Matthew 24:1-3 (NIV) Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “I tell you the truth, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Jesus had just finished thoroughly denouncing the religious leaders of the Jews, and pronouncing God’s judgment on them. But, although they had heard every word, His disciples were oblivious to their import.
As they left the temple complex, the disciples were struck anew with awe over the impressiveness of the temple, its buildings and its walls. Surely this whole city, built on top of the hills and surrounded by tall, strong walls was pretty much impregnable. It would stand forever as a testimony of God’s power and steadfastness to His people.
But Jesus deflated them instantly with an entirely different picture – a picture of a city that would soon be ruins and wreckage, with smoldering buildings, and walls so thoroughly pushed over that they could no longer be identified as walls. He forecast a city, not taken over by an enemy, but one completely destroyed by God’s own hand.
The rest of the walk to the campsite on the Mount of Olives was made in silence as the disciples pondered this horrendous picture. It was only later in the day, when they couldn’t get this image out of their heads, that they approached Jesus to get more information.
The disciples knew well the history of Jerusalem. They knew that, despite its impressive structures and seemingly unconquerable walls, God had knocked it all down by the hand of Babylon six centuries earlier, virtually erasing all that had been built. That had been preceded by the dire prophecies of Jeremiah in the temple courts (cf. Jeremiah 26:1-16), and had come about in just a few years. Now here was Jesus prophesying similar things in the temple courts. Those who refused to listen to Jeremiah were trapped in the nightmare scenes that unfolded in the city after the Babylonians surrounded and besieged them. Jesus’ followers wanted more than anything to know what warning signs they needed to watch for so that, before the hammer of God’s judgment fell, they could get themselves and their loved ones out the city to safety.
Father, at least we can give the disciples credit for hearing accurately what Jesus was telling them. We know from history that this destruction really did fall on the city a mere 40 years later when the Romans came, surrounded Jerusalem, and then, after a long siege, tore down the walls, destroyed the temple not leaving one stone on another, and taking its treasures in triumph to Rome. Lord, You don’t make idle threats; You give clear warnings – warnings even to us in our times., both through Your word and through Your Spirit. Help us, as Your people, to not only keep our ears tuned to Your voice, but our lips ready to speak Your words of warning, of urging to repentance, to all who need to hear. Amen.