The Other Temple

"His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me. At this the Jews answered and said to him, "What sign can you show us for doing this?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews said, "This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" But he was speaking about the temple of his body. Therefore, when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they came to believe the Scripture and the word Jesus had spoken. " - John 2:17-22

46 years is a long time to do anything - and for our generation, few can think of something that would take 46 years to make. And while all things are possible through God, Jesus would have known that, had he meant the physical temple, no one would have believed him. Even so, his meaning was lost on the people of his time. That is until he delivered on the promised sign, and was risen up 3 days after his death.

But that's just how Jesus tends to roll during his life - dropping hints on his not-so-distant future - tidbits that were lost on the people of his time (including his followers), but were so evidently clear after his life on earth was over. And I have to believe that it was as much for the people of his day as it is for the people of today. We're unlucky that we didn't get to know Jesus while he was on earth, but are lucky that, when we read these passages, we know the whole story. We know how it ends, and we can understand the things he was saying in a way the people of his time couldn't.

It's just another example of how the life of Jesus was as relevant then as it is now.