Jesus prediction was deeply challenging for the disciples. For the Jewish people there was an essential
understanding that God dwelt within the Holy of Holies in the Temple
itself. The Temple was undoubtedly central
to their faith. We may speak of churches
as being God’s house but the sense of God’s presence within the Temple far outstrips
our notions.
This is possibly one of the reasons we hear the disciples marvelling at
the Temple. The great stones and
wondrous architecture of the Temple was a reflection of God’s power and glory.
Whilst the disciples stand agog, Jesus has been proclaiming another
message. At the end of the twelfth
chapter of Mark’s gospel, which we read last week, Jesus attacks the Temple
system which exploits the widows, devouring their houses, whilst the Scribes
and Pharisees build their personal privilege and wealth.
For Jesus the Temple itself, rather than being representative of God and God’s love has reduced the essence of the faith to ruins. Continuously through the Old Testament there is a voice crying out for the widow and the orphan, for the poor and the alien, loving God was not simply about pious sideshows but about helping others.
Jesus whole ministry has concern for others at its heart – healing and
wholeness, inclusion and reconciliation.
It is a reassertion of what is often found in the mouths of the Psalmist
and the prophets – it is not new teaching!
And Jesus prophecy of the destruction of the temple was yet another
counterpoint to the way things had been done and who God’s concern was for.
It is interesting to note that Mark’s gospel was written down around the
year 64 A.D.. It was nearly 30 years
after Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Nero was the Emperor and there had already been a series of persecutions
of the Jews and the fledging Christian community, still largely identify as a
sect of Judaism. After the burning of
Rome Nero had accused Christians of causing the fire and had used this as an
excuse to persecute the Christians, putting many to death.
Those hearing this story of Jesus prediction of the destruction of the
Temple may have wondered where things were heading given the situation under
Nero and Jesus words of wars and suffering may have felt more real than removed
in their predicament.
We know in hindsight that Jesus words were to come true, in the year 70
the Romans destroyed the Temple in Jerusalem.
Yet, for Jesus his prophecy was not about the end but new
beginnings. His words were words of hope
in the face of great suffering and tribulation.
God’s glory and God’s future are not contained within the walls of a
building for the hope of God is founded in community and in love and in the
promise of a future beyond the suffering which people might currently be experiencing.
When Mark wrote his gospel his words were timely as he cobbled together
his reflection on Jesus life and as the Spirit proclaimed God’s love through
his words.
When Jesus spoke these words to the disciples he was continuing the
task of reorienting the disciples in their faith to give them the resilience
and hope that they would need as they faced an uncertain future. God is not contained within even the walls of
the Temple. God’s love transcends specific
places and is found in people.
These are indeed challenging themes as we contemplate our own church refurbishment. And it is difficult to avoid trying to justify
our decision to spend money on the building at this point in our life as a
congregation. Yet in the mixed up world
in which we find ourselves what lessons can we take from today.
I believe most importantly we should listen carefully to Jesus’ critique of the Temple system and consider how Jesus challenged accepted practices.
The life of God’s people was founded not on bricks and mortar but on the
love of people, widows and orphans, strangers and aliens. Jesus challenge to the disciples and prediction
of the destruction of the Temple were not ultimately about dismantling God but
new beginnings in faith.
This brings me back to our predicament today – spending money on our
bricks and mortar, simply keeping this particular church open is a very
expensive exercise.
Why spend the money? Why keep this
congregation going when we could all drive or walk to another congregation no
more than a few minutes away?
Many a church building and even more of their contents are dedicated to
the work and glory of God, our church building is no different. But the building itself does nothing for God’s
glory in and of itself and used for the wrong purposes, even simply the
expression of our personal piety, reflects a state of dementia or amnesia about
who we are as God’s people.
The world is littered with the bones of old churches, anyone who has
toured Europe no doubt has walked through a few, although, we do not have to
travel that far afield to see closed churches.
Just in the local area I can name 5 Uniting Church which have
closed. It would be naïve to think that
this building and this place will always be a church.
So the changing of our building should be taken as an opportunity to
look inwards at our faith and outwards towards those whom God is calling us to
love in the community around us, widows and orphans, aliens and strangers, God’s
people all.
Jesus ministry expands the vision of where God is and who God
loves. As people seeking to be renewed
in our faith and commitment and praying for a revival of our congregation we
are stepping out in faith and this will involve taking risks that move us
beyond our comfort zones.
The destruction of the Temple was not the end. God’s promises are bigger than our
experiences of life and faith. God’s
grace reaches out to all people. This is
indeed good news.
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