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entered upon a path which they would steadily pursue until He should be led as a lamb to the slaughter。
It was for the sake of those who should believe on Him that these words of Christ were spoken。 He knew that they would be repeated。 Being spoken at the Passover； they would come to the ears of thousands； and be carried to all parts of the world。 After He had risen from the dead； their meaning would be made plain。 To many they would be conclusive evidence of His divinity。
Because of their spiritual darkness； even the disciples of Jesus often failed of comprehending His lessons。 But many of these lessons were made plain to them by subsequent events。 When He walked no more with them； His words were a stay to their hearts。
As referring to the temple at Jerusalem； the Saviour's words； 〃Destroy this temple； and in three days I will raise it up；〃 had a deeper meaning than the hearers perceived。 Christ was the foundation and life of the temple。 Its services were typical of the sacrifice of the Son of God。 The priesthood was established to represent the mediatorial character and work of Christ。 The entire plan of sacrificial worship was a foreshadowing of the Saviour's death to redeem the world。 There would be no efficacy in these offerings when the great event toward which they had pointed for ages was consummated。
Since the whole ritual economy was symbolical of Christ； it had no value apart from Him。 When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by delivering Him to death； they rejected all that gave significance to the temple and its services。 Its sacredness had departed。 It was doomed to destruction。 From that day sacrificial offerings and the service connected with them were meaningless。 Like the offering of Cain； they did not express faith in the Saviour。 In putting Christ to death； the Jews virtually destroyed their temple。 When Christ was crucified； the inner veil of the temple was rent in twain from top to bottom； signifying that the great final sacrifice had been made； and that the system of sacrificial offerings was forever at an end。
〃In three days I will raise it up。〃 In the Saviour's death the powers of darkness seemed to prevail； and they exulted in their victory。 But from the rent sepulcher of Joseph； Jesus came forth a conqueror。 〃Having spoiled principalities and powers； He made a show of them openly； triumphing over them。〃 Col。2：15。 By virtue of His death and resurrection
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He became the minister of the 〃true tabernacle； which the Lord pitched； and not man。〃 Heb。 8：2。 Men reared the Jewish tabernacle； men builded the Jewish temple； but the sanctuary above； of which the earthly was a type； was built by no human architect。 〃Behold the Man whose name is The Branch； 。 。 。 He shall build the temple of the Lord； and He shall bear the glory； and shall sit and rule upon His throne； and He shall be a priest upon His throne。〃 Zech。 6：12； 13。
The sacrificial service that had pointed to Christ passed away； but the eyes of men were turned to the true sacrifice for the sins of the world。 The earthly priesthood ceased； but we look to Jesus； the minister of the new covenant； and 〃to the blood of sprinkling； that speaketh better things than that of Abel。〃 〃The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest； while as the first tabernacle was yet standing： 。 。 。 but Christ being come an high priest of good things to come； by a greater and more perfect tabernacle； not made with hands； 。 。 。 by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place； having obtained eternal redemption for us。〃 Heb。 12：24； 9：8…12。
〃Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him； seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them。〃 Heb。 7：25。 Though the ministration was to be removed from the earthly to the heavenly temple； though the sanctuary and our great high priest would be invisible to human sight； yet the disciples were to suffer no loss thereby。 They would realize no break in their communion； and no diminution of power because of the Saviour's absence。 While Jesus ministers in the sanctuary above； He is still by His Spirit the minister of the church on earth。 He is withdrawn from the eye of sense； but His parting promise is fulfilled； 〃Lo； I am with you alway； even unto the end of the world。〃 Matt。 28：20。 While He delegates His power to inferior ministers； His energizing presence is still with His church。
〃Seeing then that we have a great high priest； 。 。 。 Jesus； the Son of God； let us hold fast our profession。 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities； but was in all points tempted like as we are； yet without sin。 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace； that we may obtain mercy； and find grace to help in time of need。〃 Heb 4：14…16。
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Chapter 17
Nicodemus
Nicodemus held a high position of trust in the Jewish nation。 He was highly educated； and possessed talents of no ordinary character； and he was an honored member of the national council。 With others； he had been stirred by the teaching of Jesus。 Though rich； learned； and honored； he had been strangely attracted by the humble Nazarene。 The lessons that had fallen from the Saviour's lips had greatly impressed him； and he desired to learn more of these wonderful truths。
Christ's exercise of authority in the cleansing of the temple had roused the determined hatred of the priests and rulers。 They feared the power of this stranger。 Such boldness on the part of an obscure Galilean was not to be tolerated。 They were bent on putting an end to His work。 But not all were agreed in this purpose。 There were some that feared to oppose One who was so evidently moved upon by the Spirit of God。 They remembered how prophets had been slain for rebuking the sins of the leaders in Israel。 They knew that the bondage of the Jews to a heathen nation was the result of their stubbornness in rejecting reproofs from God。 They feared that in plotting against Jesus the priests and rulers were following in the steps of their fathers； and would bring fresh calamities upon the nation。 Nicodemus shared these feelings。 In a
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council of the Sanhedrin； when the course to be pursued toward Jesus was considered； Nicodemus advised caution and moderation。 He urged that if Jesus was really invested with authority from God； it would be perilous to reject His warnings。 The priests dared not disregard this counsel； and for the time they took no open measures against the Saviour。
Since hearing Jesus； Nicodemus had anxiously studied the prophecies relating to the Messiah； and the more he searched； the stronger was his conviction that this was the One who was to come。 With many others in Israel he had been greatly distressed by the profanation of the temple He was a witness of the scene when Jesus drove out the buyers and the sellers； he beheld the wonderful manifestation of divine power； he saw the Saviour receiving the poor and healing the sick； he saw their looks of joy； and heard their words of praise； and he could not doubt that Jesus of