The National tribune., 1889-04-18
SUNDAY MEDITATION.


FoREToLD BY CHRIST.
l. Data.
! All three synoptic Gospels give account of
the prophecy of the ruin of the Jewish Temple.
! tSee st. Matt, "a: Is; St. Mark, 10: Is; st.
Luke, 21: 5-11) Do not fail to read all three
reports, studiously comparing them They
were all written in about the year 63 A. D.
those of Sts Matthew and Mark at Rome, and
that of st. Luke at Achaia Greece. We notice
% minus 20 equals 81. which is the number of
years between Christ's interview with his Dis
ciples on Mt. Olives and the records made
thereof. Jerusalem was destroyed A. d. 20, or
seven years after the accounts were written by
the Synoptists
2 When.
The interview which is our study took place
on Wednesday, March 16 A. d. 80 two days
before our SavOr's crucifixion. about forty
years before the destruction of Jerusalem. The
records were made 81 years afterwards The
scene takes us back 1850 years
s. Where
Chrstand his Disciples left Jerusalem. Jesus
never again entered the temple. We may sup
pose he was conscious he had left the building
never 10 return. He would naturally pause
and gaze back at it taking a final leave East
OF Jerusalem is Mt. Olives. The temple was on
the eastern side of Jerusalem, its walls forming
part of the wall on that side. The Mt Olives
Between it and Jerusalem runs the brook Ked-
ron through the Valley of Jehoshaphat The
mount is about one mile long and 1865 feet
above the sea- It's own hight is about 700 feet
1T IS more than 100 feet above Mt Zion. 1t is
over go feet higher than the area Of the temple
or the top of Mount Moriah. The Arabs call it
Je5ei ct INr. Its name, Olives is supposed to
have been given it on account of the great prod
uct 1t bore of olive trees. 1t was down the
western declivity of that hill that Christ made
ms grand triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Over it he with his Disciples passed back and
forth between the capital and Bethany. Later
1t was the scene of the Ascension of our Savior
The summit oyerlooks the entire city, and
specially the temple. At the spot of the Ascen-
sion is Christian church building, known as
the Church of the Ascension. Some time ago
correspondent had the following:
The tower which is being erected by the
Russians on the highest point of the Mount of
Ollves IS already several stories high, but one
more is to be added. The object is to make it
so high that both the Mediterranean and Dead
Sea may be seen from the top. number of
bells viii be placed in the tower
1.-The summit is about 4 1000 feet above the Dead
Sea-
Rev. D. A. Randall wrote so, OIivet STEP
ping stone from which the victorious Son of
God went back to glory lifting thy majestic
form above all the mountains around jerusalem
ALL"
What grand spot that was at which Jesus
and his Disciples paused to gaze once moro at
the sacred city and the venerable sanctuary
How full of inspiration the whole scene.
4. Speaker.
We would think from the accounts that our
Savior became deep in thought Generally he
had stopped for little to take in the beauti-
full sight of Jerusalem and the temple before
passing over the summit of Mt. Olives, cutting
OF such vision. Bat, deep in thought, he was
moving or when one of his Disciples arrested
his atteation, and babe him see the structures
so sacred and so venerable. Then follow cues
tons and answers. Christ knew he would
never enter the temple again. He know he
was bound straight for the Trial Condemna-
ton, Cross, Death.
s. Hearers
We have reason to believe the Twelve accom-
panied Christ. st. Matthew says "his Disci-
pies came to him for to show him the build
ings" st. Mark states that one of his Disci-
pies saith unto him." st. Luke writes Some
spake." Evidently one, possibly ST. Peter. babe
Christ not to miss another sight of the grand
scene. He was simply spokesman for the rest.
Further on, verse 5, st. Mark names SITS. Peter,
James, John and Andrew. The interview was
not shared by other than the Twelve.
6. The Occasion.
In st. Matt, %: So Christ is represented say
ing to Jerusalem personiied, Your house is
left unto you deSolate" The Jews understood
by the house the temple. 1t was plain the
Jewish system was worn out and was to be dis
placed By Christianity. The temple was the
unifying, rallying point of interest TO the He
brew race and its destruction would tend to
wean the Jews from their native land. But
the Disciples could not imagine the idea of the
runation of the sacred temple. Practically
how, & - L
the building is See what acres of land it COW
ers. And how beautiful it is. What amazing
amounts of money and valuable treasures it /
has cost. 1t is too beautiful, venerable, strong
sacred, to suffer any harm"
T. Chrisfs Question
"See We not all these things?" tSt. Matt
pa 81 Curiously the account by st. Mark
omits the negative from this question. We get
the connection thus, Christ practically saving:
" 1t is true l have declared the temple shall be
destroyed, but it still exists. Look again, and !
you shall see it yet stands. See We not all these
things? Yes, indeed. The ruination is not to
be Immediate, but do not imagine my prophesy |
is futile. The time is coming when the sane |
tuary shall be in ruins" That was a bold pre- |
diction, for everything seemed against such |
downfall The structure had endured for CEN |
turtles. 1t was built of the frmest and most !
durable materials. One would think it could |
never become wrecked. 1t was so dear to the |
jews we would think they would prefer its !
temporary PROCLAMATION rather than its destruc- |
ton. Then the Romans as a rule preferred not !
to ruin valuable structures, but rather to util-
ize them. And yet, Christ risked prophecy |
temple and city to complete over |
THROW. We have an instance of fOre-knoYl- |
edge ranking the author with Deity. No one /
could forecast events with any such accuracy
as TO warrant words so peculiar as those of |
Christ as TO the certainty of the ruination of |
the Jewish capital, including the temple.
s. The Destruction.
The ruin of Jerusalem was fearful and com. |
plete. Josephus gives an account of the event |
in details. He was Jew, but soon |
became prisoner in the hands of the Romans. |
He was bitter opponent of Christianity, and |
too prejudiced to grant any concessions which /
might tend to make credence in the new faith |
too easy. The account he gives of the destruc.
ton of the city of Jerusalem, and particularly
of the temple, is wonderfully minute. The |
on the words of Christ uttered to I
his Disciples on Mt Olives. Christ said,
" There shall not be left here one stone upon
another that shall not be thrown down"
Verify it turned out so to be, and Josephus
himself is forced to give the world all the con.
vincing particulars. What is curious is that
the temple was destroyed, Notwithstanding the
preference of Cesar and the efforts of the off.
GERS under Titus to save it. In utter despera-
ton the jews set on fire the porticoes Enraged
against the Jews, and without an order. Ro-
man soldier tossed into the building flaming
tirebrand And though Titus issued commands
for the eXtinguishment of the confagration, SO
great was the excitement and so far did q sort