Dots N Space: Ancient Jerusalem Main Street at the Temple Mount

Mark 11:15

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

John 2:15

So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

When the guide told us that we were standing on the "Once Upon A Time ..." main street of Jerusalem, it was really hard to believe that in the midst of all these ruins, this place was once filled with activities and noise of people moving about their daily business of buying and selling very much like our wet market in KL.

And when the guide told us that one of the 4 arches found at the side could have been the shop of the Money changers that Jesus had their tables overturned, I could not picture the scene at all in my mind. From what I have seen in movies before, the tables that Jesus overturned was more like the tables of our Pasar Malam traders. Here, I am looking at the possibility of the Money changers' tables being in one of these "shops".

As I stood in the midst of all the ruins around me, I can't help feeling a tinge of sadness that nothing that was once so beautiful and majestic is left standing for us to admire today. Why didn't God allow His beautiful Temple to be preserved? It would be a fantastic testimony to His power and greatness.

As I stood there, I actually "questioned" the wisdom of God. If the Temple was still standing today, I would be so proud to associate myself with it's grandeur and magnificence. Now all I have are pictures of a pile of stones that is not even nice or valuable, to go back with. How can I declare the glory of God with these photos?

But at the end of our guide's briefing, he said, "This is exactly as Yeshua had said ..." Now who can question what Jesus has already said will happen? My apologies Jesus. I shall not question your wisdom. Jesus had already said that this would happen and it is recorded in the Bible.

The Destruction of the Temple and Signs of the End Times

Mark 13

As Jesus was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!”

2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”

Matthew 24

Jesus left the temple and was walking away when his disciples came up to him to call his attention to its buildings. 2 “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.”