something greater

exodus 11:10-12,14; Psalm 116 I will take the cup of salvation ad call on the name of the Lord Matthew 12:1-8

Jesus often times uses the phrase "something greater" to help the people understand his identity. In the gospel encounters with Jesus and the folks of his time, he uses this phrase several times. He describes his presence and his reality as "something greater than Jonah" and again "something greater than Solomon."

These two occasions lends themselves to further biblical investigation. We are invited to read about Jonah and Solomon and then compare their lives to Christ and begin to sort out in what ways or in what manner is Christ greater than Jonah who preached repentance to Nineveh after spending three days in the belly of a whale. How is Jesus greater than Solomon and all of his wisdom, in particular? How is the wisdom of Jesus that which surpasses even the wisdom of Solomon?

Thus, Jesus sends us on a fact finding mission and in our study and research the answers are made clear.

But what about today's passage. Jesus says something that is staggering and mind boggling.

JEsus says that "something greater than the temple is here."

Think about that for a moment. The Temple was everything for the believer in the time of Jesus. IT was the dwelling place of God on earth. IT was the place of communion. It was where people went to offer sacrifices to experience and receive the great gift of reconciliation and forgiveness.

IT was the holiest place on earth for in brought God to earth in an accessible way. It was the sign of God's covenant love.

Yet, Jesus says. "there is something greater than the temple here."

The only thing greater than the temple is God himself. And yet, Jesus once again assures us of his divinity, assures of his identity. He wants us to get it into our stick skulls that in deed He is greater.

How is that for an attribute for Jesus? How is that for a new name for Christ?

As we move through life and encounter difficulties, trials, uncertainty, clouds of doubt, loads of misfortune and whatever comes our way, stop and remember, "there is something greater here."