Haunting images flashed before my eyes following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Burned into my memory is the image of a huge, steel cross that was found amidst the rubble of the collapsed World Trade Center in New York City. I’ll never forget the image of smoke and dust swirling around the scorched cross standing like a beacon in the midst of the debris, as rescue workers searched for survivors buried in the ruins.
Similar violence would have haunted the Jewish people who gathered around Jesus at the temple. Throughout this Lenten season we have grappled with Jeremiah’s prophecy of judgment and destruction that became reality when the Babylonian army invaded Jerusalem and demolished Solomon’s Temple in 586 BC. The very ground under Jesus’s feet had been battered and covered in rubble when the first temple’s walls fell.
Hundreds of years later, Jesus stood and taught on the same site surrounded by an opulent new temple, and He predicted that destruction would come again. “These things that you see—the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down” (Luke 21:6). Herod the Great had spared no expense in renovating and expanding the temple. Despite the structure’s significance, size, and grandeur, the ground shook and the walls fell again when Rome conquered Jerusalem and destroyed the second temple in 70 AD. Jesus’s listeners couldn’t escape the images of wreckage and neither can we.
During Lent, we pause and sit in the rubble. We choke on the smoke swirling from the sins and sorrows of the world. Natural disasters, wars, illnesses, and violence of all sorts bombard the globe. The dust stirred up by our own wrongdoing chokes us as well. Selfishness, pride, greed, envy, rage, and unbelief wage war within us every day. The cross of ashes smeared on many foreheads at the beginning of Lent symbolizes our lament as a people scorched by sin and sorrow and who need deliverance.
There is a scorched cross standing like a beacon for us too. The construction worker who found the steel cross after 9/11, Frank Silecchia, said, “I saw Calvary in the midst of all the wreckage… It was a sign… that God didn’t desert us.” Jesus has not left us in the wreckage of sin. He came to us, lived a sinless life, yet was persecuted and died on a cross like a criminal to pay for our unfaithfulness and mend our brokenness. He was battered and absorbed the attack that would have destroyed us all.
Scripture tells us that when Jesus died “the earth quaked, and the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:51). Walls fell down again. But this time, it was the walls of sin and sorrow that were demolished. The impenetrable walls that had separated a sinful people from a holy God were in ruins. By rising from the rubble, Jesus conquered death, allowing all who believe in Him to be saved and to live forever in peace with Him. This is our hope in a sin-scorched world: Jesus has come and He will come again.
Patti Sauls lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband Scott and daughters, Abby and Ellie, where they serve alongside the people of Christ Presbyterian Church. Prior to living in Nashville, the Sauls planted churches in Kansas City and Saint Louis and served at New York City’s Redeemer Presbyterian Church. A trained speech therapist, Patti also enjoys serving behind the scenes, hiking with friends, and reading good books.
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49 thoughts on "Tuesday: Jesus Teaches in the Temple"
Caroline, that verse resonated with me too!
Hi I’m new here! Reading everyone’s comments was uplifting!I feel super anxious during these times but also find myself realizing my need for Jesus even more than ever now because of it. Reading scripture and prayer is my only calm- it’s making me build my reliance on Him and for that I am grateful. It’s also made me realize the beauty in small things. Happy Easter!!
Thanks for your honesty Clara, these are tricky times aren’t they?! So glad that God is slowly helping you take one step at a time. I too have been encouraged by asking Gods help to see the small things to be great grateful for amidst the hard.
May this verse encourage your hearts—it is one of my favorites to claim!
“And HE shall be the SECURITY and STABILITY of your times…”
Isaiah 33:6a
We can’t escape the wreckage on our own. I am so in need of deliverance every day!!
Dorothy, prayers for comfort and strength continue. I think of you often throughout the day.
Karen, praying that sweet grandchild has arrived!
I am so glad that Jesus is coming back again. Even before he left the first time he wanted his followers to know that. He didn’t leave them back then, and he hasn’t left us now. I feel enemy really trying to drag me down into negativity and depression right now. I do look forward to easter, but it won’t be the same this year. I won’t even be able to share a meal with my parents. I am thankful for my husband and daughter, who I will be spending Easter with. I pray the Lord fills me with his joy, and continue to be thankful for all that He has given me.
