Jesus, Temple & Glory

In a brilliant paragraph ( The Mystery of the Temple ), Congar summarizes the synoptic indications that Jesus is Himself the Presence. “When two or three gather, I am in the midst” (Matthew 18:20) attributes to Jesus the place and role Jews assigned to the Shekinah. At the transfiguration, a luminous cloud covers Jesus as a “veritable Tabernacle.” Peter wants to set up three tabernacles, but when the disciples finally open their eyes, they see only Jesus. Jesus is master of the Sabbath, but more, He claims to replace the whole Mosaic religious system – sabbath, bread, sacrifice. His promise to be with His disciples forever (Matthew 28:20) identifies Him with the presence that Yahweh promised to go with the people.