Faith Venture

Humans have to build things. It’s in our nature. And long ago we learned how to build awesome structures. So big, so solid, so awesome that it would be unthinkable to suppose they would not last forever. These are usually great symbols of something. The Great Pyramids of Egypt still survive. But the World Trade Centers in New York, symbols of Western greed and immorality to some in the world, were destroyed.

“What large stones; what large buildings,” Jesus disciples said as they were leaving the Temple after his daylong battle of wits with the religious leaders of the day. The Temple was so awesome, so large, exuded so much power, the people from the “sticks” just couldn’t believe it. Sort of like people from Ohio fresh off the farm going to New York to see the large buildings.

Jesus says, don’t be taken in by these works of humans. Mark in Chapter 13 records the conversation. First Jesus says, look at all this, soon not one stone will be left on another. That shocked them. So, when they were alone in the garden, they asked him again. And he told them again that the Temple would be destroyed and pagan worship rites would occur on the site of the Holy of Holies. He said that there would be bad times for Jews in those days. And for his followers.

Within 50 years from this conversation, it all happened. The Temple was destroyed (and to this day it remains down). The big revolt of the Jews against Rome was put down at great loss of life. Think of Masada. Jesus’ closest followers were persecuted, jailed, many killed.

But Jesus said in another place that in his death and resurrection would be a new Temple. A new sacrifice for the atonement of sins. No need to buy animals for sacrifice.

And that’s where we are today. Still with the human urge to think how great are the works of our hands and brains. But what really matters is the person of Jesus who teaches us how to live with God. The Godly life endures. Physical things we build are only temporary–not things to worship, but to use.

Tags: Christianity

This entry was posted on July 27, 2010 at 7:08 am and is filed under Christianity, Living. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.