Sanctuary

As the author of nonfiction books, I work hard to find the right word to use in the text. I give a lot of thought at times about finding the right word that is accurate but also best communicates the meaning of what I’m trying to write. That’s why I love this quote from Mark Twain,

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ‘Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

While studying John 2, I see that Jesus used the word which perfectly communicated the exact meaning He intended it to have. While people of the first century would have understood the nuance of His word choice. Today we often miss it because of our English translations.

In John 2:14 we see that during Passover Jesus went to the temple. The word used for temple in this verse means the whole complex that included the courts (Strong’s word #2411 “hieron”). Jesus drove out the moneychangers and people selling animals in temple court area.  

After this they ask Jesus, “What sign are you showing us since you do these things?”

In my translation it says Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

But the word Jesus used in this verse is not the word for temple that included the courts. Jesus used the word sanctuary (Strong’s word #3485 “naos”). The sanctuary (the word Jesus used here) was the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies—not the entire temple complex that included the outer courts.  

While that subtle difference is difficult for modern-day Christians to grasp, it carries with it deep meaning. Sacrifices for sin were offered in the temple courts outside the Holy Place. By the time the priests entered the Holy Place, they had offered a sacrifice that paid for their sins and they were forgiven. Beyond the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies where the presence of God resided. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies only after a blood sacrifice paid the price of his sins and the sins of the people.   

The sanctuary (the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies) of the temple complex was the dwelling place of the holy God. God could communicate with mankind in His sanctuary only after their sins had been forgiven.

So when Jesus said, “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.” He was speaking about the sanctuary of His body. He was the Holy of Holies-the very presence of God. A place where there was no sin. In this verse, Jesus was referring to His death, burial and resurrection. But at the time, they didn’t understand what He meant.  

We are familiar with another verse that uses this same meaning of sanctuary:

“Do you not know that you are a sanctuary (the word temple is usually used) of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” I Corinthians 3:16

When we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirt of God dwells in us. Our hearts become a sanctuary of God like the Holy Place and Holy of Holies of the temple—the place of His actual presence—the place where sin has been paid for and forgiven.

That doesn’t mean we are sinless, far from it. But it does mean our sins are forgiven-paid for by Jesus’s blood sacrifice.

Wow. The word sanctuary carries a lot of meaning. Like Mark Twain said, the right word is the difference between a lightning bug and lightning.

Carla Killough McClafferty