Mark 13:1-3
“As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately,”
Mark 13:1-3 NIV
The temple was indeed a sight to behold. It was considered one of the great wonders of the ancient world.
Herod’s temple took nearly fifty years to build. The main part of the temple was some six stories high with one particular parapet wall rising fifteen stories.
It boasted columns so big that it would take three men touching outstretched arms to surround their girth. Some of the foundation stones were twenty metres long by eight metres wide and four metres high.
The stones were marble and alternated pink and white. Huge brass gates and a brass dome, along with tons of gold, made it glow in the sunlight.
It must have been a magnificent site. We can well understand why the disciples were so amazed, so astonished at its beauty.
I say all this to emphasise that, after all they had observed and heard, these disciples should have left with heavy hearts rather than boasting about the structure.
But let’s pause to apply this to ourselves. Is it not true that too often we are swayed by externals? We may judge a church by the wrong measurements. We consider a church to be successful by its numerical strength, or by its offerings, or by its popularity, or by its many ministries, or by its seeming grasp of relevance to the community.
And though these can be very good things, ultimately God’s measurement of a church is its faithfulness to Him and to His Word.
Many of us today cannot imagine the splendor, the majesty, and the size of the Temple in Jesus day. Herod the Great, a ruthless man but a master builder, had seen to it that the Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem.
Coming from small villages or crowded cities with small houses, the Temple was a massive building to those who saw it and entered its gates.
In addition, it was considered a holy place, protected by God himself. It symbolized all that the Jewish people held dear. Yet Jesus was clear in His prophecy to His closest followers. The Temple was going to be destroyed.
Not only were these words considered treasonous by many, but they were also bewildering and confusing to those who heard Jesus say them. Who would destroy it? Rome was the great power, and they surely wouldn't destroy Jerusalem, would they?
Why would God let it fall into the hands of an enemy and be destroyed? But, it did happen. The strength of God's people was never intended to be their wealth, their armies, or their buildings.
It has always been intended to be the faithfulness of their God and their faithfulness to Him. In a world of economic, religious, racial, and geopolitical tumult, we must invest our lives in eternal things, spiritual things that cannot be destroyed. Buildings can be destroyed.
I suspect that, when all is placed in the scales of God’s judgement at the end of time, many churches, Christians, and pastors that are deemed insignificant in our day will be first, while those celebrated by the multitudes now will be last.
The values of God’s kingdom are typically inverted. This is particularly relevant in our day of obsession with celebrity.
Let’s make sure we don’t make the same mistake the disciples did. They were enamored with the outward appearance and beauty of the temple. But all Jesus saw was a pile a bricks and smoldering rubble.
The temple was full of beauty but empty of truth, covered in gold but concealing corruption, busy with activity but idle in worship.
Is our lives like the temple? Do you look great on the outside but are empty of love and worship for God on the inside? Do you have the appearance of godliness but deny its power.
Mark provides the essence of what the early church needed to know about the destruction of the temple and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem.
He provides what they needed to know about the end of the world as the Jews knew it. Likewise, he provides for his modern readers all we need to know about that ending of that age.
As we grasp this, we are equipped to make the most of our opportunities in this age, to be hopeful and remain faithful.
Jesus isn’t impressed with our religion. He will tear it down. He wants our trust, our worship, our obedience. He wants our hearts!!!
Father thank You for this day and Your life changing Word. Lord let Your storehouses pour out abundant blessings over my friend and family today. Lord help us not glory in the externals of our lives but in You, the Lord and sustainer of all things. Lord help us not to look at the outside of ourselves but to inward parts that are wholeheartedly sold out to You. Lord use my friend to love others as you love them today unconditionally. Daddy we love You amen. Be a blessing. Love ya !
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