In the disciples’ eyes

The disciples who accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem were under the illusion that the kingdom of God would arrive immediately. However, for Jesus, who had entered the final week of His public life, the primary concern was how to train the disciples, because after His departure from the earth, the message of the Gospel must be delivered by them. In today’s passage, the disciples are marveling at the splendor of the temple. It is not surprising that disciples from Galilee would be astonished by the liveliness of the city of Jerusalem and the magnificence of the temple. The construction of this temple began 20 years earlier by Herod the Great and was still under construction at that time (around 30 AD). The construction wouldn’t be completed until 64 AD. The stones used in the temple were enormous, with some weighing as much as 8 to 10 tons. It’s no wonder the disciples were amazed. Even today, we can see the magnificence of the stones that Herod used when visiting Jerusalem.

In Jesus’ eyes

However, Jesus prophesied the coming destruction of the temple. “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another, which will not be torn down.” While the disciples saw the prosperity on the surface, Jesus saw the spiritual decay and the approaching judgment of God. This prophecy literally came true in 70 AD when Jerusalem and the temple in its center were destroyed by the Roman army. In the battle, the temple caught fire, and all the golds used in it melted and flowed into the cracks of the stones. The Roman soldiers dismantled the stones one by one to extract the gold. Hearing Jesus’ prophecy, the disciples became unsettling, and asked Jesus when this prophecy would be fulfilled (we will learn about that next time). We, too, often marvel at the glory of this world. However, the glory of this world will inevitably pass away. What have you been focusing on recently? Blessed are those who build their lives on things that have eternal value, rather than the glory of this world. Let us seek God to see things through the eyes of Jesus.