwells. The question now confronts us: what tables need overturning in our personal temples? What addictions, distractions, or sinful patterns have corrupted our sacred space with God? As we journey through Holy Week, Jesus invites us to surrender these barriers, laying our burdens at the foot of the cross. There we discover the beautiful paradox of faith—in dying to self, we become the dwelling place of God, living stones in His eternal temple. Have you allowed Christ to cleanse your temple today? Subscribe to the Food for Thought Faithcast for more insights that bridge ancient Scripture with everyday spiritual living.
If you could go back to the city of Jerusalem during Bible times, the biggest thing you would see is the temple.
Speaker 2:This beautiful building was designed by King David and built by King Solomon. They believed that it was the home of the God of the universe. Wait, I thought God's home was in heaven. Well, the whole point of this earthly temple is that it is the place that overlaps with God's heavenly home. The temple is where God lives and rules all creation as king.
Speaker 1:That is cool, but even Solomon, who built the temple, did not believe that it could contain the God of the universe, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, the building was just a symbol. It pointed to the fact that all of creation is God's temple. That is actually what the first page of the Bible Genesis 1, is all about.
Speaker 1:Really it says that creation is God's temple.
Speaker 2:Well, it does not need to say it, the whole story shows it. In Genesis 1, god creates an ordered world out of a dark wasteland by speaking in a series of seven days. Then, on the seventh day, god's presence fills creation as he takes up his rest and rule. Similarly, the tabernacle and later the temple were built and dedicated in a series of seven speeches and seven days, after which the priest or king could rest and rule in God's presence.
Speaker 1:Ah, so all of creation is where God intends to dwell. It's like his temple, exactly where God intends to dwell.
Speaker 2:It's like his temple, exactly. Now turn the page to Genesis 2 and we get another portrait of creation. This one focuses in on the land, and in the center of the land is a region called Eden, which in Hebrew means delight, and in the middle of delight, god plants a garden in which God and humanity live together, and that's why the temple was modeled after the garden Filled with imagery of gold and flowers.
Speaker 2:The menorah symbolized the tree of life. It's the place where God dwells with his people. Oh, got it and check this out. In the temple, the Israelite priests and Levites were to work and to keep the temple in God's presence. This is exactly the job description given to humanity in the Garden of Eden.
Speaker 1:So these humans were the first priests, but instead of ruling with God, they wanted to rule on their own terms, and they're exiled from the garden temple.
Speaker 2:And, like Adam and Eve, israel's leaders also wanted to rule on their own terms, and they too were exiled, the temple was destroyed and this left them wondering did God give up on Israel?
Speaker 1:Will God bring about a new creation?
Speaker 2:Well, the biblical prophets anticipated the day when God would create a new temple with a new priesthood, that's when God's presence would fill all of creation.
Speaker 1:And when the Israelites returned to the land, they did rebuild the temple.
Speaker 2:But that temple didn't turn out the way the prophets hoped. In fact, later, israelite prophets said that this temple was hopelessly corrupt, so they're still waiting for the ultimate temple, and here we come to the story of Jesus. He said that through him, god's presence and rule was coming into our world in a new way, and he presented himself as a new kind of priest.
Speaker 1:But Jesus wasn't a priest and he didn't work in the temple.
Speaker 2:Right. Jesus said that God's presence, his rest and rule was filling the world through his own life, death and resurrection. Jesus was claiming that he was the true temple and this new temple would expand out to include all of creation. That is a really big claim, and it got even bigger After his resurrection. Jesus said that God's presence would come to dwell in and among his followers so that they would become mini temples, communities of people where God rests and rules. Exactly this is the Bible's vision of the church, which is described as a temple.
Speaker 1:Not a building, but people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, like when Peter says you all are living stones built up as a temple for God's spirit to dwell.
Speaker 1:So at the end of the story, do we ever get a new physical temple?
Speaker 2:Well, not exactly. What we see is a new physical temple. Well, not exactly. What we see is a renewed cosmic temple, just like Genesis 1. And this new creation doesn't need a temple building because, through Jesus, all creation is now the place where God rests and rules the world with his people.
Speaker 3:Hey guys, it's B-Rob, it's the Food for Thought Faithcast. It's Thursday, april 17th, and that was a little clip about the temple. It's Holy Week. We celebrate Holy Week this week, mark 11, mark, chapter 11. Read you a little scripture today.
Speaker 3:The next day, as they were leaving Bethany, jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find if it had any fruit. Then he said to the tree May no one ever eat fruit from you again. And his disciples heard him say it. On reaching Jerusalem, jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them he said it is not written my house will be called the house of prayer for all nations, but you have made it a den of robbers. The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
Speaker 3:When evening came, jesus and his disciples went out to the city In the morning. As they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus Rabbi, look, the fig tree you cursed has withered. Have faith in God. Jesus answered Truly. I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, go throw yourself into the sea, and does not doubt it in their heart, but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them so that your Father in heaven may forgive your sins. That's a big one, guys, pay attention.
Speaker 3:So they arrived again in Jerusalem and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. By what authority are you doing these things, they asked, and who gave you authority to do this? Well, jesus replied I will ask you one question. Answer me and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. John's baptism Was it from heaven or human origin? Tell me. So they discussed it amongst themselves and said If we say from heaven, he will ask then why didn't you believe me? But if we say of human origin. They feared the people, for everyone else held that John was really a prophet. So they answered Jesus we don't know. Well, jesus said, neither will I tell you by what authority I'm doing these things. John 2.