Kathy- any baby news yet?
Thank you all for sharing verses that encourage you. So much good nourishment! Always the old favorite Ps 23, too. Blessings to all.
I hadn’t ever noticed this part of this scripture in Luke 21:14-15 “Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” and I love it.
I am so humbled that human wisdom is not nearly enough powerful compared to God’s wisdom. I’ve known this truth but I love to see how he uses it as a tool to take care his people!
WOW! I got on rather late today but what tremendous blessing to see all the verses of encouragement! My 92 year old mother-in-law is having an extremely difficult time grasping all that is going on and it is making her more depressed each day. I’m going to find a notebook and write write these verses of encouragement down for her. Hopefully, she will turn her focus OFF the world and ON to God!
One of my favorite Psalms is Ps 46.
“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…”
Amen! What a beautiful and sobering reminder!
Thank you to all I so grateful for finding this devotion and not blessed with all your encouragement and posts. Jesus is coming back
This
Hi Clara:
Here are a few verses that I hope will encourage and strengthen you during this challenging time:
” For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” ( 2 Timothy 1:7)
” ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
“…..I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
BLESSED! Blessed that my daughter joined me again this morning. Last night she was having a very hard time sleeping and asked me to wake her up to join me for my devotions! “Together” we read God’s word, devotion and some of the comments. It’s been hard for her being away from her friends BUT she KNOWS God has not left us!
So sweet!!
I was wondering if any of you have the book mentioned from last week, from Russ Ramsey, wanting to read along this week. It looks like a long -book do you read the whole thing? Thanks for any feedback….reading my Tuesday now;)
I found it on the app Hoopla :)
In today’s Scriptures I see warnings as well as promises. Patti’s description of how Jesus’ cross shows us God hasn’t left us in the wreckage of our sin is the very promise we are clinging to every day with the Lent and Easter season giving us a special time of remembrance and celebration. In addition to these thoughts, a particular warning caught my attention mainly because of painful personal experience in this area. Jesus said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them…” Not only here but in a number of other places throughout the gospels, Jesus warns us about false teachers & prophets. And in the apostles letters, we see the same kind of warnings. Recently, I read a quote by a Christian leader who basically said that we don’t need to worry about false teachers because there are so few. But, as I read Jesus’ words here, I see he indicates there will be “many”. As I thank the Lord Jesus for his amazing sacrifice for our sins, I also ask him to give us clear eyes to see those who might lead us astray. May he empower each of us to be careful, alert and able to discern true teaching from false. Let us keep looking to and studying his word together so we will be prepared while trusting him to “give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.” I know this is a heavy topic, but it’s so much on my heart as I have experienced the damage false teaching can bring to vulnerable souls and I see many others being deceived.
This is such a good point, Diana. I’ve spent the last few months digging into identifying false teaching because of some wrong teaching I saw coming from a big church in the US, and boy am I glad I did. I saw it before but seeing their words pressed up against the scripture is powerful and clear.
Praise God for bringing all of you SRT ladies into my heart. My daily scripture readings and your words are such an encouragement. I pray for all of you and hold you all close. Sending love and thanks from NY.
Good morning all, and God bless. What jumped out to me this morning was the line, “Be on your guard, so that your minds are not dulled from carousing, drunkenness, and worries of life,…”. Isn’t it interesting that worry is equated with drunkenness? It’s hard not to worry in these times but as we’ve been reminded time and time again. Jesus walks with us. Be safe and stay healthy! ❤️
I had the same thought as I was reading too! Both muddle our thoughts and don’t provide us with the truth. We’re not our truest selves when we’re worried, neither are we when drunk. Super interesting!
A long time favorite…..
Psalm 61:1-2
Hear my cry, O God,
listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I,
Thank you for those reminders, it is so true!
