OCTOBER 25, 2015
JESUS FORETELLS THE COMING DESTRUCTION OF JERUSALEM
INTRODUCTION:
1. After Jesus cleansed the temple He began there to teach the people and preach the Gospel. (Luke 20:1) Mark mentions His walking in the temple. Apparently, as He walked about the temple precincts He would seize every opportunity to teach and preach. One such teaching session was interrupted by the barging in of some of the Jewish religious leaders, demanding to know by what authority He did these things. (Ch. 11:28) Although that confrontation ended in a standoff, (see Ch. 11:29-33) it led to our Lord’s parable of the wicked husbandmen, in which He exposed the murderous plot of the Jewish leaders against Him, and the evil motive behind it.
2. Those wicked rulers would have carried out their plan immediately, except they feared the people. (Ch. 12:12) They resorted instead to multiple attempts to either get Him to incriminate Himself with the Roman government, or to discredit Himself with the Jewish people. (Ch. 12:13-34) After wisely answering each of the questions from the opposition, He proposed a question of His own to them. (Ch. 12:35-37) This was the question of the day. “What think ye of Christ? Whose son is he?” (Matt. 22:42)
3. The leaders, for the most part, persisted in their opposition and hatred, while “the common people heard Him gladly.” It was to those common people that Jesus addressed His stern warning to beware of the scribes with all of their religious pretenses by which they cloaked their great wickedness. (Ch. 12:38-40) These were Jesus’ final words to the people in the temple before leaving it for the last time.
4. As Jesus was leaving the temple, apparently His disciples sensed the finality of it. Matthew’s account reads “And Jesus went out and departed from the temple.” (Matt. 24:1) This accounts for why they were appealing to Him to look again at the beautiful buildings, as if to say, please reconsider. His response to their appeal is what follows as He solemnly predicts the future destruction of the city and its magnificent temple.
I. THE SOLEMN PREDICTION JESUS MADE CONCERNING THE COMING DESTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE. (VERSES 1-4)
A. CHRIST’S OWN DESCIPLES WERE AMONG THOSE WHO ADMIRED THE TEMPLE FOR ITS BEAUTY AND GRANDEUR. (VERSE 1)
1. The outside was built with goodly stones, and the interior was beautified with rich presents that had been given.
2. The disciples had a fond attachment to this splendid house of worship.
3. They thought that their Master should be as affected by those things as they were. In Matt. 24:1, 2 it appears that they saw His departure from it as a final rejection, and therefore they plead with Him, “See what manner of stones, and what buildings are here!”
B. CHRIST SPOKE OF THOSE THINGS WITH CONTEMPT, AND TOLD OF THEIR SOON-TO-COME DESOLATION. (VERSE 2)
1. Mark, like Matthew, tells us that the disciples called His attention to the great stones, some of which were forty-five cubits long, five in depth, and six in breadth.
2. They sensed that His departure was in final rejection, and therefore pled with Him to behold these things.
3. Our Lord, in order to turn their eyes away from the stateliness and beauty of this house, prophesied the complete destruction of it, and that without the slightest regret or remorse.
C. WITH GREAT CURIOSITY THEY INQUIRED OF HIM WHEN THIS DESOLATION WOULD COME. (VERSES 3, 4)
1. They asked what signs they might look for. Not that they doubted His words, but they would know when the terrible day was approaching. The Jews demanded to see signs because they did not believe!
2. They asked for no present signs, but they inquired about what they should look for as signs that the time was near. “And what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?”
II. THE CERTAINTY AND CLEARNESS WITH WHICH JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES WHAT TO EXPECT AS THEY SAW THE DAY APPROACHING. (VERSES 5-13) This Jesus did in order to prepare His disciples for what was coming, and to direct them in their duty. Knowledge should be desirable not merely to satisfy curiosity, but to enlighten us as to our responsibilities.
A. THEY MUST EXPECT FALSE CHRISTS TO APPEAR, AS WELL AS FALSE PROPHETS SPEAKING LIES. (VERSES 5, 6)
1. Many in every age from the days of Christ until now have been bold to make such boasts, saying “I am he.” (Acts 5:36; 21:38; II Tim. 4:3; II Pet. 2:1; I John 2:18)
2. His instructions are clear. It matters not what age it is. “Take heed lest any man deceive you.” One must wonder how those who were present to see and hear Christ could be deceived by false Christs, but Jesus did not warn unnecessarily. One must also wonder how those with open Bibles should be deceived, but frauds can always gain a following, even from Bible-believing churches.
B. THEY MUST EXPECT TO HEAR OF GREAT COMMOTIONS AMONG THE NATIONS AND GREAT AND FEARFUL SIGHTS IN NATURE. (VERSES 7, 8)
1. That such wars have continued and shall continue to the end of the world is a certainty, but civil historians record for us the many uprisings that occurred before the destruction of Jerusalem. It is these of which Jesus here speaks.
2. One would hardly think time would have permitted so many bloody wars involving Judea, Samaria, Syria, Rome, etc., but Josephus catalogues the wars, commotions, seditions, slaughters, as nation did rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
3. That there were judgments sent by way of earthquakes, famines, pestilence, etc., is also confirmed by secular historians.
C. THEY MUST EXPECT TO EXPERIENCE AWFUL CHRISTIAN PERSECUTIONS. (VERSES 9-12)
1. The increase of their own persecutions and sufferings would serve as a sign that the time of Jerusalem’s destruction was drawing nigh.
2. Christ tells them what hard things they must suffer for His name’s sake. Their persecutions shall come from many quarters.
a) The Jews will bring them before the synagogues. (Verse 9a)
b) The magistrates will be incensed against them. (Verse 9b)
c) Their own relatives will sometimes be their accusers. (Verse 12)
d) There will be general hatred for Christ’s sake. (Verse 13a)
e) Many will be martyred. (Verse 12c)
(1) Imagine a father, mother, brother, or sister bearing witness against his or her own flesh and blood, seeing them put to death. (Matt. 10:21)
(2) This is at least in part what Christ meant when He said what He did in Luke 14:26. Not only must the disciple’s love for Christ be greater than the love he has for his immediate family members, he must be willing to suffer their rejection and even their betrayal for Christ’s sake.
2. Note the great promises that Jesus includes on this matter.
a) Their persecution shall be turned into a positive fruitful testimony. (Verse 9)
(1) In some cases, to the conversion of some who persecuted them, or who witnessed their uncompromising faith in suffering. (See I Pet. 2:12)
(2) In some cases, to reprove those whose religion was the cloak for their cruelty.
(3) In some cases, to embolden others in their stand for the faith. (Phil. 1:14)
b) How to answer their accusers, when before the magistrates will be given them. (Verse 11) The Lord, Who is always with His suffering saints, to succor and help them, will give them what to say. (Matt. 10:16-20)
c) There shall not one hair of the head perish. (Luke 21:18) The body may be destroyed. (See Luke 12:4-7) But, Jesus’ promise to His sheep is that they shall never perish. (John 10:280
D. THEY MUST EXERCISE PATIENT PERSEVERANCE UNTO THE END. (VERSE 13)
1. It is with patience that afflictions are endured by trusting in their Master’s promises.
2. By “patience” is meant constancy and perseverance in sustaining afflictions.
3. It is he who perseveres unto the end that shall be saved. (Verse 13; Matt. 24:13)
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