Herod's Temple

Reconstruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of Herod JJ Tissot

Previous Notes on Josephus' account of Herod's Building Work (and therefore the politically explosive nature of any comments about destroying the temple)

The temple was not only the heart of Israel’s religious life but also the symbol of its national identity. The rededication and purification of the temple in 164 AD after Antiochus Epiphanes had defiled it with the worship and altar of Zeus and the restoration of temple worship were the high points of the Maccabean victory and were commemorated annually thereafter in the feast of Dedication in December. The patriotic as well as religious symbolism of the temple was thus enormous, and the magnificence of Herod’s rebuilding matched its symbolic significance.  The Gospel of Mark (The new international Greek testament commentary) - RT France) p436-7

LIVE event

We had a great time at this LIVE event last night.

Around 20 11-14 year olds from West Brom, Tipton and Wolverhampton. Isaiah 40:6-8. A huge bonfire. Stacks of fireworks. Great hotdogs. And surprising fun doing gravestone rubbings in the dark. All in all an explosive mix!

How should we then live (5)

When will 70 AD happen?

 'Do you see these great buildings?' replied Jesus  [referring back to the discples comment in Mark 13:1]
'Not one stone here will be left on another; everyone will be thrown down.' Mark 13:2

This is a very helpful analysis of this chapter by France:

v2	(No time indicator in prediction)
v4	WHEN?	(and what will be the sign..?)
		v5 Watch Out - it is NOT YET (v7b)
			v8 all this is only the BEGINNING
		v9 Watch Out - it is NOT YET
			v10 gospel to all nations FIRST
			v13 the ‘end’ still in the future
	v 14 But when	i.e., as opposed to the NOT YET of v5-13, here the sequence begins (in ‘those days’, v19)
		v21 At that time    this is not the end
		v23 Watch out     still beware of assuming too much
	v 24 But in those days              following that distress		reference back  to v19 -
	so a direct, unbroken sequence from the when of v14.
v 26	And then	Here at last is the answer to When? v4
v 27	And then
	v 28f The fig tree (a parable of necessary chronological sequence) shows that these things indicate that ‘it is near’
	v30f and therefore all these things must inevitably occur within ‘this generation’.
v 32	But about THAT day or hour ...
	WHICH day or hour? - no (singular) day or hour so far mentioned
	v 33 Watch out - it may be ANY time
	v 32-37 speak throughout of an UNKNOWN time, which comes without announcement, in stark contrast to the
		NOT YET BUT WHEN THEN WITHIN GENERATION	of vv 5-31

Divine Government: God's Kingship in the Gospel of Mark p128

Saying Goodbye

‘Miscarriage is often something that’s not acknowledged or talked about in the UK, and people certainly do not appreciate how utterly distressing it is for women, and indeed their extended families. 
It’s a loss of a precious life, and whether the loss happens in early or late pregnancy it’s traumatic, and a natural grief process must be allowed to happen.
Sadly a lot of doctors and nurses see miscarriage on such a regular basis, the right support and follow up advice is just not offered, which results in the vast amount of women never coming to terms with losing their baby, and sadly they are not able to move forward with their lives as they become stuck in a cycle of grief.
I am delighted to be an ambassador for a marvellous new organisation called 'Saying Goodbye'. Following losing five babies themselves, Zoe and Andrew Clark-Coates, the directors of CCEM, decided to launch the first national set of commemorative services, which will allow families to come together to mourn their babies. 
I hope that these services will be a turning point in the nation, and through this new organisation miscarriage [Saying Goodbye] will become more widely understood, and families will know that their pain and loss has been heard and recognized.’ [Robert Winston]

From Peter Saunder's Blog

HT Tudor Boddom-Whetham via FB

How should we then live (4)

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

How should we then live? (3)

Because He Lives

Space Academy

We are LAUNCHING this today at our morning service  

I hope those 'Space Cadets' who sign up will enjoy it as much as we've enjoyed planning it. 

Booking will open in the New Year

Tough Talk

Just been to a Tough Talk evening. 

Trying to resist the temptation to bench press the sofa. Have been successful so far.  

How should we then live? (2)

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture

How should we then live? (1)

How Should We Then Live?: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture - Francis Schaeffer

Owl City & Christ Alone

I've just come across In Christ Alone ... given the Owl City treatment! 

and this led me to something I had missed ... their new album All Things Bright And Beautiful , which includes the song Galaxies: 

Tune in on Sunday to see why this might be of particular interest to me.

Womb Songs

There are many Christian contemporary hymns today about adult conversion from unbelief, yet there is not one psalm in the Scriptures that speaks of that subject. On the other hand, have you ever sung a hymn that called for you to put yourself in the place of one who was regenerated in the womb?  Why Baptize Babies? Mark Horne p 21