1.4.2026 | Rebuilding the Temple
Ezra 4–6, Haggai 1–2
Have you ever combed through a search-and-find book? A British artist made a fun series of books filled with big, busy pictures. In each one, kids get to play a game by finding a character wearing a red-and-white striped outfit hiding in the crowd. These books have been shared all around the world and have been read by millions of people. That’s a lot of eyes looking for one tiny person!
Unlike someone who hides in a picture book, God never wanted to hide from His people. In the Old Testament, God gave His people a special place where they could find Him—first the tabernacle, and then the temple. These were the places where the priests could meet with God and where God would dwell with His people.
After returning from exile, the high priest, Zerubbabel, and the people worked to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The people celebrated and made offerings to God because the temple was complete. Instead of searching for an unseen God, the temple was a reminder that God was dwelling with them.
The Bible says that everyone who trusts in Jesus receives His Spirit. We don’t have to search like we’re looking for Waldo, and we don’t have to build a temple. The Holy Spirit is God living with and in Christians. If we believe and trust in Jesus, we can have the Holy Spirit as our reminder that God is with us always and forever!
God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Jesus provides something better than the temple; He gives us Himself.