Speaker 3:When it is almost time for the Jewish Passover, jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords and drove them all from the temple courts, both sheep and doves and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords and drove them all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He scattered the coins and the money changers and overturned their table. To those sold doves he said get out of here, stop turning my father's house into a market.
Speaker 3:His disciples remembered that it was written zeal for your house will consume me. The Jews then responded to him what sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all of this? Jesus answered them destroy this temple and I will raise it again in three days. Well, the Jews responded it has taken 46 years to build this temple and you're going to raise it in three days. But the temple he had spoke of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, the disciples recalled what he had said. They then believed the scripture and the words Jesus had spoken.
Speaker 3:Now, while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. But Jesus would not entrust him to them, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew that was in each person. Luke 19 says when Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. It is written he said to them my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it into a den of robbers Every day. He was teaching at the temple, but the priest chiefs, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it because all the people hung on his words. That's some good stuff, some good lessons there.
Speaker 3:Just want to say thank you for all my listeners today. I'm praying hard for you. I'm praying hard for this faith cast. Hopefully we can help spread the word, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3:A lot of symbolism in this scriptures, I guess what I want to ask you is is there something in your life that Jesus could turn a table over on? Is there an addiction to sin, anything in your life, anything that's given you strife? Guys, you have to give it all to Jesus. Lay it down, let him turn those tables over for you, let him scatter those cattle for you. The temple is the body, and anything trying to destroy the body is symbolic to what I read today. So keep your mind, body, clean of spirit, focused on God as we get through this week, because as Jesus came to town for Passover, he met every resistance that this world had to offer, every resistance. And then, the weekend, they even attacked, arrested, brutally killed and murdered our Christ, lord Jesus, but he died. He was the spotless lamb that died for your sins.
Speaker 3:So, guys, I just want to say I love you, god loves you, and God wants you to come to the foot of that cross. Lay all your burdens down, anything that's bothering you, whether it be a cigarette addiction, whether it be alcohol addiction, whether it be a pornography addiction, whether it be just addiction to everything keeping you from God's word, everything keeping you from this beautiful world that God has created for us. We are sinners, we are broken, and that's why we have a gracious God who wants the broken, who wants the people looking. Look no further, guys. Our God is so good, our God is so great. He's a healer. He is a healer. He gave his body and his temple for your sins and he rose that temple three days, laboring and defeated death. Death. Where is your sting? Because our Savior won. So keep that in mind, guys. I love you, god loves you, and let's end this thing in prayer.
Speaker 3:Today's going to be a great day. Tomorrow's going to be a great day, and we're going to go ahead and claim those things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Dear Heavenly Father, we come to you today. Lord, we thank you for your mercy. It abounds. Lord, we thank you for your grace. We thank you for bringing your spotless lamb, your son Jesus Christ, to die today for our sins and be raised from the dead three days later. We thank you for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, we thank you for the freedom to be able to preach that gospel. Lord, we know freedom is not free.
Speaker 3:We want to thank all the military folks, all the first responders, military folks, all the first responders, all the veterans, for everything they do for our country and our fellow man. God, just lift them up, lord, be with them every day, for we know they put their lives on the line for us. Lord, just be with them. May them keep you in their sight, lord, may they walk with you, may they walk strongly with you. Lord, I pray for my family, I pray for my friends, I pray for my man, camp disciples and buddies. Lord, just lift them up, keep them lifted up. I know they go through their everyday routine and, lord, it's not pretty, for we live on a world that is full of sin. Lord, it's backwards. Up is down. Lord, we pray that everybody may see the truth, because you are the truth, lord, and we know the truth offends a lot of people, lord, but we know the truth is solidified with you and your word.
Speaker 3:Lord, we thank you for today.
Speaker 3:We thank you for the coming days. We thank you for creation. We thank you for just lifting us up, lord. Lord, I thank you for this faith cast and giving me this platform and this opportunity to spread the gospel. Lord, lord, I thank you for this faith cast and giving me this platform and this opportunity to spread the gospel.
Speaker 3:Lord, I want to pray for our listeners today, lord, that they may seek, find and keep you, lord, and that they may put their burdens at the foot of the cross, lord, and give them all to you, lord. I ask forgiveness for any sins I have committed or will commit. Lord, I ask for forgiveness for any sins that our listeners will commit or have committed. Lord. We give it all to you, lord. This is a beautiful day in the holy name of Jesus Christ. This is a beautiful day in the holy name of Jesus Christ. Amen, hallelujah, it's in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Speaker 3:Well, guys, thank you. Thank you for listening to me today, on this lovely Thursday morning, and I pray that everything goes your way. Our God is so good, our God is so strong. Philippians 4.19 says and my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Jesus Christ. Now we may not be talking diamonds and gold, but we are talking something way, way more important the riches in his glory, christ Jesus. Guys, thank you. If you want me to pray for you, please click the prayer button below, prayer request button below If you feel like donating to the podcast, if you feel led.
Speaker 3:A dollar a month. Five dollars a month, that'd be great as well. If you want to sponsor the podcast, if you have a business and would like to sponsor it, reach out to me. You can click the donate button below. You can call or text me 706-691-1043. My phone is always on and it's always open. I would love to pray for you, pray with you, talk with you, whatever you need. My name is B-Rob. This is the Food for Thought Faithcast. I love you. God loves you. Have a blessed day, guys.
