Day 581: Living stones - Luke 21 vs 5 - 9

5-6 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, Jesus said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 

8-9 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Luke 21:5-9 (English Standard Version)

Much of the time of Jesus' last days before the crucifixion was spent in the vicinity of the temple teaching His disciples, and the people in general. Included in His teaching were the startling words that the temple, which had been rebuilt when the Jewish people returned from exile some 500 years earlier, and then enlarged and wonderfully beautified by Herod the Great from 20BC to 10 BC, was going to be completely destroyed! Not one stone would be left on top of another. (vs 5-6) That would've hit his listeners like a bombshell and they immediately ask the question we see in vs 7. What did Jesus' answer in vs 8-9 imply?

There was going to be a period of time before it's end came. We know from history that it was almost 40 years, a period of time that was often regarded as a generation. And during that time there would be people falsely claiming to be the Messiah, as well as battles and wars in areas near enough for them to hear of such conflicts. Apart from the historical lesson, can you think of any implications Jesus' words gave of where the gospel would lead believers?

If we start in the Book of Acts, which Luke also wrote, we read that not long after Jesus ascended to heaven, a Christian named Stephen was accused of saying that “Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this temple and change the customs Moses delivered to us.” (Acts 6:14) In his defence Stephen referred to the original temple King Solomon had built, and said: “The Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands! As the prophet says, 'Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me' says the Lord, 'or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these thing?'” (Acts 7:48-50)

So right from the start, the Christians realized that true religion is not about buildings such as temples. Some years later, after seeing the many shrines and idols in the city of Athens, the apostle Paul said to them: “The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” (Acts 17:24-26) 

Paul took it even further in his letters to Christians in the city of Corinth. In 1 Corinthians 3:16 he says: “Don't you know that you are God's temple - and that God's Spirit dwells in you?” Then, in 2 Corinthians 6:16, he says: “We are the temple of the living God! For as God said, 'I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.'” Paul was quoting words from Leviticus and Exodus, and the prophet Jeremiah.

We can add the apostle Peter's conclusion too. He would've heard what Jesus taught about the temple of stone in Jerusalem. So, writing to Christians later, he said: “As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men, but in the sight of God chosen and precious, so you yourselves, like living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5) True religion isn't about buildings and rituals. It's a relationship with God. The temple was only a picture, and a stepping stone to the living temple that believers in Christ now are.