Daily Wisdom

Close, But … – Mark 14:57-59

Key Passage

Then some people stood and said something false against Jesus. They said, "We heard this man (Jesus) say, 'I will destroy this temple that men made. And three days later, I will build another temple—a temple not made by men.'" But also the things these people said did not agree.

— Mark 14:57-59 ERV (Read Full Text)

Key Thought

Yes, Jesus did say something like this. Yes, it was confusing to those who heard it, even his closest followers. But, Jesus never intended to say such a thing about the literal Temple in Jerusalem. He was talking about his own body, which they would nail to the Cross. God raised Jesus from the dead after three days. The point is that Jesus' enemies couldn't make the charges stick without lying. He is innocent and yet they are determined to put him to death. Nothing is quite as brutal or corrupt as religion that loses its way.

Prayer

Guide us, dear Father, into the way we should go and keep us from the blindness of our own selfishness. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Related Scriptures

There is a way that people think is right. But that way leads only to death.
Proverbs 14:12

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover. So Jesus went to Jerusalem. In Jerusalem Jesus went to the temple. In the temple area Jesus saw men selling cattle, sheep, and doves. Jesus saw other men sitting at tables. These men were exchanging and trading people's money. Jesus made a whip with some pieces of rope. Then Jesus forced all these men and the sheep and cattle to leave the temple area. Jesus turned over the tables and scattered the money of the men that exchange money. Then Jesus said to the men that were selling pigeons, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a place for buying and selling!" When this happened the followers of Jesus remembered what was written {in the Scriptures }: "My excitement for your house will destroy me." Some Jews said to Jesus, "Show us a miracle for a sign. Prove that you have the right to do these things." Jesus answered, "Destroy this temple and I will build it again in three days." The Jews answered, "People worked 46 years to build this temple! Do you really believe you can build it again in three days?" (But the temple Jesus meant was his own body. After Jesus was raised from death, his followers remembered that Jesus had said this. So his followers believed the Scripture {about him}, and they believed the words Jesus said.)
John 2:13-22

and said, "You said you could destroy the temple and build it again in three days. So save yourself! Come down from that cross, if you are really the Son of God!"
Matthew 27:40

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