Bible Study – Our Temples and Buildings
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
During the last weeks of Ordinary Time, the Gospel of Mark continues with the Kingdom of God is open for all people. We hear this message in the readings about the rich man, the disciples jockeying for position, the blind man, the saints, the poor widow, and even Pilate as he queries Jesus about being a king. We don't have to pass an entrance exam; we are already in the Kingdom. Through all the changes that occur in our lives, what will not change is God's love for each of us. The kingdom that Jesus is proclaiming is already here and yet is also still to come – the undercurrent of Advent, which is coming near.
A beautiful building, the Temple –laboriously built and the pride of the people. Impressive now, Jesus agrees, but not one stone will be left upon stone. The kingdom he offers is not about fancy buildings. His kingdom will, however, remain after all else has been destroyed.
Go online and download a full color picture of what modern research indicates the Temple in Jerusalem may have looked like. (www.templemount.org). The site also has photos of what is there today and an artist's rendering of The Ark.
Think about the biggest church you have ever seen. Have you been in a large cathedral? Have you been to New York City and seen the Cathedral of St. John the Divine? Then, look at the picture of the Temple in Jerusalem (if you have been able to download a copy). Today's Bible story happens just outside that Temple.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for the stories we have from the Bible to help us better understand what you want for us. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Mark 13:1-8 and read or read the scriptures below.
Mark 13:1-8
The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times
13 As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”
2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.”
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.
Reflection Questions: (See answers at the bottom of the pages)
- Let's assume that this time the disciples had time to really explore the Temple for the first time. Mark writes that the disciples say, simply, "What large stones and what large buildings." What else do you think they might have said?
- Why do you think Jesus tells the disciples the Temple will soon be demolished?
- Why do you think Jesus was not concerned about the destruction of the Temple?
- What do the disciples then ask Jesus?
- Do you think Jesus answered their question? Why, Why not?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson.
Videos (Click on url)
Pentecost Mark 13:1-8: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKiBgVjyDGw
Gospel of Mark Summary: A complete Animated Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGHqu9-DtXk
Song: The B-I-B-L-E - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8qgSZsL6k0
Oh Be Careful Little Eyes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVdTMezoOnE
Activities:
What Does It Mean To Be A Church: Think about what it means to be church. This is a pretend situation. A member of our church suddenly comes into a ton of money and decides to give $ 1,000,000 to our church! Yeah! But this person says this money must be used to build the kind of church Jesus wants.
What do you think the "church" would look like that Jesus wants? Think outside the box: would it even be a building at all? How would it help the greater community? Would it make it possible to do things we cannot do now? Sketch or write on a piece of paper your ideas of what the church would look like. How would your building or construction serve God’s mission?
The B-I-B-L-E Decoupage: Print words to the song “THE B-I-B-L-E” and glue them to a thin piece of wood. Then use decoupage material or spread white glue over the top which will dry shiny and then put an inexpensive hanger on the back to hang the BIBLE project. https://open.life.church/items/157445-song-the-b-i-b-l-e-lyrics-and-motions or https://www.songsforteaching.com/religious/biblesongs/davidandgoliath/theBIBLE.htm
Be Careful Whom You Follow - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/be-careful-whom-you-follow-1
Who Can You Believe? - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/who-can-you-believe-3
Be Careful Whom You Follow – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/be-careful-whom-you-follow-2
Who Can You Believe? – Fill in the Blank: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/who-can-you-believe-2
Prayer: Thank you, Jesus, for helping us to understand what it is to be in your kingdom. Amen.
Answers to the Reflection Questions:
- Let's assume that this time the disciples had time to really explore the Temple for the first time. Mark writes that the disciples say, simply, "What large stones and what large buildings." What else do you think they might have said?
- Why do you think Jesus tells the disciples the Temple will soon be demolished? (It did happen about 60 years later.)
- Why do you think Jesus was not concerned about the destruction of the Temple? (He was trying to teach the disciples that the Kingdom of God does not need temples.)
- What do the disciples then ask Jesus? (When is this going to happen and how will we know it is going to happen?)
- Do you think Jesus answered their question? Why, Why not?
