Behold, your house will be abandoned. [But] I tell you, you will not see me until [the time comes when] you say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Luke 13:31 NABRE
Jesus is aware that Herod is trying to kill Him, it is not clear if Jesus is across the Jordan or still in Galilee, but Jesus has stopped moving toward Jerusalem for a moment. Luke tells us Jesus final journey to Jerusalem with completion of his mission has begun. The Pharisees come to see Him and warn Him about Herod’s desires to see Him (and likely kill Him) and Jesus sends them back to Herod. This moment has Jesus thinking about His death and He speaks warning about how the leaders are in league with Herod and more concerned about themselves than the people. It is because of these leaders that Jerusalem will be destroyed, as Jesus tells us here, using the words your house will be abandoned. We know almost forty years after His death and resurrection Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans, including the temple which was never rebuilt. It is important to remember God has not rejected His people, God’s love forbids His rejection of those He calls His children. Like a forest fire that helps a forest remove the underbrush that can choke a healthy forest, we can see God eliminate a temple system that asks more of the people than God desires. It is Jesus message of love that is important, not following rituals that in time lose their significance.
There will be a time again when we proclaim blessing to the Lord, in our hearts, with our voices and in our actions. It is this acclamation of Jesus and our love for others that will sound our true understanding of the meaning of being Christian. Until we get it right we may see our houses abandoned again and again giving us a chance to start renewed.
Do you miss going to church? If you do go to church now how is it helping you?
There will be a time again when we proclaim blessing to the Lord, in our hearts, with our voices and in our actions. It is this acclamation of Jesus and our love for others that will sound our true understanding of the meaning of being Christian. Share on X#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #empty #death #Luke #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #Matthew #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways