BUILDING THAT IS INDESTRUCTIBLE

JOHN 2:19-25

Destructible buildings: Seven Wonders of the Ancient World (compiled by ancient Greek historians to the most magnificent structures known to the ancient Greek world; the pyramids alone survive)

•         The Pyramids of Egypt. Three pyramids outside modern Cairo. Largest pyramid, built by Khufu (Cheops), a king of the fourth dynasty; an original estimated height of 482 ft (now approximately 450 ft). Base with sides 755 ft long. Contains 2,300,000 blocks; the average weight of each is 2.5 tons. Estimated date of completion is 2680 B.C.

•         The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Built by Nebuchadnezzar around 600 B.C. to please queen, Amuhia. Gardens laid out on a vaulted building, with provisions for raising water. The terraces said to rise from 75 to 300 ft.

•         The Statue of Zeus (Jupiter) at Olympia. Made of gold and ivory by the Greek sculptor Phidias (5th century B.C.). Reputed to be 40 ft high, no trace.

•         The Temple of Artemis (Diana). Begun about 350 B.C., in honor of a non-Hellenic goddess who later became identified with the Greek goddess of the same name. The temple, with Ionic columns 60 ft high, destroyed by invading Goths in A.D. 262.

•         The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus. Built by Queen Artemisia in memory of husband, King Mausolus of Caria in Asia Minor, who died in 353 B.C. Some remains of the structure in the British Museum.

•         The Colossus at Rhodes. Statue of Helios (Apollo), about 105 ft high. The work of the sculptor Chares, who reputedly labored for 12 years before completing it in 280 B.C., destroyed during an earthquake in 224 B.C.

•         The Pharos (Lighthouse) of Alexandria. Built by Sostratus of Cnidus during the 3rd century B.C. on the island of Pharos off the coast of Egypt. Destroyed by an earthquake in the 13th century.

Destructible landmarks

•         Warsaw Radio Skyscraper completed in 1974, collapsed on August 8, 1991 (2121 ft.)

•         World Trade Center New York City, New York, completed in 1972, Destroyed in Terrorist Attack in 2001 (1368 ft.)

  I. Building without shekinah (2:20)

      A. Solomon’s temple

•         David received the vision to build and collect the materials, but God did not allow David to build it (2 Sam. 7:5).

•         Solomon began the temple in the fourth year of his reign, B.C. 1012, and completed it in seven years, B.C. 1005 (183,000 Jews and strangers employed to build it).

•         The whole area enclosed by the outer walls formed a square of about 600 feet.

•         Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the Temple in B.C. 586.

      B. Zerubbabel’s temple

•         Zerubbabel built this temple after the return from the captivity (B.C. 520).

•         The returning exiles build a temple larger that Solomon’s but with less splendor (Ezra 6:3).

•         Ezra 3:12 [ESV]. But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,

•         Hag. 2:3 [ESV]. Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

      C. Herod’s temple (ruled 37 B.C.-A.D. 4)

•         Antony, Octavian, and the Roman Senate designated Herod as King of the Jews in 40 B.C., though he had to win the office militarily from the Parthians.

•         Herod returned and captured Jerusalem in 37 B.C. killing Antigonus.

•         Jews despised Herod, a half-Jew (father an Edomite and mother an Arabian).

•         Augustus Caesar (7 B.C.) said, “It is better to be Herod’s pig than his son.”

•         In Jerusalem Herod built great towers, including Antonia which survived even the destruction in 70 A.D.

•         Herod built the stronghold of Masada west of the Dead Sea.

•         Herod strengthened the wall about Jerusalem.

•         He restored Strato's Tower and renamed it Caesarea.

•         Construction of the temple began in 20 B.C. and ended in A.D. 63 (Wailing Wall still standing).

•         Herod began the restoration of the temple to gain the favor of the Jews.

•         Herod collected the materials for two years and built a magnificent structure.

•         The work did not end until A. D. 64 under Herod Agrippa II.

•         Herod built a whole area four to five times greater than the previous temple including columns, courts, porches, and gates.

•         The Romans under Titus destroyed the temple, Friday, August 9, A.D. 70.

      Herod’s temple did not contain the Ark of the Covenant and the manifestation of God’s glory. The temple lacked the Urim and the Thummim (Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65) which shone in splendor when Israel sought the Lord’s will before battle. The shekinah glory cloud evident on Mount Sinai (Ex. 24:9) and in the Holy of Holies departed when the Babylonians destroyed Solomon’s temple. The glory of God was absent from the temples of Zerbbabel and Herod.

Mk. 13:1-2. And as he went out of the temple (two days before the Passover and His arrest), one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner (Mt.24:3; Mk. 13:1-33-35; Lk. 12:36, 17:20; 2 Pet. 3:11; 1 Jn. 3:1; of what sort or quality; Mt. 24:1–point out the buildings) of stones (some 40' long by 12' high by 18' wide; Lk. 21:5–adorned with noble stones) and what buildings [are here]!

 2. And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest (Lk.21:6--view attentively, consider, discern ) thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down (Mt. 26:61, 27:40; Mk. 14:58, 15:29; Acts 6:14; destroy, demolish; A. D. 70 by Titus after starving citizens and countrymen who fled there during a 134 day siege, burning the city and temple, digging up the foundations of the city [Jewish Wars, V, xiii, 7]).

