Tisha B'av & The Three Weeks

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

The Three weeks is an annual mourning period. This is when Jews all around the world mourn the destruction of the Holy Temple and the launch of the still-ongoing exile.

Tisha B’av Evening of Wed, Jul 26, 2023 – Thu, Jul 27, 2023

The Temple

The Temple was an amazing structure. Strong and beautiful meant to last the ages. King Herod had built this temple to get just the kind of reaction the disciples gave. Look at what huge stones, as they were taken by the massive stones and huge buildings. This Temple was started in BC 20 or 19. The sanctuary itself was completely rebuilt within two years by members of the priestly cast trained specially for this purpose. The whole temple itself was still under construction at the time of Jesus' ministry.

John 2:20 NIV

They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?”

The Temple was built off the design of King Solomon, Taken from the Tabernacle, Taken from Genesis Chapters 1-3

The Temple overview

4 - line separating the court of Gentiles from the temple

9 - court of women

only Men could get to the altar, and only High priests can enter into the presence of God.

Three weeks

The period begins on the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day that marks the day when the walls of Jerusalem were breached by the Romans in 69 CE. It reaches its climax and concludes the fast of the 9th of AV, the date when both Holy Temples were set aflame. This is the saddest day of the Jewish Calendar.

During this period

Those who mourn the destruction of Jerusalem will merit seeing it rebuilt with the coming of Moshiach

or Messiah

Jesus is the Messiah something that many though not all Jews have rejected. Largely because many of them are still waiting for that earthy messiah to come and set up an earthly kingdom. While others are expecting a heavenly messiah to rebuild the temple and restore the lands to their full Glory.

We however have accepted the truth that Jesus is the Messiah.

And we don’t need the temple. Why we don’t need the temple anymore you are the temple?

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 NIV

19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Your very body is the temple. We collectively as the body of believers is the temple.

No more court for the gentiles, court of the women, no more holy place, vail torn in two.

We are no longer separated from God. The HS lives in you

Do you live like it?

That means we turn away form the flesh, those desires that lead us to a path of destruction. We aren’t known for being anti anything we are pro the life that Jesus promises is a life to the fullest.

John 10:10 NIV

10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

We are to honor God with our bodies. From the way we eat to the way we have sex. The Way we speak and the way think, what we put in to the temple.

Galatians 5:16 NIV

16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Ephesians 4:31–32 NIV

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Next Steps

While we await The Coming of Jesus in fullness and Heaven and Earth are made new. We must be the temple.

Bibliography

https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/947558/jewish/What-Are-the-Three-Weeks.htm

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