The disciples looked at the temple in Jerusalem, and they were so proud – proud that God had chosen their people; proud that the temple was so impressive; proud that this was the chosen place where God came down to earth to be with them. It certainly seemed too big to fail.

Jesus looked at the same stones, and knew that within 40 years, they would be wrecked. He knew that the temple was no longer God’s chosen way to be with humanity and bless them. Jesus was the one who had come down from heaven, to be with all humanity. Jesus was the one who would reach out, through humiliation, death and the grave, to bring us forgiveness and new life. Jesus was the one who would pour out the Holy Spirit on all people, to help them believe.

The disciples were in for some hard lessons. Their whole way of thinking about how God related to them was going to be turned around. They had to learn to see that God’s glory was not in powerful buildings and impressive systems. It was not in earning God’s approval by good deeds. It was in the down to earth ministry of Jesus – God for us.

It is so easy to be impressed by bigger better and more beautiful, but that is not necessarily the way God works. Our joy and strength is that we have a God who comes to us as we are. He offers us unconditional love and acceptance. He keeps inviting us to trust in him, to go with him, to look below the flashy surface to see what real substance and real love is. He gives us the strength to be people of genuine substance, who know how to be faithful, patient and kind.