April 3, 2023

Mark 13:1-8  (HCSB)
1 As He was going out of the temple complex, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, look! What massive stones! What impressive buildings!" 2 Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here on another that will not be thrown down!"  3 While He was sitting on the Mount of Olives across from the temple complex, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked Him privately, 4 "Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place?" 5 Then Jesus began by telling them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and they will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don't be alarmed; these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Sarah Ricciardi
Here’s my paraphrase: “This temple is AMAZING! Look at how grand and impressive it is!” “Not one stone will be left...” Mic drop moment. Sometimes we need Jesus to drop the mic. My brother played paintball when he was in college. He went to the World Championships. He was good. He was excellent. He was passionate. And then he quit. The sport was squeezing too much; his soul was dry. God was wooing my brother back to Himself—back to church time and family time and more devotional time. Created things can quietly creep their way onto the throne. David did the brave thing, the audacious thing, the thing non-Jesus freaks don’t understand—stepping back, saying no, choosing stillness over success. Maybe Jesus was trying to get that point across? This grand temple would not stand. In fact its destruction would signal the start of a new kingdom. What created thing do I admire that, when torn down, just may give God’s kingdom more room to grow?