Saint Mark - Chapter 13
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| What manner of stones and what buildings are here... J-J Tissot |
And as he was going out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him: Master, behold what manner of stones and what buildings are here.
[2] Et respondens Jesus, ait illi : Vides has omnes magnas aedificationes? Non relinquetur lapis super lapidem, qui non destruatur.
And Jesus answering, said to him: Seest thou all these great buildings? There shall not be left a stone upon a stone, that shall not be thrown down.
The group of Jesus and his disciples are leaving the Temple by the new gateway built by Herod the Great. It was the one which led to the Valley of Jehosaphat and to Bethany, whither Jesus was bound. It was low down in comparison with the platform of the Court of the Gentiles, to which a flight of steps led up and it opened on to a mass of houses by the work-people employed at the Temple. It was from this gateway that the High Priest and his assistants issued on their way to the Mount of Olives to burn the red heifer. In my picture can be seen the northern side of the Temple buildings and the Chel, where can also be made out the pavilion or watch-tower occupied by Levites, this part of the Temple being but little frequented. On the right a glimpse is obtained of the northern portico, adjoining which are the outbuildings of the Antonia Citadel. It shows the background beyond the watch-tower of the Levites, and, outflanking the Temple itself, for it is outside the sacred precincts, is the building known as El-Moked, already described. Quite on the right can be seen the entrance to the buildings set apart for the attendants in charge of the animals for sacrifice, who from it could easily reach the Sheep-pool.
There was a striking peculiarity us about the departure of Jesus from the Temple on this occasion, for he was leaving it never to return. It was the evening of Holy Tuesday, and on the Wednesday His death was to be decided on. Hence the terrible prophecy uttered by him which contrasts so ominously with a naive admiration of His disciples and assumes the character of a malediction. "See what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" Said the twelve. And truly from this point of view the Temple walls did present a most imposing appearance, for Josephus asserts that most of the blocks which had been used in their construction measured 25 cubits in length by 12 in width and 8 in height.
From The Life Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by J-J Tissot
The group of Jesus and his disciples are leaving the Temple by the new gateway built by Herod the Great. It was the one which led to the Valley of Jehosaphat and to Bethany, whither Jesus was bound. It was low down in comparison with the platform of the Court of the Gentiles, to which a flight of steps led up and it opened on to a mass of houses by the work-people employed at the Temple. It was from this gateway that the High Priest and his assistants issued on their way to the Mount of Olives to burn the red heifer. In my picture can be seen the northern side of the Temple buildings and the Chel, where can also be made out the pavilion or watch-tower occupied by Levites, this part of the Temple being but little frequented. On the right a glimpse is obtained of the northern portico, adjoining which are the outbuildings of the Antonia Citadel. It shows the background beyond the watch-tower of the Levites, and, outflanking the Temple itself, for it is outside the sacred precincts, is the building known as El-Moked, already described. Quite on the right can be seen the entrance to the buildings set apart for the attendants in charge of the animals for sacrifice, who from it could easily reach the Sheep-pool.
There was a striking peculiarity us about the departure of Jesus from the Temple on this occasion, for he was leaving it never to return. It was the evening of Holy Tuesday, and on the Wednesday His death was to be decided on. Hence the terrible prophecy uttered by him which contrasts so ominously with a naive admiration of His disciples and assumes the character of a malediction. "See what manner of stones and what buildings are here!" Said the twelve. And truly from this point of view the Temple walls did present a most imposing appearance, for Josephus asserts that most of the blocks which had been used in their construction measured 25 cubits in length by 12 in width and 8 in height.
From The Life Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by J-J Tissot
Totus tuus ego sum
Et omnia mea tua sunt;
Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam
Ad Jesum per Mariam
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