What beauty lies in the word of God. Thank you all for sharing scripture so encouraging and so needed. It is funny the scripture that came to me in reading yours is the shortest verses. First Jesus wept. I know by these two words God’s heart for Mary and Martha, for the loss and sorrow of His loved ones. He loves us so and if you are enduring heartache and loss in this time. Please know He is with you and He will hold you and shares your sorrow. He is light in your darkness indeed the light that illuminates all. The other verse, and forgive me I am not putting where they are found. Be still and know. We know who He is by the cross, by the salvation and healing He brings, by His sacrifice so that we might have life eternal with the lover of our souls. Press on Clara, thank you for your requests what treasure is the Word of God. Love to you all. Thankful for all my sisters in Christ. He is so worthy! Praise on!
I was recently led to Lamentations chapter 3. To me, the first hald is what heartbreak truly feels like, things I’m sure we’ve all felt in the last few weeks-he brought me into darkness without any light, made my chains heavy, made me desolate. Verse 21 “BUT this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Although this place we are currently in feels very dark and uncertain, we have hope in the Lord for he is good and faithful. His love endures forever.
❤️
Thank you for these verses!
I just joined the devotional today as I was (late) looking for a devotion for Easter. I’ve been doing “Seeking Him” for several weeks but the Lord just led me to move away from that for this week and focus more closely on the cross. My husband built a cross and we erected it in our yard yesterday and each time I look at it, it reminds me “He hasn’t deserted us”. I am so encouraged by your words of faith and hope this morning. For those of you who may be struggling, cling to Psalm 91, especially verses 2-4. For you who ARE the encouragers, THANK YOU, and please keep on blessing others. You have been a blessing to me this morning and I look forward to the remainder of this study!
Thank you Patti Sauls for today’s devotional. The poor widow, in scripture, who gave everything reminds me of Jesus. The Son of God gave up all of heaven to come to earth because He loves you and me. Then in human form again and again, He gave all. He gave healing. He gave time. He gave teaching. He gave example. And then, He gave His life. He knew (knows) what was needed, and He gave.
I think of the metal cross rising in the ashes and hold onto the Truth that Calvary made a way. Today still, among the things of this life that we deem important (that are really just ashes), the cross still stands. Our Savior is God.
Lord, may I be like the widow-willing to give my all. Empty handed? Not exactly; emptied for You to hold.
God, like the cross stood in the ashes, may my life be a witness for You. In each moment.
My verses ladies: Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
and
Psalm 91
Your Word is True Lord God.
After reading all the comments….THANK YOU ALL for your encouragement and sharing you all inspire me!!
This study has been made by God Himself. I listen to the SRT podcast each week along with the reading portions of the devotional, and several times they have mentioned that this study was completed and ready to go 2 weeks before our country’s invasion of the coronavirus had spread so rapidly. God moves, God works, God shows us, God tells us; we faithful are listening and doing as our God steers us.Thank all of you nurses, doctors, volunteers, food suppliers of anykind and “stay at homers” for your part in getting us back to our school children, our retail jobs, our life with family and friends. Ladies have a glorious Tuesday and may God bless you and keep you safe.
I am not prone to pity parties. Last evening however after listening to the news, I felt a sadness descend. As one who is immunosuppressed, it does not sound promising that relief from all the precautions will come any time soon. The “new normal” may last for some much longer than for others. And so I sighed heavy. BUT GOD. Let me shout it again, BUT GOD. This morning I woke up and stepped onto my side deck and He showed up and He showed off big time. A stunning sunrise! The clouds were split and it was literally breath-taking. Tears in my eyes quickly formed as I knew this was a gift from my heavenly Father. Psalm 34 came to mind and so I will be meditating on it today. God is here. God is near. He will not leave. When I was feeling down, He drew my eyes upward with that sunrise. He is so good.
My thoughts exactly! When I saw the sunrise shining through my bedroom window it brought me great joy! I knew it was my God!
Romans 10:15 esv
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Sisters, your encouragement with His Word makes you the bearers of Christ to the heartbroken!
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!!
When we need to feel loved, may we look to the cross at his great love for us!
We press into Him that we may know Him more!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
There are so many sources of news… let us preach the truth to ourselves all day long! Thank you SRT for being the place where I begin my day in God’s Word with community!!! I thank God for all of you daily.
