Mobile Holy Ground

John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us."

Note: Hellenistic Jews were those that did not necessarily live in Jerusalem, they had been cast to different parts of the world, adopting some of the Greek (Hellenistic) culture in the process. They were looked down upon by the Hebraic Jews - those who had remained in Jerusalem and stayed true to the Temple - which they considered the center of all worship.

I find it interesting that the Hellenistic Jews of Jesus' day looked upon the Temple as a concession. They thought that the Tabernacle of the desert time of their history was the greater way, the better part of the original plan. It was mobile holy ground. The Temple was a settling - and in their minds settling always leads to stuck. They thought of the Hebraic Jews as being stuck to this Temple, with a limited view of how God can move in this world. (For a better understanding, read Stephen's sermon in Acts 8.)

I must say that I agree. It's what has played out. The Temple was meant to be a beacon, but it became a barrier and was summarily dismissed by Jesus. We are now tabernacles on earth - moveable holy grounds.

The implications are enormous. We now can move out into the world. They don't come to us - we go to them, under His sanctification - His Name (John 17:13-19). You don't advance the kingdom by sitting in your 'temple' and saying, 'Here we are! Come to us!" You take the Temple to them. That's what God did. He tabernacled in our midst. He had to - we weren't coming to Him on our own. While we were dead in our sins, enemies of God, He died for us. That same thought must now take place in our own lives. In our work, our neighborhood, our families. We have to go to them. They aren't beating our door down to hear the Good News.

I think that the Hellenistic Jews had it right. In Jeremiah 31 God says that the real plan is to put His Law into our hearts - that we may be moveable holy ground. It's an awesome thought.