Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ “Yet even then their testimony did not agree. (Mark 14:58–59, NIV)
During Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, many witnesses testified against him, but as is always the case, evil can never agree within itself, and the witnesses all contradicted each other.
Eventually, his enemies brought out their key accusation against Jesus.
It is very significant that the most common accusation brought against Jesus in the gospels is that he had said that he would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. He was also mocked with this at the cross.
According to the gospel of John, chapter two, this is based on Christ’s first statement of his public ministry. And the people who heard it never forgot it.
Why was this important? Because the evidence from the Bible and from history tells us that the Jews were expecting to identify the Messiah when he came because he would cleanse and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. And this is what Jesus had claimed that he would do. So, the key accusation made against Jesus was that he was a false Messiah.
Notice also the lie in the accusation. Jesus never said that he would destroy the temple. Jesus had only said that he would rebuild it in three days.
This idea of the “three days” went on to become one of the most important motifs of the Gospel in the New Testament, for on the third day Jesus rose from the dead. The very thing for which the Jews apparently condemned Jesus was turned into a key sign of his victory.
– Eliezer Gonzalez
Reflection: Can you think of an example in your own life in which God has taken one of your apparent weaknesses and turned into a wonderful strength?
Article supplied with thanks to Dr Eliezer Gonzalez.
About the Author: Dr Eli Gonzalez is the Senior Pastor of Good News Unlimited and the presenter of the Unlimited radio spots, and The Big Question. Sign up to his free online course called Becoming a Follower of Jesus to learn about Jesus and His message.
Feature image: Photo by Thanti Riess on Unsplash