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Christ Confronts Corruption in the Temple
97
In putting Christ to death, the Jews virtually destroyed their temple.
When Christ was crucified, the inner veil of the temple was torn in
two from top to bottom, signifying that the great final sacrifice had
been made. The system of sacrificial offerings was forever at an end.
“In three days I will raise it up.” From the opened tomb of Joseph,
Jesus came out as a Conqueror. By His death and resurrection, He
became the minister of the “true tabernacle which the Lord erected,
and not man.”
Hebrews 8:2
. Men had constructed the Jewish temple,
but the sanctuary above was built by no human architect.
““‘The Man whose name is the BRANCH! ...
He shall build the temple of the Lord; ...
He shall bear the glory,
And shall sit and rule on His throne;
So shall He be a priest on His throne.”’”
Zechariah 6:12, 13
The sacrificial service that had pointed to Christ came to an end,
but the eyes of men and women were turned to the true sacrifice for
the sins of the world. The earthly priesthood ceased, but we look to
Jesus, the Minister of the new covenant. “The way into the holiest
of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was
yet standing. ... But Christ being come an high priest of good things
to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, ... by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
Hebrews 9:8-12
, KJV.
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who
come to God through Him, since He ever lives to make intercession
for them.”
Hebrews 7:25
. Though the heavenly sanctuary and our
great High Priest would be invisible to human sight, yet the disciples
would experience no break in their fellowship and no reduction of
power because of the Savior’s absence. While Jesus ministers in the
sanctuary above, by His Spirit He is still the Minister of the church
on earth. His parting promise is fulfilled, “Lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
. His energizing presence
is still with His church.
“We do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our
weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.