‘The construction worker who found the steel cross after 9/11, Frank Silecchia, said, “I saw Calvary in the midst of all the wreckage… It was a sign… that God didn’t desert us.”’
During this Holy Week we remember – God didn’t desert us in our sin and God hasn’t deserted us in COVID-19.
This is our hope of Easter.
Dorothy, i am praying for you. My heart breaks at what you have been through. I pray that God will comfort you and your family at this great loss. May you find peace and rest in His arms. He is with you and He is weeping with you.
Yes during these days we truly need to be encouraged so we can be an encouragement to others.
Deut 31:6 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you, he will NEVER leave you nor forsake you.”
1 Chonicles 16:11 “Look to the Lord and his strength, seek HIS face always.”
Ps. 118:14 ” The LORD is my strength and my defense, he has become my salvation.”
Sometimes just writing these verses makes one feel stronger!
Be encouraged sisters, be encouraged!
During this time of sheltering I have been slowly memorizing my favorite Psalm. Psalm 91- We live within the shadow of God. Shelter by the God who is above all gods. This I declare, that He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I am trusting Him…
I am holding on to these words.
Good morning, SRT friends! I am praying for each of you during these difficult times! My favorite scripture for times like this is Psalm 94:16-19. It reads, “Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.”
I have seen the Lord’s faithfulness in my life many times, and I know He is near to all who call on Him. He is with us always and that has really been providing me comfort during this time. There are so many passages that I love for reminders of God’s promises, comfort, and His identity, but a passage that I adore and that provides me comfort when I’m struggling is Psalm 63.
Clara, Good morning! Praising God, for your heart of hope and faith in our God, who is bigger than any ill that will befall us..
He is God.
He is God.
Psalm 30 has long been one of my go tos..
Words like… ‘I praise you Lord, because you gave saved me..’
‘..I cried to you for help, O Lord my God, and you healed me;
‘…Sing praise to the Lord , all his faithful people! Remember what the Holy One has done, and give him thanks!
My favourite verse (verse 5)
..His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a lifetime. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.
..You have changed my sadness into a joyful dance; you have taken away my sorrow and surrounded me with joy.
Clara, I think in these days of uncertainty, this covers our fears, our sadness, confusion…
And helps us find our way back to God, who sees, hears and responds, and filling us with His joy and goodness..
Amen.
Keep on blessing..❤
These words from above are worth thinking on: But this time, it was the walls of sin and sorrow that were demolished. The impenetrable walls that had separated a sinful people from a holy God were in ruins. By rising from the rubble, Jesus conquered death, allowing all who believe in Him to be saved and to live forever in peace with Him. This is our hope in a sin-scorched world: Jesus has come and He will come again.
Amazing! I definitely want to fall more in love with Jesus. This post talks about that very idea. https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2017/12/26/how-to-fall-in-love-with-jesus This is worth reading:
It’s been almost a month of quarantine where I’m from, and understandably, people are in low spirits. Even worse, in despair some friends have been questioning God during this time. I too couldn’t help but doubt at first, but thanks to this Lenten devotional, I’ve built a stronger foundation of faith in knowing God is and will always be, most especially through the toughest times. Faith and hope are daily and sometimes difficult practices of obedience, but I thank God for walking me through this experience in His light and steadfast love. I’ve been trying to encourage loved ones feeling lost at this time, and it would be great if any of you could share some passages that would help me encourage those in need of God’s message. Thank you and have a blessed day!
Honestly I’ve been living in the Psalms…Psalm 130 has been an encouragement to me.
Psalm 16. Last year I committed it to memory and honestly it’s been such a blessing. When I am anxious or sad I quote it to myself over and over. At the time it was written David was afraid for his life. He is looking to The lord to be his sanctuary and infallible protection. It is a reminder for me to remember the promises of God and to find joy in the goodness of The Lord.
I love that you are fighting for your faith, Clara! Well done!! I will fight with you and pray for you!
For you: 10Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. 13This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. 14Stand, therefore,
with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
15and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.
16In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.
18Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.
For others: God JAS demonstrated His great love for each one- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 NIV