Mark 13:1–2 (ESV)
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
13
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” 2 And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon
another that will not be thrown down.”
This event did happen, where the “wonderful buildings” were torn down and destroyed. It is well documented outside of the Bible. The
destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple happened in AD 70 by the Romans. In literature outside of the Bible, Josephus writes in The Seige of Jerusalem, AD 70:
“Throughout the city people were
dying of hunger in large numbers, and enduring unspeakable sufferings. In every house the merest hint of food sparked violence, and close relatives fell to blows, snatching from one another the pitiful supports of life. No respect was paid even to the dying;
the ruffians [anti-Roman zealots] searched them, in case they were concealing food somewhere in their clothes, or just pretending to be near death. Gaping with hunger, like mad dogs, lawless gangs went staggering and reeling through the streets, battering
upon the doors like drunkards, and so bewildered that they broke into the same house two or three times in an hour. Need drove the starving to gnaw at anything. Refuse which even animals would reject was collected and turned into food. In the end they were
eating belts and shoes, and the leather stripped off their shields. Tufts of withered grass were devoured, and sold in little bundles for four drachmas.”
This was the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy
and that of Daniel’s. The living condition of the survivors does not sound good at all.
I pray: O Lord, I pray in the Lord’s Prayer “Give us this day our daily bread.”
Help me to always count on your provisions in good times and bad. In bad times... help me to be thankful. Amen.