Stones ...

Mark 13

January 23, 2013

STONES …

What hit me in this chapter is Jesus’ response to one of His follower’s observation about the Temple that dominated the city of Jerusalem.  The disciple mentions how beautiful this massive structure is – this building dedicated to the worship of the one true God.  And in reply Jesus bluntly states: “Do you see all these great buildings? Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Okay – this is kind of like walking through the streets of Washington DC and standing there – admiring the monument that bears our first president’s name.  And while you’re doing taking in that gleaming structure pointing towards the sky, someone tells you: “Enjoy it while you can.  Pretty soon it will be a massive heap of white marble.”  It just might get your attention.

Jesus words were shocking on a couple of levels.  First, He had their attention.  It would have been easy for them to dismiss the idea completely, but they’d been to history class. They knew that the temple was a replacement of the temple that had once stood on that very ground.  That original temple, built by King Solomon, had been completely torn down by the Babylonians.  They left no stones intact.  History showed them that such destruction was possible.

But this led to the second shock.  This is Jesus telling them that this will be the fate of Herod’s rebuilt temple.  And yet, they’ve been banking on the belief that Jesus is the Messiah, which they picture as all the Justice League super heroes combined into one.  In their way of thinking, with the Messiah on their side, Jerusalem will become the nation at the center of the universe.  So why is Jesus talking this way?

We could continue down the path of describing the horrific events that fell upon the city of Jerusalem in 70 AD when the armies of Rome would indeed destroy the temple – along with all the rest of the city.  But I find myself thinking more about the world in 2013.  Without going all political on you, and launching off on a tirade about how this party or that party or some politician is ruining everything, I can’t help but wonder … are the stones we think are so rock solid in reality teetering?  There are days when I wonder whether or not, our culture has already pushed the button and started the sequence of self-destruction.  I know we have outside threats in abundance, but I fear that our greatest dangers come from our own, as we seem to be systematically deconstructing the very foundations of what made us strong.  (OK … turn down the patriotic music.  I am definitely not running for office.)

But to get even more personal, I find myself asking: “So what temples in my life do I believe are indestructible?  Have I built buildings with my own two hands – buildings of false pride and ego – buildings of selfishness and greed – buildings of personal treasures I’m accumulating while starving my soul?”  Among the many things Jesus says about the future, He is surely telling us that all these things will one day fall into ruins.  They simply won’t last.  Only that which God builds in us is going to be left standing.  Only His love poured out in us and shared through us will remain.  This is the perspective I want to live with – right here and right now.