John 2:21 (KJV) Let Scripture, Not Assumptions, Speak

John 2:21 (KJV)

But he spake of the temple of his body.

This text becomes a key moment in the ministry of Christ, and one that His false accusers later twisted at His trial. Jesus, of course, knew exactly what He meant—but notice the different ways His words were taken at the time.

The Jews thought He spoke of their temple.

Their religion ruled their understanding. They were stuck on the temporal, the physical, the earthly. They could only interpret Christ’s words through their own experience.

The Word of God tells us exactly what He meant.

I’ve been taught—and I believe correctly—to put aside my preconceived ideas and let the Bible speak for itself. But something I’ve learned over time is that, in order to do this, I must recognize and acknowledge those preconceptions.

The disciples didn’t fully understand what Jesus meant until after His resurrection.

I am sure none of us truly understand the Bible until we have had a personal encounter with the risen Christ. This creates a conflict between us and those who have had no such encounter. They can read the same words we do, but they cannot arrive at the same meaning.

I’m also convinced that even among those of us who are saved, none of us will fully understand the Word of God until we personally sit at the feet of the Saviour. Until that day, we must be fully persuaded in our own minds (through study) and gracious toward those whose studies have led them to different views than our own.

#TempleOfHisBody #LetTheBibleSpeak #ResurrectedChristReveals #ScriptureOverTradition #UnderstandingThroughChrist

Let Scripture, Not Assumptions, Speak: Religion Misses What Christ Reveals