Deuteronomy 19-20
Psalm 28
*Mark 13
-Devotion by Jeremy Martin (TN)
There are some landmark buildings and monuments that make you feel small when you’re standing next to them, and give you a sense of wonder and awe when you see them. The Statue of Liberty, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hagia Sophia, etc. The first temple of Israel (built @ 966-959 BC) was one of those types of buildings, only more so, until it was destroyed at the onset of the Babylonian captivity, around 587 BC.
The importance of the Temple structure to the Jewish people can’t be overstated. The entire culture of the ancient Jewish people was centered around this structure. Jeremiah warned the people in Jeremiah 7:4 that just living by the temple (the First Temple) wasn’t going to keep them safe, particularly since the people were living an idolatrous and sinful life, but it had become so ingrained in the cultural psyche that “this was where God was” that it was inconceivable that it, or by extension they, would ever fall…despite clear warning from all of the prophets to turn away from idolatry and wickedness and return to God OR ELSE.
When the first temple fell, the Jewish people were in captive exile for 70 years, it was devastating to the national identity. Daniel 9:2 details the moment when Daniel, in his captivity and exile, discerned that the time of the desolation of Jerusalem, namely 70 years, had been fulfilled (he was reading from the book of Jeremiah 29:30, look it up). Thus began the return to Israel and specifically Jerusalem as detailed in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah after being exiled and captive in a foreign kingdom for 70 years, as spoken by YHVH through the prophets.
The second temple was built in 516 BC, you can see from the timeline that it was one of the first things restored (after the protective walls). This marked the triumphant return, the temple rebuilt, the restoration of the people to God. Keep in mind, the temple was at the very center of the ancient Jewish religious experience. Without the temple you couldn’t offer sacrifice, couldn’t fulfill the Law, couldn’t talk to God in the manner in which they’d become accustomed. For over 70 years, the Jewish people were orphaned from both their land and their God. It truly can’t be overstated; the importance and significance of this structure to the Jewish people. Can you imagine the joy and cultural pride of seeing it rebuilt again, after so long in captivity? The answer is no, you can’t even begin to imagine; unless you were a Jew living in that time and living through those events, you can’t even begin to comprehend how big a deal it was. We can get the glimmer of an idea when reading through the Old Testament, but to actually feel what they felt is beyond our ability, we can only imagine. It was EVERYTHING to the Jewish people.
Now, after the Temple has been rebuilt (called “the second temple”), it stood for over 500 years and is now once again the cultural and religious center of the Jewish people. It’s ingrained in the culture and daily religious life of the people, generationally. “A disciple” pulls Jesus aside to proudly point at the temple, and to marvel at it’s construction and stones.
Jesus tells the disciple that “not one stone will be standing on top of the other“. Can you imagine the sidelong looks? Immediately his inner circle begins to question him privately: what are you talking about? When is this going to happen? Why won’t the temple be standing? The account in Mark 13: 1-2 is paralleled in Matt 24:1-2 and also Luke 21: 5-6. Each account has slightly varying details which is to be expected from different viewpoints (this is actually a “proof of veracity” by detectives when investigating and taking statements from witnesses, by the way, if they are all too closely aligned then collusion has usually occured). I want you to take note that this conversation saved numerous early Christian lives. Because they listened.
The 2nd Temple was destroyed in 70 AD, by Roman forces (led by Titus) that had besieged Jerusalem. This was a particularly brutal event. Before the Roman forces ever arrived Jerusalem had been engaged in what was effectively a 3-way civil war which destroyed most of their food supplies, and then the Romans came. This is an extremely well documented event; and is exceptionally horrifying and morbid. I will spare you some of the gory details of starvation, famine, and cannibalism (such as Maria of Perea), but if you are interested look up “Siege of Jerusalem (70 CE)” on wikipedia. There will be more information there than you can scour from your mind about the horrors of this terrible war that are well documented by Josephus (who was conscripted and spared for this purpose) and others. The Arch of Titus still stands as a testament in stone to this event. It’s truly terrible, and horrific atrocities occurred.
Do you know who didn’t suffer through this horror, though? The early Christian church. The parallel account in Luke 21: 20-22 is the clearest reading of this warning: “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that it’s desolation is at hand. Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains…because these are the days of vengeance…“(LSB). Vengeance for what, you may ask? Well, think about it, Jesus was crucified about 30 years prior. It is well documented by early church historians (including Eusibius of Caesarea, Remigius, and Epiphanius) that the early church fled Judea to Pella (in the Decapolis region east of the Jordan River), around 66-69 AD…as the Romans were coming and began surrounding the city of Jerusalem. To understand the tribulation they avoided by doing so I really recommend you read that article mentioned above, but the thing to note is that they listened to Jesus, and then they acted.
When we read all of Jesus’ words in Mark 13, let’s be honest: it’s pretty ominous. It doesn’t paint a pretty picture. It says that as believers, we will probably have to go through some unpleasantness to put it lightly. Pay special note to Mark 13:13 though, because in this is our promise: “…but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” (LSB). We as Christians need to listen, our very lives depend on it. If you want to see the kingdom of God, we must endure to the end. One of my favorite bible verses is Zeph 2:3: “Seek Yahweh, All you humble of the earth who have worked his justice; seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh’s anger.” (LSB).
So what can we, as followers of Christ, do to protect ourselves?
- Seek Yahweh. Listen to Him, and those whom He sent to instruct us (particularly the Christ).
- Pray, fast, work His justice upon the earth. (See that homeless guy? Feed him. See that elderly widow? Go ask if she needs help. Go and visit the jails or the hospitals, offer the orphan hope, turn the other cheek when offended, freely give to those in need, work His justice upon the earth!)
- Ask our Mediator, the Christ, to intercede for us.
- Seek Righteousness, seek Humility.
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Do you regularly “work His justice upon the earth”?
- How can you improve in that area, in both frequency and implementation?
- How can you listen better, to both the written words and spirit of, our God?
- What are some ways that we can build up our endurance to prepare?
PRAYER
Father God, thank You for life, breath, and all things. Thank You for sending us Your son to teach us the way to the kingdom. Please help us to humbly acknowledge You in all things, in all of our ways, and to listen when You speak to us. Please instruct us, lead us, and keep us safe. Grant us the endurance that we will need in order to please You. In Jesus name, Amen.
Seek Grow Love 