It’s important to observe that Jesus visited Herod’s Temple frequently and taught there. The Saviour also performed many miracles in the sanctuary. Because he witnessed proceedings contrary to the divine revelation, He was forced to assert His authority to cleanse the temple on two separate occasions. The Son of The Highest beheld the misrepresentation of God’s Truth, the exploitation of the ignorant, and the oppression of the poor. All for the sake of money and profit. Because of His divine nature, what He did, He was compelled to do. “With searching glance, Christ takes in the scene before Him as He stands upon the steps of the temple court. With prophetic eye He looks into futurity, and sees not only years, but centuries and ages. He sees how priests and rulers will turn the needy from their right, and forbid that the gospel shall be preached to the poor. He sees how the love of God will be concealed from sinners, and men will make merchandise of His grace. As He beholds the scene, indignation, authority, and power are expressed in His countenance…Slowly descending the steps, and raising the scourge of cords gathered up on entering the enclosure, He bids the bargaining company depart from the precincts of the temple. With a zeal and severity He has never before manifested, He overthrows the tables of the money changers. None presume to question His authority. None dare stop to gather up their ill-gotten gain… In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was announcing His mission as the Messiah, and entering upon His work. That temple, erected for the abode of the divine Presence, was designed to be an object lesson for Israel and for the world.” The Desire Of Ages, p. 157-158, by Ellen G. White.
The Jews took great pride in their temple; the apostles even pointed Jesus’s attention to the sculpted and marbled pillars that decorated the site where Herod’s temple was erected. However, the Saviour of the world was always a futurist and realist. Since the Jews were destined to reject Him and the good news of salvation for the world. Their temple was all about Jesus. Even though it was difficult for them to understand that basic reality. Because of all that Judaism represented and its bitter opposition to the gospel, their temple was doomed to destruction.
“Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!‘And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.'” Mark 13:1-2 (NKJV).
However, it wasn’t only the temple that would be consigned to the pages of history. It was also Jerusalem and the Jewish people. They were also doomed as it were to persecution, destruction, and near annihilation. Because they had rejected and murdered The Saviour of the world. “Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.'” Luke 19:31-44 (NKJV).
At that time, the Romans were only colonists. The Jews hated them and wanted to be rid of them. Not realizing that their Roman masters were in Judea by divine decree. Israel had abandoned God, and consequently, they were placed beneath the Roman yoke just like all the other pagan nations around them. The Babylonians, Medo Persians, and Grecians came and went. Judea had drunk and drained the cup of foreign occupation to the dregs. Now, they were weary of their colonizers. Not even the disciples fully understood the true nature of Jesus’ mission. Insomuch that even Peter took Him aside and attempted to brainwash Him. When Jesus tried to explain to them that His purpose on earth was to suffer and die.
“From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, ‘Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!’ But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.'” Matthew 16:21-23 (NKJV).
Contrary to Peter’s beliefs and the thinking of all Jews, including Jesus’ own disciples. The real problem was not the foreign colonizers. The real problem was sin. The Son of God had to come to this world to die in man’s place. To pay the full price for Adam’s transgression to redeem the race from total destruction, as God’s sacred law demanded. The Jews, contrary to popular thinking, didn’t need a revolution such as was attempted by Barabbas. They needed repentance.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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