Luke 21:5-19 (NRSV)
Read Luke 21:5-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, Verse 6"As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down." Verse 7They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" Verse 8And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them. Verse 9"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Verse 10Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; Verse 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. Verse 12"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. Verse 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. Verse 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; Verse 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. Verse 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. Verse 17You will be hated by all because of my name. Verse 18But not a hair of your head will perish. Verse 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Devotion
Much like in the 2 Thessalonians reading from yesterday, there is a tone of ominous warning in the gospel reading for this week. I believe this tone is meant to wake us — to make us realize the bigger picture in our lives.
According to historical records, even the smallest blocks used to build the walls of the Jerusalem temple weighed two to three tons each; the largest foundation stones could be over 67 feet long, more than 18 feet wide, and 15 feet high! The stones were so enormous that they didn't need any mortar to hold them in place. No wonder it was considered one of the great buildings of the ancient world.
That this temple could be destroyed is almost beyond our imagination. But the Romans did destroy it in the Jewish War in the mid-first century. Yet they did not destroy the faith that the people held. It is a testament, a celebration that what God is capable of doing with us is so much bigger than we can either create or destroy.
Prayer
Creator God, help us to realize that we are made by your hands and that your vision for us goes beyond earthly form. Amen.