Jesus left the temple and was walking away ­when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. “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

Chapter 24 of Matthew opens with Jesus leaving the Temple.  We read, as he was walking away his disciples tried to impress Jesus with the beauty and power of the newly built Temple.  It must have been a glorious sight, there on that holy hill.

What amazed the disciples was that Jesus did not seem to be impressed by the glory of the Temple at all.  Jesus spoke openly in the Temple but did not point to its excellence.  Upon leaving the Temple his disciples asked him why he is not impressed by this glorious building. His answer must have caused them serious dismay – “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.”

That must have stunned the amazed disciples.  It took 42 years to build the Temple and at great cost.  Was it not to be permanent?  How could Jesus not be impressed?  Enough said. They walked away confused by what was happening.  Jesus had not one word of thanks for those who labored hard to build the impressive Temple.  His teachings there did not refer to the Temple much at all.

Jesus continues to teach us what his purposes are today.  We have our innate hopes and dreams that come from our inherent desires.  When we begin to see what God’s plans are, it is quite confusing.

As we see thousands of people coming to faith each day around our world we stand, as did the disciples, and try to grasp what God is doing!  Has God no regard to the temples we erect – our hopes and dreams?  Not really.  He is building His Kingdom right now, can we not see it?  People from all cultures love Jesus!  Our common love of Jesus binds us together as one.   The New Temple is here!  It is those who love and follow Jesus.