From the temple courtyard, I can see the main sanctuary beyond.
“That beautiful temple—how could it be that not a single stone will be left standing…?”
Since Jesus came to Jerusalem, He has taught us many things, but He has also spoken of great disasters and the last days. Just thinking about them makes me shudder. I still haven’t been able to get over the shock. Why did Jesus say such things?
It all began with a conversation among some of us disciples. We were admiring the temple, pointing out its beautiful stones and the offerings that adorned it. But suddenly, Jesus said:
“Do you see all these great buildings and all these things? Most certainly I tell you, the days will come when not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”
How terrifying those words are! That’s why, when Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives looking at the temple, my brother Peter, along with James, John, and I approached Him and asked,
“Teacher, tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign that these things are about to happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
That was the beginning of His teaching.
“Be careful that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is at hand.’ They will lead many astray. Therefore, do not follow them.
You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, and of disturbances. See that you aren’t troubled or terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, famines, plagues, and troubles. There will also be terrors and great signs from heaven. But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.
Be on your guard. Before all these things, they will lay hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to oppression, councils, synagogues, and prisons. You will be beaten, and some of you will be killed. Because of me and my name, you will be brought before kings and governors, and you will stand as a testimony to them and to the nations. When they bring you before them and hand you over, settle it in your hearts not to worry beforehand about how to defend yourselves or what to say. For whatever is given to you in that hour, speak that, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. I will give you a mouth and wisdom which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.
Many will stumble and will betray and hate one another. Even parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will hand you over, and some of you they will cause to be put to death. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. Many false prophets will arise and will lead many astray. Because iniquity will be multiplied, the love of many will grow cold. You will be hated by all men and all nations for my name’s sake, but not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will win your lives. But he who endures to the end will be saved. This Good News of the Kingdom must first be preached in the whole world to all the nations as a testimony, and then the end will come.
Therefore, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is near. When you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place where it should not be, then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let those on the housetop not go down or enter their houses to take anything out. Let those in the fields not return to get their cloaks or clothes. Let those in the city depart, and those in the country not enter it. Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who nurse infants in those days! Pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath.
For in those days there will be great tribulation and distress in the land, and wrath upon this people—such as has not been from the beginning of the world which God created until now, and never will be again. These are days of vengeance, fulfilling all that has been written. Many will fall by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. Unless those days were shortened by the Lord, no flesh would be saved; but for the sake of his chosen ones, those days will be shortened.
At that time, if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Behold, there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. So be on your guard; behold, I have told you all these things beforehand. Therefore, if they say to you, ‘Behold, he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Behold, he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as the lightning comes from the east and is seen even to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Wherever the carcass is, there the vultures will be gathered together.
But immediately after the tribulation of those days, there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky; the powers of the heavens will be shaken. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. He will send out his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from the four winds, from one end of the earth to the other, from the ends of the sky to the ends of the sky. When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.
Look at the fig tree and all the trees. Learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all these things happening, know that it is near—right at the door, and that the Kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. But concerning that day and hour, no one knows—not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. So watch and stay alert, for you do not know when the time will come.
So be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth. Therefore watch, and always pray that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.
As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ship, and they didn’t know until the flood came and took them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and one will be left; two women grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore, for you don’t know in what hour your Lord comes. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have watched, and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.
It is like a man, traveling to another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, and to each one his work, and also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. Watch therefore, for you don’t know when the lord of the house is coming—whether at evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning; lest coming suddenly he might find you sleeping. What I tell you, I tell all: Watch.
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes. Most certainly I tell you that he will set him over all that he has. But if that evil servant should say in his heart, ‘My lord is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eat and drink with the drunkards, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it, and will cut him in pieces and appoint his portion with the hypocrites. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.
Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants and entrusted his goods to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. But he who received the one went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
But when the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. Before him all the nations will be gathered, and he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will tell those on his right hand, ‘Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry, and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in. I was naked, and you clothed me. I was sick, and you visited me. I was in prison, and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you; or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you as a stranger, and take you in; or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and come to you?’ The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Then he will say also to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you didn’t give me food to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and you didn’t take me in; naked, and you didn’t clothe me; sick, and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and didn’t help you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these, you didn’t do it to me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
As Andre was recalling those fearful words spoken that day, Philip shook him and said,
“Hey, Andre, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. What is it?”
“These Greeks here want to meet Jesus. What should we do?”
“Really? Then we should ask Jesus. Please wait here for a moment.”
“Alright.”
Getting up, Andre went with Philip to approach Jesus, who was teaching nearby. The two relayed the message that the Greeks wished to see Him. Jesus gazed quietly at the Greeks standing in the distance and then began to speak.
“The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.”
After speaking up to this point, Jesus paused for a moment, looked up to heaven, and continued in a trembling voice.
“Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this time?’ But for this cause I came to this time. Father, glorify your name.”
At that very moment, a loud voice came from heaven:
“I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”
This voice, as when John the Baptist heard it, was audible to everyone, but not everyone understood it. Some said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to Him.
“This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
People questioned Jesus sharply as He spoke these words:
“We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever. How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”
“The light will be with you a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness doesn’t know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become children of light.”
With these words, Jesus left the people and began walking toward the Mount of Olives, east of the temple. Andre and Philip, as well as the Greeks, followed Him. As the Passover drew near, Jesus performed many signs before the people and gave many teachings to lead them to repentance. But not everyone believed in Him. In this way, the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled:
“Lord, who has believed our report? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
“He has blinded their eyes and he hardened their heart, lest they should see with their eyes, and perceive with their heart, and would turn, and I would heal them.”
Even among the leaders, many believed in Jesus, but because of the Pharisees—who had decided to put out of the synagogue anyone who confessed Him as the Christ—they did not openly confess their faith. They loved the praise of men more than the glory of God.
After leaving the city, Jesus turned and cried out in a loud voice to the people gathered in the city and at the temple:
“He who believes in me, believes not in me, but in him who sent me. He who sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. If anyone listens to my sayings and doesn’t believe, I don’t judge him. For I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me, and doesn’t receive my sayings, has one who judges him. The word that I spoke, the same will judge him in the last day. For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak.”
To the very end, Jesus poured out all His strength to sow the seed of the gospel in people’s hearts. Thus, His final teaching before the Passover was coming to an end.
The passages from Matthew 24:2-25:46, Mark 13:2-37, Luke 21:6-36, John 12:23-50 quoted in this narrative are taken directly from the World English Bible (WEB) translation. Of the parallel passages, I have combined them into a single version that includes all the content.
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