Stay Focused

Introduction

The house where I spent so many nights and summer days is no longer inhabited. The structure is there but it is dilapidated. It was my paternal grandparents’ place. The original structure had to be shored up when they lived there. Extra rooms including an indoor bathroom had to be added at different times. It was a place where I have many memories from my childhood and my adult years as well—family gatherings, a place that was so cold during the winter that four heavy quilts on the bed were needed to just cut the chill but never enough to get warm, a place that was so hot during the summer that fighting the mosquitoes on the porch was better than the stagnant air inside. The house is falling in on itself now. In a few years it will no longer stand.

You have similar memories. More than a few of you have mentioned the old home place—that place where you grew up and where the memories abound. It was a place that not only held memories but you couldn’t imagine the place never existing. But for many of us the old home place no longer exists.

Can you imagine what it must have been like for the Jews to watch their temple be destroyed? It was more than just a worship area; it was where God lived. This is where God’s name dwelled. And to watch the temple be destroyed would have been devastating. Predicting that the temple would be destroyed was beyond belief. Such is the text that we will study today. Jesus predicts the destruction of the temple and the disciples are not sure what to make of it all. But the point is that Jesus calls on his disciples to trust in him rather than the temple or anything else which may call for their attention. Jesus makes the same call to us. Are we listening?

The Text

Jesus and his disciples are leaving the temple area. The disciples are impressed with what they see. The temple is a magnificent structure. It is built with massive stones. Josephus says that some of the stones of the temple were 37.5 feet long, 12 feet high and 18 feet wide. Indeed they were massive stones. On May 8, 2013 a news release revealed that an ancient massive rock quarry has been uncovered in Jerusalem near the site of the temple. It is believed that the quarry was active during the first century. Markings on the stone reveal that some of the stones would have been 2 yards long.

Not one stone will be left on another; everything will be thrown down. Don’t you know that those words sounded strange to the disciples. In fact, Mark tells us that they sounded so strange that Peter, James, John, and Andrew came privately to Jesus and asked him about his words. “When will these things happen?” referring to Jesus’ words that the stones will topple. “And what will be the sign that it is all about to happen?” Two questions concerning the same event—the destruction of the temple.

Several things help us pinpoint the event that Jesus is talking about. First, the text is very personal. It is obvious that Jesus is talking to the disciples about a future event which they will know something about. It is obvious that Jesus is not addressing a future generation for he says in verse 30 that this generation will not pass away before this event takes place.

Second, notice the phrase “these things.” This is a hint about what Jesus is talking about. The disciples ask when will “these things” take place in reference to the destruction of the temple and Jesus uses the same phrase in verse 29 to summarize that he is talking about the destruction of the temple.

Third, there is a small parenthesis in this section in verses 24-27. Using language from the Old Testament denoting judgment, Jesus hints at his own return. Notice the phrase “following that distress.” This is the hint that Jesus has changed subjects but he gives no indication of when his return will take place.

Fourth, the warnings suggest that it is these disciples who need to be on their guard. They are not to be fooled by the events and the claims of others. They are to remain focused on what they are doing and what he is saying. And when the time is right they will know to flee Jerusalem.

Lessons

There are two lessons here. First, don’t be impressed by the externals. The disciples were impressed by the size and splendor of the temple. Everything about the temple screamed permanence. It had become much more than a worship center. It was the dwelling of God. It was hard to believe that anything could actually happen to it. As the temple stood so did their confidence. And that was the point. Their confidence was in the temple more than in the God who supposedly resided in the temple. They became more aware of the building than the one for whom it was built. They were focusing on the externals rather than the heart. The temple is doomed to be destroyed. Confidence will sag unless their confidence is in the one who needs no building. The confidence in the externals hid the death that was in the heart. The external can hide the heart. We can go through the ritual without the heart being here. We can become more aware of the externals rather than the God who is supposed to drive the externals.

Second, keep your focus. At least three times in this narrative Jesus tells his disciples to be on their guard (verses 5, 9, 23). Don’t let the events surrounding you divert your attention. Do not fall into the trap of accepting what others will tell you. Keep your focus. Know that all these things will happen just as they are planned. Keep your focus on what is really important. Some of us are just going through the motions. The events of life distract us. We see the event unfold and we wring our hands worrying about that event. We spend valuable time questioning God and wondering what will come next. Jesus gave his disciples a reminder: the temple will be destroyed. Don’t lose your focus. We, too, need a reminder. Jesus will return. Don’t lose sight of that reality.

Jesus told his disciples everything they needed to know to avert disaster. The temple was going to be destroyed. He even outlined events which would lead up to its destruction. Quoting Daniel 9 in verse 14, Jesus warns about one who will so profane the temple that it will no longer be the center for worship. When that happens, those who follow him are to flee Jerusalem—the end of the temple is near.

According to Josephus, Jewish Zealots having defeated the Roman 12th Legion in November of 66 A.D. begin to take over Jerusalem. As the Roman army amassed to do battle, the Zealots in late 67 to spring 68 set up camp in the temple area. They allowed criminals to roam freely in the Holy of Holies. They committed murder in the Holy Place. They displaced the current high priest and set up their own High Priest. And it is at this time that the Jewish Christians left Jerusalem, fleeing to the city of Pella.

What is the point? The disciples listened. They kept their focus and when the time came to leave the city, to leave behind the symbol of God’s presence, they did because they trusted Jesus rather than a symbol.

We can get sidetracked. We hear Jesus saying that he will return but too often we think like those described by Peter in his second epistle: “You must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this coming he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’”

Listen to Jesus. He will return. And we need to keep our focus. We need to live for him. Don’t get distracted. The time is passing quickly. Don’t sell out for the moment. Don’t listen to the call of the world. Stay focused.

Follow Jesus

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