Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple.

1Jesus 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. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” (Matthew 24:1,2)

Thoughts: The Herodian Temple was not fully complete when the disciples were awed by it.  It was considered one of the wonders of the ancient world because of its huge stones and the way the sun glistened off of the white limestone.  It was finished in 66 AD but was totally destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.  They literally tore the huge stones down. 
      This is a prophecy of Jesus that he made at least eight times.  He was accused at his arrest of speaking against the Temple and partially was crucified for this charge.  He told the women of Jerusalem to not weep for Him but for themselves for the destruction about to come upon them.  It is noteworthy that Matthew does not speak as if the Temple has already fallen, saying something like "and the Temple did fall."  Or, "Just as Jesus predicted..."  Many scholars date Matthew as coming before the fall of the Temple for this reason.  Others think that this is such a specific outlandish prophesy that it had to be dated after the Temple fell.  However, Jesus also predicted in 24:14 that the Gospel would be sent to all nations- (accomplished when converts came in Nepal in 1989).  Christianity is the only religion that is in all nations- and Jesus predicted this when the faith had only a few dozen followers all centered in one place.  But no one would date Matthew after 1989.  Prediction alone is not a reason to date a book. 
      Jesus was and is considered a prophet by many Jewish rabbis because of his teachings and prediction on this particular issue (he was one of the few).  The Temple was bigger than it had ever been and the walls seemed quite imposing and invulnerable.  Yet Jesus pointed out that they were to come down- and within a generation they did. 
      It was in part a symbol of what God was doing.  He was taking the faith and spreading it beyond the centralized location of the Temple-Jerusalem-Judea.  God was remaking His people/gospel as a Potter re-makes the clay.  

Prayer: Lord, Help me to trust in you in the times you are re-making things as a Potter remakes the clay.