Holy Week Tuesday - Stones

“Some of Jesus’ disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, “As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down” (Luke 21:5-6).

Back in 2017 we had the opportunity to visit the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. We stood near the base of the temple complex, walking alongside and touching the great foundation stones that were placed to support the platform on which Temple stood.

We also were later able to walk on the Temple platform itself, seeing the buildings and mosques built many years, decades, centuries after the Temple was destroyed.

The stones that provide the foundation that supported the Temple are still there for us to see. As for the Temple itself, as Jesus had said, not one stone of the Temple He and the disciples saw was left standing, and the rubble was later removed and newer places built.

On that Holy Tuesday, Jesus didn’t just speak of the soon-to-come loss of the Temple. He also taught his disciples about being wise and preparing for the final days. He taught them to be faithful to God and to what God was entrusting to them. Jesus taught his followers to take care of the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the needy, the sick, the prisoner. Jesus gave of himself for his followers to build on His foundation. 

A foundation that would last long after the teachings of the leaders of that time had crumbled.

“For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Holy Week Monday - Burdens

Remember, “two weeks to flatten the curve”? That was 55 weeks ago.

One of the images I recall that, for me, symbolize the change this brought on us is this one. Celebrating our granddaughter’s birthday via a technology few of us had ever heard of before March 2020. Zoom.

And what about Easter 2020? Skipped, Zoomed, Live-streamed. If ever there was a year that we needed Easter it was 2020. Perhaps that is why when Christmas-time approached after months of “flattening the curve”, so many began celebrating with decorations many weeks in advance. We longed for joy and for the times when it easier to approach each other and to celebrate our Lord and Savior.

When Jesus entered the temple on the Monday before Passover he saw the selling of lambs and doves for the sacrifice, and the exchanging foreign currency for the local Temple currency. The area of the temple for this activity was dedicated for non-Jewish followers of God to worship. And it was through this section that the Jewish followers of God had to pass to reach the courts closer to the Temple.  What Jesus saw was an activity that while perhaps intended to help the public, was putting up obstacles, putting burdens on them as they sought to worship God.

Jesus said to us, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Are our choices, expectations, requirements creating obstacles to God? Or are we helping make the burdens light?

Monday of Passion Week

Monday of Passion Week:  “Jesus stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”  

We visited the Temple Mount in 2017, when this picture was taken. 

An area dedicated for non-Jewish followers of God to worship was being used for selling of animals for sacrifice and exchanging foreign currency for Temple currency. 

While the intent may have been well founded - easy access to a market to help the pilgrims to serve God - the result was a hindrance to the worshipping the Lord.  So Jesus cleared them out. 

What in my life may be created around good intentions, but is actually preventing me or others from approaching the Father?

Israel - Ascent 6/11/2017

On Sunday, we spent the day in the Temple Mount area.  It isn't easy to get up on the Temple Mount - heavy security, very limited hours - but it is something I've looked forward to for a long time.  And before we knew it, we are standing atop Mount Moriah.  Of course, it looks nothing like a mountain now, but it was here Abraham took Isaac to be sacrificed.  Here David sacrificed to stop the plague from devastating Jerusalem.  Here Solomon's Temple and the 2nd Temple once stood.  Jesus taught in these courtyards, and entered through the Golden Gate.  Peter healed the lame man and preached to many.

And in the place where multitudes have come to pray over thousands of years, we stood, too.

A short distance from the Temple Mount were beautiful gardens, a church with fine acoustics where we sang praises to God, and the remains of the pool where Jesus healed the man sick for thirty-eight years.  We left the old city through the gate Stephen was taken through when he was martyred.m

Later we prayed with others at Western Wall, the last remnants of the Temple Mount support walls from the time of Jesus, and walked on the same market streets and stones that the 1st century shoppers would have walked.

We lunched and shopped in the Jerusalem souks, dodging other shoppers, delivery carts, and overzealous shop owners.

A group of us went down to the old city of David and explored the Siloam pool tunnels.  One, possibly the tunnel Joab used to capture Jerusalem for David, the other built by King Hezekiah to ensure a steady water supply should the city be under siege. The waters of Siloam still flow quick and cool, and it felt  a bit like Indiana Jones wading through the ankle to knee deep water through the ancient tunnels.

But the highlight was ascending the southern steps of the Temple, steps built by King Herod, and almost certainly used by Jesus and Peter for going to the temple or teaching.  Walking up these ancient steps recalls the Psalms of Ascent (120-134), including, "I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”"

It was not hard to visualize Peter preach from these steps.  We worshipped here together today, broke bread and shared the Lord's Supper.  And I was honored to be able to read Peter's Pentecost sermon for our group.  A convicting message that concluded, “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” (Acts 2:36)