Mon. July 21st :: Lk.21 :: 70AD

The Destruction of the Temple:
Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with
beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, "As for what you
see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every
one of them will be thrown down."

…"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its
desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let
those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city.

(Luke 21.5-6,20-21)
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How's this for a wild assertion: It is impossible to understand the gospels apart from what happened in the year 70AD. That may be a bit over the top, but it at least gets your attention. Here's why that date matters for the way you read the Bible:

Less than a generation after Jesus was crucified and resurrected, the Roman General Titus stood atop the Mount of Olives and prepared to descend the same road to Jerusalem that Jesus walked only a few years earlier. When Jesus walked it, he wept for the city. When Titus descended, he brought an army. And so in 70AD the Jewish city and temple were burned to the ground. And in this fire, many of the Old Testament promises seemed to go up in smoke also. God's people no longer had a land, a Temple, or a way of fulfilling many Old Testament commands. Everything changed in 70AD.

So why does this little history excursion matter to us?

It matters, I think, because many of us in the 21st century (myself included) are tempted to read the Bible in a way that strips God’s Word of all historical context.

That’s why 70AD is so important.

It’s important because in Luke 21 Jesus is looking forward in time (about 35 years) to the destruction of Jerusalem. He’s looking ahead to that moment and giving the disciples some crucial advice: “Don’t join the futile fight to save your city! Run for the hills (vs.21)! Stop believing that God’s salvation is going to come by a man-made political regime! It won't come by an army or a military showdown! It doesn’t work that way!” And 70AD proves it.

So what does this mean for us?

As I read Luke 21 I am reminded that our ultimate allegiance must not lie with earthly empires, political systems, or any man-made institution. Our ultimate allegiance must lie with a crucified Jew from Nazareth—King Jesus—God’s Son in the flesh. We must follow him unflinchingly. Because He alone will stand the test of time.

So here’s a question worth pondering:
In what ways have I placed my trust in earthly institutions above and beyond Jesus? And what would it look like to reorient my allegiance?