A Tale of Two Temples

"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 24:2

After all the woes and condemnations that Jesus had declared, there really wasn't a lot for the Jew to hang his hat on so to speak.  They had been stripped completely bare, and knew it wasn't just directed at the Pharisees; it was directed at all.

What do you do when everything you based your identity in was laid waste?  Many search for vindication; they look for tangible signs of that which refers to anything that still maintains their stature as a people.  In this situation, buildings seemed like a good idea to the disciples.

But Jesus even takes that away with one prophetic word.  He then paints a picture that would put a scene from Mad Max to shame.  No.  Buildings, triumphs, wealth, culture - all are temples of vanity in the eyes of the King.  It's only when the gospel of the Kingdom is preached to the whole world - only when people have chosen to focus on that one ambition will His coming and the end of the age be imminent.  Only then will shrines and temples become irrelevant and the Son of Man returns to establish His manifest reign.

Turning at the Edge of the Cliff

"For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Matthew 23:38

After all the litany of woes and proclamations of hypocrisy and blindness, Jesus declares this.  Apparently, when the religious elite of Israel recognize the one who comes in the name of the Lord will be akin to the sounding of the last trumpet call. What an amazing day that will be, when religious ones turn to acknowledge Jesus as Lord over all!

Wait, what?  I thought the religious elite were too far gone to be able to come back.  After all, those declarations of woes seemed downright condemning, right?  No, for he declared that even they can return to the true ways of Yahweh.

But Jesus knew what was about to happen.  And why.  And he knew the rest of the story beyond that.  He knows that His sacrifice would be the work that would paint the threshold of the hearts of all that would acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior.  Even blind hypocrites who humble themselves and open their eyes to behold Him.  (See Genesis 12:1-29)

Think twice; there is hope even at the edge of a cliff.