Things in the modern world are so
much more easily built and destroyed. Twenty-first century Americans are a
throw-away society; if we don’t like something we own we get rid of it and get
a new one. Many people buy property to tear down the house standing there in
order to build something bigger and better. But in the ancient world,
construction could be a lifetime project and, in the case of palaces and
temples, generational.
I imagine the sorrow with which
Jesus must have uttered the words, “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will
be left on another; every one will be thrown down,” (Matthew 24:2, NIV). Seeing
the temple that had taken generations to complete – the temple to which the
nations were to stream in worship of Yahweh – and knowing the effort Israel’s
enemies would expend in order to destroy it would be horrifying. This was the
place where his parents had dedicated him to his Father, where he had come to
celebrate countless Passovers with family, where he had learned from the rabbis.
Jesus was a first-century Jew and the temple held a very significant place in
his heart and life.
In the modern world, our devices
of war and destruction are much further removed from the close engagement of
ancient times. If we want to destroy an enemy’s facility we can now send an
unmanned drone and release devastation with a push of a button. But the Romans
destroying the temple were up close and personal, fully engaged in what must
have been a tedious process of tearing down the buildings and hopes of a
nation. I wonder what went through their minds as they struggled to break apart
and heave the massive stones over the edge of the temple mount. I wonder if the
soldier who was stationed at the cross when Jesus died, recognizing him as the
Son of God, was still alive to see the temple destroyed. What did he think? Was
he there participating?
I continue to be moved by the
groundedness – the earthiness – of this place. This is not some other-worldly,
spiritualized holy city. It is real, it has weight, it is rooted. I am thankful
for the staying power of this city and its structures, even through all of the
destruction. It underscores the concreteness of my faith, the this-worldly
nature of what God is doing to renew and redeem creation. We humans have gotten
our hands dirty, actively participating in destroying Yahweh’s good creation,
and I imagine the sorrow Jesus still feels as he watches. Yet he is also at
work rebuilding and restoring through generations of those who are faithful to
him.
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