No Separation

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple
and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?
- 1 Corinthians 3:16

This morning I woke up in Jerusalem. For many, this is the primary reason to plan a visit to Israel. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would the city be completely modernized? Would it feel ancient? As you might expect, it turned out to be a bit of both. That is, until we reached the entrance to the Temple.

Walking up to the Temple Mount feels like being transported directly into your Bible. You aren’t just reading the Bible. You are seeing it! Wherever you look conjures an image and evokes an emotion. As you approach you think about Jesus entering this same sacred space. Look left and you can see steps that Jesus may have taught on. Keep walking and see where he was accused and tried.
However, one thing really stood out to me about this day. As we toured around we came to a large wall where many Jewish people were praying. This is the Western Wall. I was, of course, familiar with the Western Wall but what I did not know was why they prayed there.

The temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D. and a famous Muslim site named the Dome of the Rock currently sits in its place. According to the Old Testament, God’s presence is with the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. The only one that can enter the Holy of Holies is the High Priest, and only one day a year.

What I learned is that the Western Wall is the wall closest to where the Holy of Holies would be located. Symbolically people are coming are close as they believe they can to the presence of God. When you walk to the wall you can see and hear many prayers taking place. Additionally, there are hundreds of prayers written on paper and stuffed into the cracks of the stone.

As a Christian I was awestruck by the knowledge that there is no wall separating me from God’s presence. I am not on the outside looking in, rather the Spirit God lives in me. I was reminded of the words of Paul to the Corinthians, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? (1Cor 3:16).” As a Christ follower I have become the very temple of God! I am more thankful than ever for a God that is near.