As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?” Mark 13:1-4 (NLT)
Jesus is asked two questions about the end of the world. 1.When will it happen?
2.What will be the signs?
It is very important to note, however, that Jesus responds by referring to two different endings. 1.The end of the Temple 2.The end of the world as we know it. In his reply he goes back and forth between the two endings.
In verse two above Jesus is predicting the demolition of the Temple. This prediction came true in 70 AD at the hands of the Roman Army, an horrific event. A large portion of the Temple was built with stones, each 37 feet long and 12 feet high and 18 feet long. Only an extremely violent event could have resulted in “not one stone standing upon another”. This destruction was the result of the Jewish rebellion begun in 66. Therefore this prediction of Jesus came true in the disciples immediate future.
It is important to keep this event in mind as you read end time prophesies so that you can separate out the immediate from the ultimate. Both the immediate and ultimate are addressed by Jesus. Thus we have in chapter 13 a two level prediction before us.
We shall see how Jesus teaches that He will return visibly and personally to judge and renew the world.
I never knew just how huge those stones were. Knowing that makes it so much more profound because of how much force it would have taken to knock down every stone.
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