This passage begins with the disciples’ comment about the magnificent structure of the Temple. And how significant a place it was! Sacrifices were made there. The Temple symbolized the people’s need for forgiveness and the Lord’s faithfulness to provide it.

"Do you see all these great buildings?" Jesus said. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down." Jesus was speaking about the whole city, which would be destroyed within that generation. In AD 70, the Roman army came to put down revolts in Palestine. Jerusalem would be destroyed. The Temple, which Jesus lovingly called "my Father’s house,’ for which he had such zeal and love, would be destroyed.

Much of this chapter foretells the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. This event was significant in redemption history. With the death of Jesus, who died for our sins, there is a change in the symbol of forgiveness and reconciliation for the people of God. No longer is the Temple with its sacrifices the symbol and place of forgiveness and reconciliation. The Temple sacrifices and all animal sacrifices from Abel’s lamb in Genesis, points to the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. They were all symbols pointing to the one sacrifice that actually atones for sin and brings us salvation.

There is also a change in the covenant people of God. In the days of the Temple, it was the Temple that reminded the people who they were as the Lord’s people. They would all come to the Temple in Jerusalem for the three main festivals every year. But after the cross, the identifier of the covenant people is not a place (the Temple) but Christ. It is union with Christ, not three times a year, but every week in worship and every day in life that reminds us that we are the Lord’s covenant people.

In light of this change, we can see why the Temple and its sacrifices would come to an end. We can also see the destruction of AD 70 as a judgment against the leadership, which rejected Jesus as the Messiah of God. Why did God wait 40 years before these words of Jesus came to pass? God is patient and gives opportunity for those in Jerusalem to come to Christ. Indeed, thousands placed their faith in the Messiah while at the Temple itself, because that is where the apostles preached the gospel. As St. Paul says, the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Greek. God’s forbearance with the city of Jerusalem was to allow for repentance. His forbearance with us is for the same reason. If you do not take the opportunity God gives for repentance then you show contempt for his kindness.

Much of Jesus’ words foretell the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. After listing the signs leading up to the Temple destruction, Jesus says, This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened (v 30). Mark, who probably wrote the gospel just a few years before the Temple’s destruction, underlined the significance of Jesus’ words for his readers by adding—let the reader understand (v 14). Those Christians in and around the city remembered Jesus’ words when they saw the Roman army approaching and fled to the hills as Jesus directed. They heard and were spared.

In this passage words seem to go beyond the destruction of AD 70 to describe the judgment that will occur at Christ’s final coming. There have been lots of speculative scenarios leading up to that great Day of the Lord. We see them in popular books and movies. Don’t bet your life and your eternity on anyone’s scenario of the end times. They are worth pondering if your pondering makes you more watchful as Jesus has commanded. These speculative scenarios are not worth breaking fellowship with other believers or splitting the church of Jesus over.

What is important is to realize that all the conditions of Jesus’ return have been fulfilled since that generation. The Second Coming is imminent—there is nothing that needs to happen before Jesus returns. It is right at the door. It could happen at any time.

What a perspective on our lives we gain when we remember that Jesus may return at any time! The small minutia of our lives, which causes such worry return to their proper place.

The Christians in the first century heard Jesus’ words and followed them. Jesus’ word to us is the same. V 36. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone. Watch!