1 Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “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.”
Christ here departs from the temple area walking away leaving their house desolate – deserted, remote, solitary – just as He had said. Unlike mere flesh, Jesus does what He says – you can count on it. I am reminded of the words penned by Ezekiel:
25 But I the LORD will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign LORD. Ezek 12:25 (NIV)
Jesus had prior denounced the nation and therefore He would leave them empty – void of His peace and presence. Our Lord never again returns to it and in our verses for today, He predicts its ruin. Indeed, our houses are left desolate if Jesus is not there. We open up our lives as Pandora’s Box for all sorts of evil when His presence is not present. Furthermore, Christ did not reject them until they first rejected Him. He draws and if we are willing, He is willing as well. You will never find Him forcing Himself on any – He is far too much of a gentleman. He is a wooer not a dictator. His call to all earlier in Matthew comes to mind:
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30 (NIV)
“It pleases the Father that all fullness should be in Christ; therefore, there is nothing but emptiness anywhere else.” William Gadsby
“The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the Helper, the Guide, the very presence of God living in you. The great promise of God in prayer is this: We ask God for the gift - He gives us the Giver. We ask God for the supply and He gives us the Source. We ask God for the money and He doesn't give us cash; instead, so to speak, He gives us the bank...He delights in giving us Himself...The resources of heaven are ready and waiting for the people of God who desire to make much of him in this world.” David Platt
In our verses for today we also see our Lord’s guys being enamored by the buildings of the temple area bringing them to Jesus’ attention (as if He needed notice). The temple and its buildings were stately, generously furnished with gifts and offerings. The disciples were in awe and admiration of the massive stones and structures. Even good men are prone to be overly enamored with outward pomp and to over value it.
“The shallow nature lives in its impulses, its impressions, its intuitions, its instincts, and very largely its surroundings. The profound character looks beyond all these, and moves steadily on, sailing past all storms and clouds into the clear sunshine which is always on the other side, and waiting for the afterwards which always brings the reversion of sorrow, seeming defeat and failure. When God has deepened us, then He can give us His deeper truths, His profoundest secrets, and His mightier trusts.” A. B. Simpson
All the temple area with its various porches, colonnades, balconies and courts apparently was a sight to behold. Built with large white stones that were polished and generously decorated with gold it shined in the sun. It was a formidable sight. In fact, Mark’s account tells us they thought the buildings magnificent:
1 As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” Mark 13:1-2 (NIV)
Yet the glory of the temple was sullied and stained by the sin of the priests and people. Interestingly, Christ had wept for the precious souls of the people whereas here His guys are concerned more for the pompous and glorious buildings and was ready to weep for them. As in most things, Jesus actions, thoughts and Words are not as ours – they are infinitely higher. Christ foretells the utter ruin and destruction coming upon the place. The temple would not only be stripped, plundered and defaced but laid waste as well. A believing foresight that all will eventually be burned up will keep us from overvaluing worldly glory in whatever form it takes. Peter addresses this:
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. 2 Peter 3:10-13 (NIV)