Jesus didn’t beat around the bush. He cut to the chase many times. Here’s one of them:

7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools.

When Jesus cleared the temple (the first time; it’s possible that He did it twice), the religious leaders demanded He tell them upon whose authority He had acted (John 2:13-22). Jesus made a remarkable statement,

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John explained that Jesus was talking about His body (v.21), but it was more than that. Jesus was talking about the temple becoming mobile and coming to live in each believer. He was declaring the sacrificial system’s pending termination (pun intended) and a New Covenant inaugurated. We live in that New Covenant where Jesus is our High Priest,

¹⁷ For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people [using the Old Sacrificial terminology]. Hebrews 2:17

¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14

Jesus made it possible for every person to approach God. We find mercy and grace at His throne (Hebrews 4:16). But it’s better than that: We get to have a personal, one-on-One relationship with the Father! Jesus packed a whole lot of meaning into His statement about raising up the temple in three days. Let’s review the events:

1. Jesus Died on the cross.
2. The veil that separates the holy place from the holy of holies in the temple was split from top to bottom.
3. Jesus arose three days later.
4. Jesus ascended back to His throne in heaven.
5. The Holy Spirit came and in-dwelled each believer.

What did Jesus do during those three days? We know He was fulfilling prophecy (Hosea 6:2), and that He entered Hades and took the keys to death and Hades away from Satan (Hebrews 2:14-15, Revelation 1:17-18). He took all that man could do to Him (they crucified Him) and then rose again, whereupon He inaugurated the New Covenant, this one based upon His sacrifice of love.

And all of this wrapped up in one statement!

Abba, thank You for coming to us when we needed You most! You’re still doing it!!! Amen.