As his disciples look in awe at the very impressive Temple structure, Jesus tells them that one day soon, the entire building would be torn down. Not one stone would be left standing on another. This came true in AD 70, when the Romans razed Jerusalem to the ground following a revolt.
It was a shocking prediction for Jesus to make. The Temple was God’s house, after all. People thought there was no way that God would allow such a thing. But God did allow it, and for very good reason: faith was in the Temple and the religious structure around it, not in God.
If you had told me a year ago, or even a couple months ago, that we would be observing Holy Week and Easter from home, I would not have believed it. There’s no way God would allow us to not meet to celebrate such a holy occasion, I would have said.
I would have been wrong.
Now, I can’t help but wonder how much of the religious structure I have come to rely on instead of God. Have I put my faith in a church building instead of my Lord?
What have we lost in these restrictions on our Holy Week celebrations? What have we gained?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you tear nothing down without raising it back up in righteousness. Help me to trust that you are at work even in loss.
Creator, Creature, Collards 