The Temple was destroyed but now we are His Temple when we choose to follow Jesus.
This passage reminds us we are shouldn’t worry about when Jesus will return and make all things right. We just need to serve faithfully and urgently knowing it could come at any time. And when it does, all those who follow Jesus will come to Him and join Him on His journey to reign on earth once and for all!
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This episode was filmed in India where those who follow Jesus are sharing about the One True God to people who believe in many gods much like the Christians in Rome that Mark was writing.
Video:
Mark 13 Notes:
Jesus predicts the Temple will be destroyed. This came to pass a generation after Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. To this day, the Temple has not been rebuilt.
This is remarkable in so many ways. Jesus prophesied something that seemed shocking to those who heard it. The Temple of God destroyed? And Jesus, you are ok with that?
In another version of this story, Jesus compares himself with the Temple by saying he would destroy the temple and then rebuild it in 3 days.
This is significant as the temple is where God’s presence was supposed to reside.
Let me share a quick journey through the scripture to see where God’s presence was made known from the beginning to the end.
God’s presence was with humanity in the garden of Eden
In the wildernesss, God’s presence was with the people of Israel at the tabernacle.
Then the people of Israel built a Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of king Solomon.
Then Jesus was God’s presence among us in human form. John 1:14 even says: “He tabernacled with us.”
Then He says He must leave so that His Spirit can move freely in and through all who choose to follow Jesus.
So God’s presence is now on earth through Christ-followers who are to bring more of heaven to earth everywhere we go! We are called the Body of Christ!
Then the end of the Bible tells us there will be a new heaven and new earth. God’s presence and redeemed humanity together again.
The Temple was destroyed but now we are His Temple when we choose to follow Jesus.
This passage reminds us we are shouldn’t worry about when Jesus will return and make all things right. We just need to serve faithfully and urgently knowing it could come at any time. And when it does, all those who follow Jesus will come to Him and join Him on His journey to reign on earth once and for all!
Quick aside: some teach there will be a rapture where Christ-followers will be taken away so they won’t suffer during the end of days. This passage isn’t about being taken away but it’s like what the Romans did when the crowds would come alongside the emperor and usher him into the city which now belonged to him.
If you follow Jesus and you are to represent Him everywhere you go, how should you live?
What changes do you need to make?
How can you bring more of heaven to earth today?
