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by which their sins were visited。 Jeremiah wished that his eyes were a
fountain of tears； that he might weep day and night for the slain of the
daughter of his people； for the Lord's flock that was carried away captive。
Jeremiah 9：1； 13：17。 What； then； was the grief of Him whose prophetic glance
took in； not years； but ages！ He beheld the destroying angel with sword
uplifted against the city which had so long been Jehovah's dwelling place。
From the ridge of Olivet； the very spot afterward occupied by Titus and his
army； He looked across the valley upon the sacred courts and porticoes； and
with tear…dimmed eyes He saw； in awful perspective； the walls surrounded by
alien hosts。 He heard the tread of armies marshaling for war。 He heard the
voice of mothers and children crying for bread in the besieged city。 He saw
her holy and beautiful house； her palaces and towers； given to the flames；
and where once they stood； only a heap of smoldering ruins。
Looking down the ages； He saw the covenant people scattered in every land；
〃like wrecks on a desert shore。〃 In the temporal retribution about to fall
upon her children； He saw but the first draft from that cup of wrath which
at the final judgment she must drain to its dregs。 Divine pity； yearning
love； found utterance in the mournful words： 〃O Jerusalem； Jerusalem； thou
that killest the prophets； and stonest them which are sent unto thee； how
often would I
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have gathered thy children together； even as a hen gathereth her chickens
under her wings； and ye would not！〃 O that thou； a nation favored above
every other； hadst known the time of thy visitation； and the things that
belong unto thy peace！ I have stayed the angel of justice； I have called
thee to repentance； but in vain。 It is not merely servants； delegates； and
prophets； whom thou hast refused and rejected； but the Holy One of Israel；
thy Redeemer。 If thou art destroyed； thou alone art responsible。 〃Ye will
not come to Me； that ye might have life。〃 Matthew 23：37； John 5：40。
Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and
rebellion； and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God。 The
woes of a fallen race； pressing upon His soul； forced from His lips that
exceeding bitter cry。 He saw the record of sin traced in human misery；
tears； and blood； His heart was moved with infinite pity for the afflicted
and suffering ones of earth； He yearned to relieve them all。 But even His
hand might not turn back the tide of human woe； few would seek their only
Source of help。 He was willing to pour out His soul unto death； to bring
salvation within their reach； but few would come to Him that they might have
life。
The Majesty of heaven in tears！ the Son of the infinite God troubled in
spirit； bowed down with anguish！ The scene filled all heaven with wonder。
That scene reveals to us the exceeding sinfulness of sin； it shows how hard
a task it is； even for Infinite Power； to save the guilty from the
consequences of transgressing the law of God。 Jesus； looking down to the
last generation； saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which
caused the destruction of Jerusalem。 The great sin of the Jews was their
rejection of Christ； the great sin of the Christian world would be their
rejection of the law of God； the foundation of His government in heaven and
earth。 The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at nought。 Millions
in bondage to sin； slaves of Satan； doomed to suffer the second death； would
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refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation。 Terrible
blindness！ strange infatuation！
Two days before the Passover； when Christ had for the last time departed
from the temple； after denouncing the hypocrisy of the Jewish rulers； He
again went out with His disciples to the Mount of Olives and seated Himself
with them upon the grassy slope overlooking the city。 Once more He gazed
upon its walls； its towers； and its palaces。 Once more He beheld the temple
in its dazzling splendor； a diadem of beauty crowning the sacred mount。
A thousand years before； the psalmist had magnified God's favor to Israel in
making her holy house His dwelling place： 〃In Salem also is His tabernacle；
and His dwelling place in Zion。〃 He 〃chose the tribe of Judah； the Mount
Zion which He loved。 And He built His sanctuary like high palaces。〃 Psalms
76：2； 78：68； 69。 The first temple had been erected during the most
prosperous period of Israel's history。 Vast stores of treasure for this
purpose had been collected by King David； and the plans for its construction
were made by divine inspiration。 1 Chronicles 28：12； 19。 Solomon； the wisest
of Israel's monarchs； had completed the work。 This temple was the most
magnificent building which the world ever saw。 Yet the Lord had declared by
the prophet Haggai； concerning the second temple： 〃The glory of this latter
house shall be greater than of the former。〃 〃I will shake all nations； and
the Desire of all nations shall come： and I will fill this house with glory；
saith the Lord of hosts。〃 Haggai 2：9； 7。
After the destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar it was rebuilt about
five hundred years before the birth of Christ by a people who from a
lifelong captivity had returned to a wasted and almost deserted country。
There were then among them aged men who had seen the glory of Solomon's
temple； and who wept at the foundation of the new building； that it must be
so inferior to the former。 The feeling that prevailed is forcibly described
by the prophet： 〃Who is
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left among you that saw this house in her first glory？ and how do ye see it
now？ is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing？〃 Haggai 2：3；
Ezra 3：12。 Then was given the promise that the glory of this latter house
should be greater than that of the former。
But the second temple had not equaled the first in magnificence； nor was it
hallowed by those visible tokens of the divine presence which pertained to
the first temple。 There was no manifestation of supernatural power to mark
its dedication。 No cloud of glory was seen to fill the newly erected
sanctuary。 No fire from heaven descended to consume the sacrifice upon its
altar。 The Shekinah no longer abode between the cherubim in the most holy
place； the ark； the mercy seat； and the tables of the testimony were not to
be found therein。 No voice sounded from heaven to make known to the
inquiring priest the will of Jehovah。
For centuries the Jews had vainly endeavored to show wherein the promise of
God given by Haggai had been fulfilled； yet pride and unbelief blinded their
minds to the true meaning of the prophet's words。 The second temple was not
honored with the cloud of Jehovah's glory； but with the living presence of
One in whom dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodilywho was God Himself
manifest in the flesh。 The 〃Desire of all nations〃 had indeed come to His
temple when the Man of Nazareth taught and healed in the sacred courts。 In
the presence of Christ； and in this only； did the second temple exceed the
first in glory。 But Israel had put from her the proffered Gift of heaven。
With the humble Teacher who had that day passed out from its golden gate；
the glory had forever departed from the temple。 Already were the Saviour's
words fulfilled： 〃Your house is left unto you desolate。〃 Matthew 23：38。
The disciples had been filled with awe and wonder at Christ's prediction of
the overthrow of the temple； and they desired to understand more fully the
meaning of His words。 Wealth； labor； and architectural skill had for more
than forty years been freely expended to enhance its splendors。 Herod
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the Great had lavished upon it both Roman wealth and Jewish treasure； and
even the emperor of the world had enriched it with his gifts。 Massive blocks
of white marble； of almost fabulous size； forwarded from Rome for this
purpose； formed a part of its structure； and to these the disciples had
called the attention of their Master； saying： 〃See what manner of stones and
what buildings are here！〃