This week’s readings are all from Mark chapter 13. Click here to see a full listing of each day’s reading and the full chapter of Mark 13. Full readings of each day’s smaller segments of the readings will be posted on this site during the week.
Today's Reading
Now as Jesus was going out of the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look at these tremendous stones and buildings!” Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another. All will be torn down!”
So while he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that all these things are about to take place?” Jesus began to say to them, “Watch out that no one misleads you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and they will mislead many. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. These things must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines. These are but the beginning of birth pains. (Mark 13.1–8 NET)
Parallel Passages
The temple would have truly been awe inspiring and the disciples response to seeing the stones is still shared by so many who go see the western/wailing wall.
The inevitable destruction of the temple was very much on the mind of Jesus and if we see Jesus' response to the disciples in the context of answering their direct question, "when will these things happen" I think we can rightly assume that what Jesus spoke toward would take place 35-40 years after his ascension.
The stones are still pretty magnificent today and there have been a few different constructions on top of the herodian temple, as you can tell in this picture. The closer to the bottom, the larger and older the stones are making them original to the first century.
@jralphsmith It's really interesting to see the stone "types" change! And always amazing to think about how they could have moved such large stones so many years ago...
So this is like a retaining wall to the large area where the temple complex was (where the Dome of the Rock is now)?
@travisbruno3 Yes. The lower level/style of stone is what remains of the Herodian retaining wall and the upper levels are the walls to the current Haram Esh-Sharif where the Dome of the Rock stands. The first-century Herodian stones have a bevel around the their edges. And the ground where people are standing in Jay's photo is actually about 30 feet above where the actual base of the retaining wall would have been.
Here are some images from the southern end of that same stretch of wall and retaining wall, with the stones that were pulled down from the Herodian buildings and walls by the Romans (click to enlarge):
@travisbruno3 Here's an example of the size of some of the Herodian stones. That's one stone where she is standing.
Behind her are the arches to the "Triple Gate" which was in the base of the retaining wall. Those entering the Temple courts would have gone in and out these gates which led up into the southern covered stoa. There are many places in the Holy Land where Jesus 'traditionally' did things (meaning 'we are not quite sure'). However, this spot and area is a location in which there is no question: Jesus stood, walked, and taught here.
@jimmy the visuals really help me to understand how shocking this would have been to the disciples to hear that these massive stones and buildings would be destroyed.