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timidity。 They looked with amazement on the works of Jesus； and were convicted that in Him the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled。 The sin of the desecration of the temple rested； in a great degree； upon the priests。 It
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was by their arrangement that the court had been turned into a market place。 The people were comparatively innocent。 They were impressed by the divine authority of Jesus； but with them the influence of the priests and rulers was paramount。 They regarded Christ's mission as an innovation； and questioned His right to interfere with what was permitted by the authorities of the temple。 They were offended because the traffic had been interrupted； and they stifled the convictions of the Holy Spirit。
Above all others the priests and rulers should have seen in Jesus the anointed of the Lord； for in their hands were the sacred scrolls that described His mission； and they knew that the cleansing of the temple was a manifestation of more than human power。 Much as they hated Jesus； they could not free themselves from the thought that He might be a prophet sent by God to restore the sanctity of the temple。 With a deference born of this fear； they went to Him with the inquiry； 〃What sign showest Thou unto us； seeing that Thou doest these things？〃
Jesus had shown them a sign。 In flashing light into their hearts； and in doing before them the works which the Messiah was to do； He had given convincing evidence of His character。 Now when they asked for a sign； He answered them by a parable； showing that He read their malice； and saw to what lengths it would lead them。 〃Destroy this temple；〃 He said； 〃and in three days I will raise it up。〃
In these words His meaning was twofold。 He referred not only to the destruction of the Jewish temple and worship； but to His own death；the destruction of the temple of His body。 This the Jews were already plotting。 As the priests and rulers returned to the temple； they had proposed to kill Jesus； and thus rid themselves of the troubler。 Yet when He set before them their purpose； they did not understand Him。 They took His words as applying only to the temple at Jerusalem； and with indignation exclaimed； 〃Forty and six years was this temple in building； and wilt Thou rear it up in three days？〃 Now they felt that Jesus had justified their unbelief； and they were confirmed in their rejection of Him。
Christ did not design that His words should be understood by the unbelieving Jews； nor even by His disciples at this time。 He knew that they would be misconstrued by His enemies； and would be turned against Him。 At His trial they would be brought as an accusation； and on Calvary they would be flung at Him as a taunt。 But to explain them now would give His disciples a knowledge of His sufferings； and bring
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upon them sorrow which as yet they were not able to bear。 And an explanation would prematurely disclose to the Jews the result of their prejudice and unbelief。 Already they had entered upon a path which they would steadily pursue until He should be led as a lamb to the slaughter。
It was for the sake of those who should believe on Him that these words of Christ were spoken。 He knew that they would be repeated。 Being spoken at the Passover； they would come to the ears of thousands； and be carried to all parts of the world。 After He had risen from the dead； their meaning would be made plain。 To many they would be conclusive evidence of His divinity。
Because of their spiritual darkness； even the disciples of Jesus often failed of comprehending His lessons。 But many of these lessons were made plain to them by subsequent events。 When He walked no more with them； His words were a stay to their hearts。
As referring to the temple at Jerusalem； the Saviour's words； 〃Destroy this temple； and in three days I will raise it up；〃 had a deeper meaning than the hearers perceived。 Christ was the foundation and life of the temple。 Its services were typical of the sacrifice of the Son of God。 The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of Christ。 The entire plan of sacrificial worship was a foreshadowing of the Saviour's death to redeem the world。 There would be no efficacy in these offerings when the great event toward which they had pointed for ages was consummated。
Since the whole ritual economy was symbolical of Christ； it had no value apart from Him。 When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by delivering Him to death； they rejected all that gave significance to the temple and its services。 Its sacredness had departed。 It was doomed to destruction。 From that day sacrificial offerings and the service connected with them were meaningless。 Like the offering of Cain； they did not express faith in the Saviour。 In putting Christ to death； the Jews virtually destroyed their temple。 When Christ was crucified； the inner veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom； signifying that the great final sacrifice had been made； and that the system of sacrificial offerings was forever at an end。
〃In three days I will raise it up。〃 In the Saviour's death the powers of darkness seemed to prevail； and they exulted in their victory。 But from the rent sepulcher of Joseph； Jesus came forth a conqueror。 〃Having spoiled principalities and powers； He made a show of them openly； triumphing over them。〃 Col。2：15。 By virtue of His death and resurrection
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He became the minister of the 〃true tabernacle； which the Lord pitched； and not man。〃 Heb。 8：2。 Men reared the Jewish tabernacle； men builded the Jewish temple； but the sanctuary above； of which the earthly was a type； was built by no human architect。 〃Behold the Man whose name is The Branch； 。 。 。 He shall build the temple of the Lord； and He shall bear the glory； and shall sit and rule upon His throne； and He shall be a priest upon His throne。〃 Zech。 6：12； 13。
The sacrificial service that had pointed to Christ passed away； but the eyes of men 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； and 〃to the blood of sprinkling； that speaketh better things than that of Abel。〃 〃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。〃 Heb。 12：24； 9：8…12。
〃Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him； seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them。〃 Heb。 7：25。 Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple； though the sanctuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight； yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby。 They would realize no break in their communion； and no diminution of power because of the Saviour's absence。 While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above； He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth。 He is withdrawn from the eye of sense； but His parting promise is fulfilled； 〃Lo； I am with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 Matt。 28：20。 While He delegates His power to inferior ministers； His energizing presence is still with His church。
〃Seeing then that we have a great high priest； 。 。 。 Jesus； the Son of God； let us hold fast our profession。 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities； but was in all points tempted like as we are； yet without sin。 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace； that we may obtain mercy； and find grace to help in time of need。〃 Heb 4：14…16。
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Chapter 17
Nicodemus
Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation。 He was highly educated； and possessed talents of no ordinary character； and he was an honored member of the national council。 With others； he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus。 Though rich； learned； and honored； he had been strangely attracted by the humble Nazarene。 The lessons that had fallen from the Saviour's lips had greatly impressed him； and he desired to learn more of these wonderful truths。
Christ's exercise of authority in the cleansing of the temple had roused the determined hatred of the priests and rulers。 They feared the power of this stranger。 Such boldness on the part of an obscure Galilean was not to be tolerated。 They were bent on putting an end to His work。 But not all were agreed in this purpose。 There were some that feared to oppose One who was so evidently moved upon by the Spirit of God。 They remembered how prophets had been slain for rebuking the sins of the leaders in Israel。 They knew that the bondage of the Jews to a heathen nation was the result of their stubbornness in rejecting reproofs from God。 They feared that in plotting against Jesus the priests and rulers were following in the steps of their fathers；