Friday
Jesus and his disciples were walking past Herod’s temple and began talking about how impressive it was. (Sort of the response Herod was looking for I think.)
I’ve been by some pretty big and very impressive and beautiful buildings myself. (Feeling much like the country – bumpkin I am, standing in “high cotton” thinking gollleey.) I can’t image what this temple must have looked like. Here’s some factoids about Herod’s temple in case you were wondering.
Herod the Great began construction on it in 20 BC and it was not finished when it was destroyed in 70AD by Titus. The temple was a beautiful building set in the center of a thirty-five-acre court. …35 acres wow!!! It was built of fitted white marble stones covered with huge plates of heavy gold. Golden spikes rose on all sides of the roof to a height of 165 feet. The back of a large porch and gold-covered doors with Babylonian tapestry of purple, blue, crimson depicting the heavens. Above it was the symbol of Israel: a golden vine. On a bright morning, looking from Olivet, a person could not look at the Temple’s beauty for it reflected the sun. (from Genesis to Revelation, Teacher Book Vol 3; Matthew – Acts)
That must have been some impressive building and here his disciples are commenting about it. Do you remember what Jesus did when he looked over Jerusalem on his walk into the city? He wept. It’s like this beautiful cup on the outside, but the stain and ugliness is hidden inside.
Now juxtapose this with the story of the poor widow. Remember the disciples have struggled with their own human desire for greatness (9:46) But Jesus points to the poor widow and basically says, “you want greatness, majesty, beauty? Look at this poor widow, that is greatness.” This kind of greatness will be revealed in the Kingdom of God. Those who seek greatness here in this world, do so at a great risk to their eternal life. James tells us to “humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (4:10). And in Micah 6:8, “the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” What is good… to give of our resources, our time and of ourselves and do so with a humble attitude.
Walking humbly before God
Pastor Kathy