DRAW NEAR

Week 2: Ascending

Primary Scripture

John 2:19–21 (CSB)

19 Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.”
20 Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?”
21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

Main Truth

We can come to Jesus looking for a solution and miss the relationship He is inviting us into. Drawing near means continuing to move closer to Him.

Introduction

Last week, we began our journey through the temple in the Outer Court. It was the place of Gathering. People came together, relationships were built, prayers were offered, and God’s Word was proclaimed. We discovered the incredible freedom we have to gather with God’s people.

But the temple did not end at the Outer Court.

The structure of the temple continually moved the worshiper inward toward the place associated with God’s presence. There was progression. There was movement. There was an ascent.

The Outer Court was the broad gathering area where people came to worship. Moving inward into the Inner Court, worshipers entered the Court of Women, where Jewish men and women could gather and participate in temple life. From there were the fifteen steps leading upward toward the next court. Jewish tradition associated these steps with the fifteen Songs of Ascents found in Psalms 120–134. These Psalms were sung by pilgrims on their ascending journey to the temple to celebrate the major Jewish fest. Beyond the steps was the Court of Israel, where Israelite men drew nearer to the priestly ministry. Then came the Court of the Priests, where the priests served at the altar. Beyond the courts stood the Holy Place, where priests ministered, and finally the Holy of Holies, the innermost sanctuary associated with the presence of God.

The closer you moved, the more intentional the journey became.

And right in the middle of this movement were fifteen steps.

You could not move from the Court of Women toward the Court of Israel without ascending. You had to take the next step.

That is the picture I want us to see today.

Last week, we Gathered.

This week, we Ascend.

God never intended us simply to come and stay where we started. He continually invites us to draw nearer.

TAKEAWAY 1

Move Beyond the Physical

Scripture

“Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.”
John 4:20

“But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:23

Bible Notes

When Jesus spoke with the Samaritan woman, her attention turned toward the physical location of worship. Her ancestors worshiped on Mount Gerizim, while the Jews worshiped at the temple in Jerusalem. She was focused on the place. Earlier in the conversation, she had also focused on her physical need for water. When Jesus offered living water, her first thought was how it could solve the problem of returning to the well. Again and again, her thinking centered on the physical. Jesus continually moved the conversation toward the spiritual. He wanted her to understand that He was offering more than a solution to her thirst and more than an answer about the correct location of worship. He was inviting her into a relationship with the Father.

Application

Many people still come to Jesus looking for a solution rather than a relationship. We come because our marriage is struggling, our finances are difficult, our family is hurting, our health is uncertain, or our life feels out of control. There is nothing wrong with bringing our problems to Jesus. He cares about what we are facing. The danger is when we only want Jesus to fix the physical problem while having no desire to grow spiritually closer to Him. We can spend our entire Christian life asking Jesus to make this life more comfortable while ignoring His invitation to know Him more deeply.

Sometimes we want Jesus to change our situation when Jesus wants to change us.

Ascending begins when we move from simply asking, “Jesus, what can You do for me?” to asking, “Jesus, how can I know You more?”

TAKEAWAY 2

Take the Next Step

Scripture

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith…”
Hebrews 10:22a

Bible Notes

The fifteen steps between the Court of Women and the higher inner court provide a powerful picture of spiritual progression. The worshiper could not ascend by remaining where they were. Each step required movement. The physical steps did not make someone spiritually closer to God simply because they climbed them, but they provide us with a powerful picture of intentional movement. Hebrews gives us the New Testament invitation: “Let us draw near.” Through Jesus, the way to God has been opened, and we are invited to continually pursue a deeper relationship with Him.

Application

The fifteen steps remind us that there was movement toward the inner courts. You could stand at the bottom and admire the steps. You could talk about the steps. You could watch someone else climb the steps. But if you wanted to ascend, you had to take a step.

Relationships grow through intentionality, and our relationship with Jesus is no different. We don’t accidentally become spiritually mature. We take steps of faith, obedience, surrender, prayer, and service. For one person, the next step may be opening God’s Word consistently. For someone else, it may be forgiving someone, joining a Bible study, serving in ministry, surrendering a habit, or simply spending intentional time in prayer. The question is not whether you have reached the top of the steps. The question is whether you are still moving.

You cannot ascend while standing still.

Maybe you have gathered for years. You know the songs. You know where to sit. You know the routine. But when was the last time you intentionally took another spiritual step toward Jesus?

TAKEAWAY 3

Keep Moving Toward Jesus

Scripture

“But he was speaking about the temple of his body.”
John 2:21

Bible Notes

The people in John 2 were focused on the physical temple standing in front of them. They saw a magnificent building that had been under construction for forty-six years. Jesus was pointing them beyond the structure and toward Himself. The temple had represented the place where God’s people approached Him, but Jesus was revealing that everything was ultimately pointing toward Him. The sacrifices, the priesthood, the courts, and the movement toward God’s presence find their fulfillment in Christ. The temple showed the direction, but Jesus became the way.

Application

Our spiritual journey should continually move us toward Jesus. We move from attendance to relationship, from observing to participating, and from simply needing something from Jesus to desiring Jesus Himself. Spiritual growth does not mean we have everything figured out. It means we continue taking the next step toward Him. One step of obedience, one step of surrender, one step of faith, and one step of service. Don’t stay where you started. Keep moving toward Jesus.

Closing Challenge

Last week, we gathered in the Outer Court. We celebrated the freedom to come together, worship, pray, build relationships, and hear God’s Word. But gathering was only the beginning of the journey.

This week, we come to the steps.

I wonder if that describes some believers today. We come to church looking for God to solve a problem. We want Him to fix our marriage, heal our body, change our finances, help our children, or remove our difficulty. Again, there is nothing wrong with bringing those needs to Jesus. But Jesus offers us something greater than a temporary solution.

He offers us a relationship with Him.

The Samaritan woman was concerned about a physical well and a physical place of worship. Jesus kept pointing her toward something deeper. The people at the temple in John 2 were focused on a physical building. Jesus pointed them toward Himself.

Maybe the question today is not, “Why did I come to Jesus?”

Maybe the question is, “Now that I have come, am I moving closer?”

You cannot ascend while standing still. Take the next step. Move beyond simply looking for a solution. Pursue a relationship. Keep moving toward Jesus.

Gathering brought us to the courts. Ascending moves us closer to Christ.

And the question I want to leave with you today is simple:

What is your next step toward Jesus?