Temples. Holy places. Sacred spaces. We multiply shrines and worshipping places throughout the world in order to commune with the divine. Unfortunately, they often substitute for a true way to God.
Read More authority, glory, Temple, fellowshipMany people find this incident with the fig tree baffling. Why does Jesus curse it? What did the poor tree do to deserve such judgment? What is even stranger is that it was not the season for figs, so Jesus had no reason to expect to find any. What are we supposed to learn from this?
The key to properly interpreting this story is found in a literary technique that Mark frequently uses throughout his Gospel.
Read More prayer, Temple, fruit, purityIt was bedtime when the children asked the big one. ‘Daddy, when is the end of the world?’ ‘Well,’ I said, ‘You might get hit by a milk truck tomorrow, and so, for any one of us the end of the world can come at any time.’
My seven-year-old, Jon, didn’t buy this. He excitedly said that he can’t wait for it, the fireworks and glory and power of Jesus’ return.
Read More Temple, end times, permanenceProbably it’s both.
This section in the Gospel of Luke reads a bit like a modern day newspaper. A temple is destroyed! Ominous trouble clouds with threats of trials and jail! Cities destroyed forcing refugees to take cover! And finally the need to pray for a spectacular escape and rescue!
Read More prophecy, Temple, religious practiceTemples. Holy places. Sacred spaces. We multiply shrines and worshipping places throughout the world in order to commune with the divine. Unfortunately, they often substitute for a true way to God.
With time, and given the human sinful condition, even the Jerusalem temple – built at God’s command – became a place of idolatry and commerce.
Read More authority, glory, Temple, fellowship
Darkness is a test of character. To honour God throughout the day when everything is visible is an easier task than to be faithful in the nighttime hours when darkness creates doubts and hides our actions. Songs of praise come quickly to mind when the sun shines, but when shadows deepen it is a challenge to trust in the goodness of God.
Read More Temple, God’s faithfulness, darknessAs a journalist, I love stories. One reason why I enjoy reading the Bible is because I discover in its pages the stories that the first Christians told about themselves. What did it mean for them to follow Jesus in everyday life? How were Christians different from others in their culture? Luke has begun to paint a picture that I recognize, and yet some details puzzle me.
Read More family, Temple, generosity, sharingThis descriptive psalm directs the worshipper’s attention to Mount Zion outlined on the skyline of the City of David, and the temple protected within. It is a celebration of God’s presence amongst his people, represented by the awe-inspiring fortress these structures created around the holy city.
Read More joy, Temple, Zion, delightOn the Day of Pentecost God’s Spirit began renovating the human heart and restoring human society. God was creating a new covenant community with Jesus in the centre and God’s love radiating outward in all directions. As Charles Moore writes, the first Christians didn’t just invite Jesus into their hearts and begin attending church in Jerusalem.
Read More holiness, Temple
