What Impresses Jesus

Read Luke 21.

First-Century Temple Model, Israel Museum - 2017

By all accounts, Herod's Temple was a magnificent structure. The model that is on display today at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem (above) doesn't do it justice. It can't because the original was massive. It was huge. Gold and gleaming white stone. The sun shone off it so that it could be seen a long way away. And the stones were massive. The stones that remain today as part of the original retaining wall of the Temple Mount ("The Western Wall" or "The Wailing Wall") just give us a glimpse of how impressive this Temple was.

Temple stones from the tunnels, 2012

It was one of the most impressive buildings in Jerusalem, no doubt, and it was one of which the Jews were most proud. The crowning jewel of their faith! So it's no surprise that the disciples, who weren't from Jerusalem but would have come here before with Jesus (and maybe with their parents when they were children), are always impressed by the beauty and the architecture of the Temple. In Mark's Gospel, they say, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!" (13:1). Here in Luke we're told they are impressed by the beautiful stones and the gifts that had been dedicated to God.

But that doesn't impress Jesus. It's not the building. It's not the stones. It's not the beauty of the surroundings. What impresses Jesus is what has just happened at the Temple. A single widow, a woman of faith, has deposited her offering. It's not that Jesus cares about her money. It's not that God needs her funds. Rather, what Jesus sees is a beautiful act of worship, of self-surrender, of putting God before self. This woman, poor though she is, gives everything she has to her God. More than the beauty of the stones, more than the significance of the place, what impresses Jesus is a heart fully surrendered, fully given over, fully worshipping her creator.