 II. Body without sin (2:19, 21)

      A. Resident (holy temple)

Jn. 1:14 [HCSB]. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and Only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

      B. Rent

Mk. 15:29-30. And they that passed by (Mk. 11:20) railed (Mk. 3:28-29; Lk. 23:39; Acts 18:6; Rom. 3:8; 1 Cor. 4:13; 1 Pet. 4:4-14; Rev. 13:6, 16:9) on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest (Mk. 13:2, 14:58; Acts 6:14) the temple, and buildest (Mk. 14:58; Jn. 2:20; Acts 4:11; 1 Pet. 2:7) [it] in three days (Gen. 22:4, 40:13; Ex. 3:18, 10:22, 15:22, 19:11-16; Jos. 1:11, 2:16; Est. 4:16; Hos. 6:2; Jon. 1:17; Mt. 12:40; Mk. 8:2-31, 9:31, 10:34, 14:58, 15:29; Lk. 2:46, 13:32, 24:7-46; Jn. 2:1-19; Acts 9:9, 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4; Rev. 11:11),

 30. Save thyself (Mt. 8:25, 14:30; Lk. 23:35-37-39; Jn. 12:27), and come down from the cross.

      Jesus’ body endured each kind of wound known to man.

•         Puncture (hands and feet)

•         Abrasion (brow)

•         Incision (side)

•         Laceration (back)

1 Pet. 2:24. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

      C. Risen

          1. Third (number of the Trinity, number of salvation; Gen. 22:4; Ex. 3:18, 19:11-16; Jos. 1:11; Ezra 8:32; Neh. 2:11; Jon. 1:17; Hos. 6:2; Mt. 16:21, 17:23, 20:19, 27:64; Lk. 13:32, 24:7-21, 24:46; Acts 9:9, 10:40; 1 Cor. 15:4) day

Mt. 12:40. For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Lk. 13:32. And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be perfected.

Lk. 24:7. Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

Lk. 24:21. But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Lk. 24:46. And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

Acts 10:40. Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

1 Cor. 15:4. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

          2. Truthfully

Rom. 4:25. Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

      If Christ is not risen:

•         Gospel is worthless (1 Cor. 15:14).

•         Salvation is hopeless (1 Cor. 15:14).

•         Christianity is truthless (1 Cor. 15:15).

•         Believing is pointless (1 Cor. 15:17).

•         Sin is timeless (1 Cor. 15:17).

•         Death is endless (1 Cor. 15:18).

•         Life is meaningless (1 Cor. 15:19).

      Robertson and Plummer wrote, "In short, the resurrection of Christ is not an isolated fact or doctrine which can be accepted or rejected independently of other truths: it is the very center of the gospel."

2 Tim. 2:18 [ESV]. who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.

          3. Triumphantly

Eph. 1:20. Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places],

      Jesus died like no other–He released His own spirit in death (Gen. 2:7; Lk. 23:46). Death, the separation of the spirit from the body (Jas. 2:26), did not conquer Jesus.

      As planned, the Spirit raised Jesus on the third day (Rom. 8:11). Unlike Lazarus (Jn. 11:39), the body of Jesus did not decay (Acts 2:27). The body of Jesus without sin could not stay dead (Rom. 1:4). Jesus laid down His life and took it again. The body of Jesus did not need burial spices in the tomb (Mt. 26:12).

      Dr. M. R. De Hann explained, “Sin made human blood corruptible. Soon after death, death sets in, and it begins in the blood.”

“Though He was dead three days and three nights, His body did not corrupt.”

III. Belief without salvation (2:22-25)

Jn. 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

      A. Saving faith in Scripture (remember–Lk. 24:6-8; Jn. 12:16)

Rom. 4:3. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Eph. 1:13. In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

      B. Synthetic faith in signs

[Robertson]. But Jesus himself kept on refusing (negative imperfect) to trust himself to them.

[GW]. Jesus, however, was wary of these believers. He understood people

[HCSB]. Jesus, however, would not entrust Himself to them, since He knew them all

[MSG]. But Jesus didn't entrust his life to them. He knew them inside and out, knew how untrustworthy they were.

[WNT]. But for His part, Jesus did not trust Himself to them, because He knew them all,

Jn. 12:37. But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him:

      Knowing the hearts of men (Nicodemus–Jn. 3:1), Jesus did not trust those who followed the miracles. Jesus demanded discipleship.

2 Tim. 2:11 [ESV]. The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

      In the book Peace With God Billy Graham stated, “Even if you have an intellectual acceptance of Christ, and an emotional experience–that still is not enough. There must be the conversion of the will! There must be that determination to obey and follow Christ.”

Is. 29:13 [CEV]. The Lord has said: "These people praise me with their words, but they never really think about me. They worship me by repeating rules made up by humans.

Lk. 6:46 [GW]. Why do you call me Lord but don't do what I tell you?

      Jesus did not want disciples who just believed in miracles but did not believe in the Man, Christ Jesus.

      R. A. Torrey recounted, “A brilliant lawyer in New York City some time ago spoke to a prominent minister of that city asking him if he really believed that Christ rose from the dead. The minister replied that he did, and asked the privilege of presenting the proof to the lawyer. The lawyer took the material offered in proof away and studied it. He returned to see the minister, and said, ‘I am convinced that Jesus really did rise from the dead. But,’ he then added, ‘I am no nearer being a Christian than I was before. I thought that the difficulty was in my head. I find that it is really with my heart.’”