[Dailydevo] Daily Devotion Wednesday November 9, 2005

[Barry Ludwig]

Wednesday November 9, 2005

This week's devotions are written Zion Seminarian, Kelsay Ludwig.  We will
be looking at the theme of "construction" in the Bible.

 

John 2:13-22

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and
others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords,
and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the
coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold
doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house
into a market!" His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your
house will consume me."  Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous
sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"  Jesus
answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three
days."  The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this
temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?" But the temple he had
spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples
recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words
that Jesus had spoken. 

 

Thought

Jesus is proposing a new building project!  And the Jews don't like the
sound of it!  When Jesus cries out for the destruction of the temple, he is
not talking mere demolition of bricks and mortar, he is talking the
demolition of a cultural identity.  The Jewish temple signified their unity,
their perseverance, the very presence of God among them.  Jesus decided it
was time for a change.  His building project involves establishing himself
as the true location of God, of worship, of cultural identity.  

When we place our identity in "things", we are bound to be disappointed.
Things crumble, things decay, things go out of style.  Jesus says, "I am
your identity.you are God's daughter.you are God's son."

Almighty God, tear down our sin, demolish our fear, and build us up a new
construction - your people.  Amen

 

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