Isaiah 65:17-25
Psalm 118
Psalm 118
Commentary on Luke 21:5-19.
Wendell Berry once wrote: “all man made things are temporary.” But most architecture in the world obeys a different principle; that which suggests that immortality can be achieved through buildings, be it a pyramid, a mausoleum or the tallest tower in the world. But towers fall, and people die. These facts, however, do not seem to dampen grandiose architectural aspirations and obscene building projects in Las Vegas or Abu-Dhabi. Judging by the evidence at hand, human pride and the quest for immortality continue to keep architects and building crews busy. This is nothing new: the contemporaries of Jesus dealt with the Roman Empire's domination and, in particular, King Herod's architectural developments, such as the temple on Mount Zion. According to today's gospel lesson, while the disciples payed the predictable tribute to the grandiose gift of Herod to the Jews (what historians have called the “second temple”), Jesus reminds them: “The days will come when this temple, and many things you see now will be destroyed, and not one stone will be left upon another.” The original temple had replaced the humble tent or tabernacle which Moses used to provide a center and a place for the people of God to worship the God of Abraham. Generations later, King David grew ashamed that, while he had a palace to live in, God “slept in a tent (1 Chronicles 17).” But David’s heart proved to be in the right place. In obedience to God, he restrained himself and waited for his son Solomon to build God a temple, which turned out to be a gleaming marvel in his time. Consequently, that temple was destroyed in the 6th century BC due to Israel’s pride and disobedience during the Babylonian exile, when the land of Israel became a free for all and neighboring nations pillaged and destroyed it. With the rise of the Roman Empire came a time of religious tolerance that allowed nations such as Israel to practice religion in the way that they chose without much interference from the occupying forces. Herod, King of Judea, dedicated his life to building projects that would secure his name in the pantheon of Great Men. Among many of his grand architectural achievements, the second temple on mount Zion became his masterpiece: a substantially larger and more lavish version of Solomon’s original. For the disciples of Jesus, the news that this temple will be destroyed, may have been nearly impossible to comprehend: This marvel sitting atop mount Zion which centers our religion and national pride, which has been under construction since our childhood, will be destroyed? Where will our identity come from? Where will our religious center be? Added to this, the news of the end of the world, and specifically the end of their life of peace as followers of Jesus in exchange for a life of persecution, was sure to give them something to think about. The particular shock the disciples must have felt was more than a mere religious or philosophical disagreement. The Galileans must have dealt with their source of identity as it related to the temple. All their lives had been lived in reference to the most significant building project in their lifetimes. Travelers to and form Jerusalem received the same set of instructions: Make sure you see the progress on the temple project/how is the temple looking so far. Up to 50 years may have passed from beginning to completion of this magnificent structure. When the temple falls (or the two towers, or the Pentagon, or the White House), who are we? In which direction will we look when we are lost and afraid?
Jesus clearly taught his disciples; “I am the way, the truth and the life.” In our exposure to the person of Jesus Christ as presented to us through the pages of the bible, a certain curiosity may be aroused. Church attendance and bible study may enhance this desire to know more. But it is only through confession of sins, repentance and surrender to God’s will that we can come to see Jesus as the true and only center that gives meaning to our lives and everything else around us. In him we can come to experience acceptance, trust and endurance through the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is then, and only then, that we find the person and the message of Jesus completely trustworthy, our imperfect everyday existence under his perfect will, and our present suffering an occasion for faithful witness to his love. According to the second volume of Luke’s work (the book of the Acts of the Apostles) the disciples’ acceptance, trust and endurance came weeks after Jesus’ death, and only through the empowering of the Holy Spirit the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Jesus, through his death and resurrection, embraced the difficulties and pain in his life and promised he would do the same with ours. Our pain and suffering is neither final nor beyond God’s loving embrace.
King Herod and his followers had spent a lifetime building layer upon layer of a foundation of a building that was destined for destruction. When Jesus tells his disciples the truth about the future of the temple we can think it mean spirited or perverse. But what kind of a person would Jesus be if, knowing the future, wouldn't tell us?
Jesus clearly taught his disciples; “I am the way, the truth and the life.” In our exposure to the person of Jesus Christ as presented to us through the pages of the bible, a certain curiosity may be aroused. Church attendance and bible study may enhance this desire to know more. But it is only through confession of sins, repentance and surrender to God’s will that we can come to see Jesus as the true and only center that gives meaning to our lives and everything else around us. In him we can come to experience acceptance, trust and endurance through the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is then, and only then, that we find the person and the message of Jesus completely trustworthy, our imperfect everyday existence under his perfect will, and our present suffering an occasion for faithful witness to his love. According to the second volume of Luke’s work (the book of the Acts of the Apostles) the disciples’ acceptance, trust and endurance came weeks after Jesus’ death, and only through the empowering of the Holy Spirit the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Jesus, through his death and resurrection, embraced the difficulties and pain in his life and promised he would do the same with ours. Our pain and suffering is neither final nor beyond God’s loving embrace.
King Herod and his followers had spent a lifetime building layer upon layer of a foundation of a building that was destined for destruction. When Jesus tells his disciples the truth about the future of the temple we can think it mean spirited or perverse. But what kind of a person would Jesus be if, knowing the future, wouldn't tell us?
Pastor Alejandro Sotres
