Jesus loved Jerusalem.
When he uttered these words, he was weeping.

No doubt his hearers didn't take him seriously when he said the great temple in Jerusalem, Herod's Temple, would someday be torn down. On that bright and warm day in early April, it must have seemed impossible that anyone could or would destroy the temple.

Who would do such a thing?

The answer would come in 70 AD when the Roman army captured Jerusalem and destroyed the temple. The Romans evidently took their work seriously because when they were done, there was no temple. It was gone, destroyed, burned down, all the way to the massive foundation stones.

It happened because Israel "did not recognize the time of God's coming to you." Another term for this is the "Day of Visitation," a moment in history when God comes in blessing and power. When Jesus came, God was "visiting" his people. He showed himself in word and in deed to be mighty Son of God from heaven, the long-awaited Messiah. But his own people would not listen to him.

They could have known. They should have known.

There is a message for us for those with ears to hear.

If we do not respond to God's call, we will one day face his judgment.
If we brush aside his blessings, we will answer for it eventually.
If we think we have forever to say yes to Jesus, we will one day be rudely surprised.

The jumbled pile of rocks sends a message to those who read these words.

Don't let this happen to you.