Why “In Solomon’s Porch?
Imagine walking back in time to Solomon’s Temple. Imagine then also coming to stand in the location known as Solomon’s Porch. Why is it significant? This is a place where Jesus taught, shared, and visited with people. He healed, He delivered, and set free. He expanded the lives of all He touched and all who would come after Him. Then …He walked the earth – but today He walks out the life of the Spirit in us. During His life on earth, He chose to constrain Himself in multiple ways, but one way in particular is especially noteworthy. We want to explore that here.
Every teaching He presented was always from His Father! Jesus spoke of this many times, but they can all be summed up as found in John 7:16: “… My teaching is not My own, but His Who sent Me.”
So Jesus walked in a place — not just geographically, not just in the attitude of His heart, but within the perfect and prophetic will of His Father. He walked in destiny even while confining Himself momentarily to the casing of flesh and time. The place Jesus figuratively conformed Himself to walk out His life, was between the two immensely spectacular pillars of the temple that Hiram of Tyre constructed to frame the vestibule for Solomon’s Temple. It was located in the outer court – a place where outsiders to the Jewish faith could gather and listen to His teaching. These two pillars were called Jachin and Boaz: Jachin (meaning He shall establish); and Boaz (meaning in it is strength). It is here, between Jachin and Boaz, that we find a metaphor for all that Jesus taught, for everything He taught was framed by these pillars.
More specifically, all that He said from His baptism in water until His baptism in death and ascension would be confined to this demarcation. That is, they were first established by the Father and confirmed in His power.
Another way of stating this may be that His teaching always agreed with the Father’s will and was aligned with His power to perform them. Amazing! Two massive pillars acting as bookends, becoming the A and the Z for all the teaching Jesus would share. Not a conformance of location, but an adherence to the dimensions set by the Father ala John 17:8. In that Scripture Jesus confirms that He has passed on all the Words given to Him by the Father; that all His utterances He had given to us here on earth.
Let us now explore this metaphor a little more deeply by examining a few events that took place “in Solomon’s Porch.”
It was just after the time of Jesus’ ascension to the Father. Peter and John have arrived at the temple for morning-prayer. Acts 3:11 tells us that the lame man they prayed for is now healed and holding onto them. All the people run together to them – “in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed.” Interesting – the preposition used here is “in” not “on.” Could it be that being “in” Solomon’s Porch was more about a state of oneness with the Father’s truth than simply a location in the outer court?
Another instance, Jesus was simply walking “in Solomon’s Porch” in John 10:23 when the Jews began to interrogate Him about being the Messiah. He confirms that He is the Messiah and has told them so already. He then makes a very interesting comment. Jesus says, “The very works I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me.” Eventually, the Jews took up stones to stone Him but He escaped out of their hands.
A final incident we want to examine occurred in Acts 5:12. It says that, “…through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.” This is another signature characteristic of Solomon’s Porch. To be “in it” was to be also in one accord with the Father. This was more than an accidental gathering of people hanging together in one location. This was the very Word of God confirming the Word of the apostles with signs and wonders because of their unity of the Spirit in Christ. As Christ previously held Himself to the parameters of the Father (His Will and His Power), so the phrase “in Christ” appears to have be synonymous with that phase – in Solomon’s Porch. Both reflect a definitive truth, a definitive teaching – that was first conceived by the Father, communicated through the namesakes of Jachin and Boaz, and then exported beyond those geographical limits by Our Lord Jesus, Who walked them out as daily principles that gave witness, and worship to the Father Who sent Him.
SANDRA!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE WISDOM HE HAS GIVEN YOU!!! LOVE IT,, GOD BLESS YOU GREATELY!!
I agree with Francesca! Praise the Lord for giving you insight and His wonderful Wisdom! I was pondering Acts 3 this am and the Holy Spirit highlighted verse 11. He intrigued my heart about “Solomon’s porch” and didn’t pay attention to “in”. May the Lord bless the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart! Precious Jesus! Amen
This information is very detailed, giving a lot of understanding . Thanks so much.
Excellent insight. I am trying to research about the portico. Do you have any insight on this? Much appreciated.
this was very helpful in understanding the significance of Solomon’s porch and Jesus’ and the Apostles time there teaching and healing. I think is it also helpful to note this is where non-Jews (gentiles) could gather at the Temple. Jesus came for all people – Jew and Gentile.