In today’s reading from the Gospel of Mark, we see the disciples impressed by the Temple and its buildings. They are so impressed that they try to “wow” Jesus with them. As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.” (Mark 13:1, NLT) What a misplaced sense of awe! How is God the Son, the incarnate One who created the universe, standing before them in human flesh, supposed to respond to this? Does He act impressed?
Jesus pops their balloons! Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!” (Mark 13:2, NLT) But notice, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He says later on in the chapter, Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. (Mark 13:31, NLT) Yes, Jesus redirects the disciples’ misplaced awe from the Temple to the Word of God. His spoken word created all things. It is His words that the universe obeys. His words give eternal life, that the one who believes them should not perish.
How easy it is, like these disciples, to misplace our awe. It is easy to overlook the very words of God in our excitement for the trinkets, treasures, and temples of this material world. Believer, wasn’t it the imperishable Word of God that granted you new life, translating you from darkness to light? …since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; (1 Peter 1:23, ESV) May we hold loosely to the perishable items of this life and build our lives on the Word that shall never pass away.
Thank you for joining me as I read and journal chronologically through the Bible! This devotional reflection comes from Mark 13.