📘 All Metaphors and Symbolic Sayings of Jesus
John 2:19–21
1. Introduction
Jesus made a bold and enigmatic statement in John 2:19: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Misunderstood by His audience, this metaphor was not about Herod’s temple but about His own body. The statement, laden with prophetic and theological weight, uses the temple as a symbol—not of architectural structure, but of God’s dwelling among humanity. By applying temple imagery to His body, Jesus redefined the centre of worship, access to God, and divine presence as located in Himself.
2. Biblical Texts and Language
- Primary Passage:
- John 2:19–21: “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
- Greek Vocabulary:
- ναόν (naon) – temple, specifically the inner sanctuary
- ἐγερῶ (egerō) – I will raise up (resurrect)
- σῶμα (sōma) – body (used later in clarification, v. 21)
- Linked Passages:
- Mark 14:58 – Accusation at trial: “I will destroy this temple…”
- Matthew 27:40 – Mockery at the cross
- 1 Corinthians 6:19 – Believers’ bodies as temples
- Revelation 21:22 – “I saw no temple… for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple”
3. Historical and Cultural Context
The temple in Jerusalem was the holiest site in Jewish life—the place of sacrifices, priestly intercession, and divine presence. Claiming it would be destroyed and replaced would have sounded not only heretical but politically inflammatory. Yet Jesus, in saying this during Passover, intentionally placed Himself at the centre of redemption. His listeners took the phrase literally, but John clarifies: “He was speaking of the temple of His body” (John 2:21). Jesus predicted both His death and His resurrection, and in doing so, relocated the place of divine encounter.
4. Theological Meaning
- Jesus as the True Temple: The place where God dwells fully (Col. 2:9).
- New Covenant Worship: No longer tied to a building—worship is now through Christ (John 4:21–24).
- Death and Resurrection: The phrase foretells the destruction (crucifixion) and raising (resurrection) of Jesus.
- Replacement and Fulfilment: Christ doesn’t abolish the temple; He embodies and surpasses it.
This metaphor shifts theology from ritual space to incarnational presence.
5. Typology and Old Testament Foundations
- Exodus 25:8 – “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them”
- 2 Samuel 7 – God promises a house for His Name
- Isaiah 66:1–2 – “Heaven is my throne… where is the house you will build for me?”
- Ezekiel 37:27 – “My dwelling place shall be with them”
- Malachi 3:1 – “The Lord… will come to His temple”
Jesus is both the fulfilment of divine habitation and the sacrifice offered within.
6. Christological Implications
- Incarnation as Indwelling: Christ is God dwelling bodily (John 1:14; Col. 1:19).
- Sovereign Resurrection Power: “I will raise it up”—Jesus predicts and claims authority over His own resurrection.
- Rejection and Vindication: The ‘destroying’ of the temple refers to His crucifixion—ultimately God’s plan, not Rome’s.
- End of the Temple Age: With His death, the veil is torn—access to God is through Him.
The temple metaphor affirms that Jesus is the place where heaven and earth meet.
7. Eschatological and Ecclesiological Relevance
- Eschatology: In the New Jerusalem, no physical temple exists—God and the Lamb are the temple (Rev. 21:22).
- Ecclesiology: The Church, as Christ’s body, becomes the temple of the Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16–17).
- Worship Shift: Christian worship moves from sacred place to sacred person.
- Sacrifice Fulfilled: Christ is not just the temple but also the High Priest and the Sacrifice.
8. Comparative Theological Views
| Tradition | Understanding of Christ as Temple |
|---|---|
| Reformed | Christ as fulfilment of all temple types and priesthood |
| Catholic | Eucharistic presence as continuation of divine indwelling |
| Orthodox | Liturgical worship as mystical participation in the true Temple |
| Evangelical | Emphasis on personal access to God through Jesus |
| Messianic Jewish | Christ as the embodied Mikdash (Holy Place) |
Each view affirms the temple metaphor as central to Christ’s redemptive identity.
9. Modern Application
- Worship Christ, not Buildings: True worship is not tied to structure but to the person of Christ.
- Live as God’s Dwelling: Through the Spirit, believers become mobile sanctuaries of holiness.
- Honour the Resurrection: Christ’s body—the new temple—cannot remain in the grave.
- Guard Reverence: If Jesus is the temple, then worship must be spiritually pure and theologically sound.
10. Summary Table
| Symbol | The Temple Rebuilt in Three Days |
|---|---|
| Meaning | Christ as the new, living dwelling place of God |
| Key Verses | John 2:19–21; Rev. 21:22; 1 Cor. 3:16 |
| OT Typology | Tabernacle, Temple of Solomon, divine presence |
| Doctrinal Focus | Incarnation, resurrection, worship, ecclesiology |
| Spiritual Emphasis | Presence, holiness, access, permanence |
| Application | Christ-centred worship, resurrection hope, identity in Him |
11. Conclusion
When Jesus said, “Destroy this temple,” He declared the beginning of a new era. No longer would God’s presence be confined to stone and ritual—He now dwells in Christ. The resurrection is not just the rebuilding of a body—it is the establishment of a new covenantal centre. Christ is the Holy of Holies, the perfect priest, the final sacrifice, and the eternal dwelling place of God. His body was broken, yet rebuilt in three days—to make room for us within the temple of grace.