A Temple Without Levels

I heard a sermon last week that referred to the Jewish temple. I didn't know much of anything about the various courts inside. Quite interesting. Click here for more information on the Temple.

Of particular interest to me was all of the separation that existed within this holy place. A court for Gentiles...Jews and Gentiles could interact here, but Gentiles couldn't go further inside. Up a few stairs to the Court of Women...a place for Jewish men, women and priests to interact, but women couldn't go further than this place. Up a few stairs to the Court of Men...a place where Jewish men and priests could go, but only priests could go further. Through a gate into the Priest's Court...a place for all Jewish priests, but the lesser priests could go no further. And finally through the veil, the Holy of Holies...a place for only the high priests and God.

Over the years, I've focused on the tearing of the veil during the Crucifixion of Christ. That spectaculor moment symbolizing that God would not be contained or isolated but would now occupy the human heart. Wow...still so precious to me. But knowing that there were all of these courts of separation, I was so blessed by how the life, death and resurrection of Christ also became the grand equalizer.

Galatians 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

Can't you just see it? In addition to the tearing of the veil that kept the Holy of Holies closed off, the various, raised levels separating Jews and Gentiles, men and women, and priest and layman were collapsed. The tiered temple became a level place...all have equal access to Him and are equal in Him.

Oh man...what a visual. What a gift!!! Now to place our faith in alignment with His wide-open spaces of Grace. :)