Mark 13:1-4

The question that was answered Mark 13:1-4: Jesus knew that the Jews were about to kill Him. Yet they were hypocritically saying, "If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets." (Matthew 23:30) He lamented over the terrible calamities that would come upon Jerusalem. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate." (Matthew 23:37-38) As they left the Temple for the last time the disciples asked Him to look at the beautiful stones and building. (Mark 13:1) How surprised the disciples must have been when Jesus replied, "There shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." (Mark 13:2)

Jesus clearly meant that the Temple would be destroyed. Peter, James, John and Andrew asked Him privately, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?" (Mark 13:4) Jesus understood their questions to be about the Temple. He described what would happened and then said, "Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done." (Mark 13:30) The disciples were not thinking about a second coming of Christ or the end of the world when they asked their question. They were thinking about the stones and the Temple!