The House of God

Jesus is the true and only way of access to the Father, the Greater Tabernacle, and the House of God – John 1:47-50.

The Gospel of John presents Jesus as the True House of God. He is the way of access to the presence of God that is now open to all men. The man from Nazareth has become the True Bethel, the “House of God.” From now on, Heaven is open to all men, and angels are “ascending and descending” on the “Son of Man.” What Jacob saw in a vision long ago has become reality in Jesus Christ.

[Stones by Lake - Photo by Aaron Thomas on Unsplash]

One day, Philip told Nathanael, “We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets.” Philip did not call Jesus the “Messiah” directly, but he described him as the royal figure and “Son of God” predicted by the Hebrew Scriptures. This is a key theme of John’s Gospel - Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises of God.

• (John 1:47-50) – “Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said concerning him — See! Truly, an Israelite in whom is no deceit [‘dolos’].  Nathanael says to him: From where do you know me? Jesus answered and said, Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you. Nathanael answered, Rabbi! You are the Son of God: You are King of Israel. Jesus answered: Because I said, I saw you under the fig tree, you believe? A greater thing than these will you see!”

• (Psalm 2:6) – “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. Let me tell of the decree: Yahweh said to me, You are My son! I, this day, have begotten you.”

Jesus gave more than a brief comment on Nathanael’s character (“An Israelite in whom is no deceit”). His words anticipated the interpretation and application of an event from the life of Jacob to the “Son of Man.”

Upon hearing Jesus linked to the insignificant village of Nazareth, Nathanael declared, “What good can come out of Nazareth?” Nevertheless, he went to see what this man was all about:

• “And Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and he said, Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I knew it not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! This is none other than the House of God, and this is the gate of heaven. And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put under his head, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Beth-el” - (Genesis 28:16-19).

In the popular etymology of the time, ‘Jacob’ meant one who “deceives.” The Greek noun for “deceit” is found in John 1:47 (‘dolos’), the same term used in the Greek Septuagint version of the Genesis account that refers to Jacob’s reputation as a deceitful man (“Your brother came with deceit [‘dolos’] and has taken away your blessing” - Genesis 27:35).

“Deceiver” was an apt description of Jacob’s character before it was transformed by his encounter with an angelic figure. That event resulted in his name being changed from ‘Jacob” to ‘Israel,’ as well as his vision of the “ladder to heaven.” During his journey to Haran, Jacob slept using stones for a pillow, and he dreamed of angels ascending and descending on this “ladder,” the gateway between Earth and the Heavens.

Yahweh promised to give Jacob the land on which he slept for his descendants.  On that spot, he constructed an altar out of the same stones he had used for his pillow, poured out an offering on it, and then called the place ‘Bethel’ or “House of God.”

HEAVEN IS NOW OPEN

In contrast to Jacob, Nathanael was a true Israelite without deceit.  He was so impressed with Jesus that he ascribed two messianic titles to him: Son of God and King of Israel.  However, Nathanael would see far greater things - (“You will see heaven set open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”).

Jesus made no mention of any “ladder” in the passage. Instead, he declared that from that time forward angels would ascend and descend “upon” him, namely, the “Son of Man.” In effect, Christ is the ladder and gateway to Heaven.

According to Jewish tradition, the original ‘Bethel’ was located on the site where the Jerusalem Temple was built. In contrast, ever since his Death and Resurrection, Jesus has been the true mediator between “Heaven” and Earth.  His death on Calvary opened the way for all men to access God by faith - (John 8:28 - “When you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I am he").

Jesus claimed to be the true and final means of approaching God, in contrast to the Temple in Jerusalem and its rituals.  Jacob’s ‘Bethel’ was temporary and foreshadowed the Greater “House of God” that would be established in and by the Messiah. This is why Jesus also claimed, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

The presence of God is accessible wherever Jesus is, and the Divine glory is visible in and through the Son:

• “And the Logos became flesh and tented among us. And we beheld his glory, glory as of the only born from the Father, full of grace and truth” – (John 1:14).

• “He who has seen me has seen the Father” – (John 14:9. See also John 11:40).

• “Seeing it is God who said, Light will shine out of darkness, who shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” – (2 Corinthians 4:6).

No longer must men and women journey to the Temple in Jerusalem and participate in its rituals to find God’s presence. The way to Him is open to all men and women, and on the same basis for one and all, namely, the “Son of Man.”

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SEE ALSO:

• The Word Became Flesh - (Jesus is the Living Word in flesh, the true Tabernacle where the Glory of God is revealed. He is the man who reveals God’s Grace and Truth – John 1:14)

• His Name is Jesus! - (Jesus means ‘Yahweh saves.’ In this Man of Nazareth, the Salvation promised by the God of Abraham and Israel has arrived for all men)

• The Tent of Meeting - (Ever since the Word became flesh, God’s Glory has been manifested in Jesus of Nazareth, and all who believe in him behold His splendor)

• The Fullness of God - (The fullness, grace, and truth of God are found only in the Word made Flesh, namely, Jesus Christ of Nazareth – John 1:14-18)