#1252. Not one stone will be left on another (7/4/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional (Posted each Monday, Wednesday, and Friday) as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series. 

From Luke 21:5-37, we see that Jesus' promises come true and so let’s choose to trust Him. 

You can listen to this devotional below.

In this section of Luke, we encounter two powerful and distinct moments: first, Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem; and second, His promise of His return in glory—to judge and renew all things. Today, we’re going to focus on the first of these: Jesus’ striking prophecy about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem

i. Jesus’ prophesied destruction

To those listening, this would have sounded outrageous. How could Jesus—if He truly spoke for God—say anything other than good and hopeful things about the temple, the very place God had established as His dwelling on earth?

But Jesus knew that something greater was at hand. His death and resurrection were ushering in a new era—the New Covenant. In this new era, everything changes:

• There is no longer a physical temple, because God now dwells in His people.

• There are no more animal sacrifices, because Jesus Himself is the once-for-all sacrifice.

• There is no longer a human priesthood in the traditional sense, because Jesus is our great High Priest and we are God’s ‘royal priesthood’. 

The tearing of the temple curtain at His death signified this dramatic shift. God’s presence would no longer be confined to a building in Jerusalem, but would now be found in every place and among every people who belong to Him. We are the temple. He is with us—always and everywhere.

ii. The signs of coming destruction

Jesus warned His disciples to be alert to the signs of God’s judgment—the coming destruction of the temple and Jerusalem:

Jesus offers a clear and sobering warning: the destruction of Jerusalem will be severe, and those who can escape it should flee rather than seek refuge in the city. This wasn’t just a spiritual metaphor—it was a very real, historical event.

In AD 70, this prophecy was fulfilled. Following growing unrest, a Jewish revolt against Roman rule began in AD 66. The tensions had been escalating for years due to oppressive taxation, Roman disrespect for Jewish religious practices, and corrupt local leadership. In response, the Roman general Titus led a massive army to besiege Jerusalem.

The city was under siege for several brutal months. Internal divisions among Jewish factions only weakened their defense. Eventually, the Romans broke through the walls, burned much of the city, and destroyed the Second Temple—originally rebuilt after the exile under Zerubbabel and later magnificently renovated by Herod the Great.

The Jewish historian Josephus, who witnessed the war, claimed that over a million Jews died during the siege (though his numbers may be exaggerated), and tens of thousands were taken as slaves. Many were forced into hard labour, sent to gladiatorial arenas, or used to build Roman monuments—including, according to some accounts, the Colosseum.

Jesus’ words were not just a prediction—they were a merciful warning. He wanted His followers to be ready, to recognise the signs, and to respond wisely when the time came.

Response

Even today, if you visit Jerusalem, you can still see the remains of the destroyed temple. But this isn’t a symbol of defeat—far from it. God is never defeated. The fall of the temple was not a failure of God’s plan but part of it. Jesus is Lord over all of history. He knew what was coming, and He used even those tragic events to bring about His greater purposes.

The same Jesus who spoke those prophetic words is still at work—then, now, and forever. He is at work in the world, and He is at work in your life.

So how should we respond? We trust Him. We trust His love. We trust His Lordship. We may not always understand what’s happening around us, but we can always trust the One who holds history—and us—in His hands.

Let’s be those who see that Jesus’ promises come true and so let’s choose to trust Him and cast off all fear.  

Community Group Notes

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News. 

2. Icebreaker

How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you? 

3. Worship together

Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.

4. Study and pray together

Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.

On Sunday, we explored Luke 21:5-37. This is quite a difficult passage. It covers three big ideas: Jesus’ prophecy regarding the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem; the signs of Jesus’ return in glory; and finally, that we are to be ready and on His mission whilst waiting. 

Discussion:

Note: This week is ‘SIV Week’ so we’ll focus on how we're seeking to bring our community to Jesus as we Serve, Invest and Invite. 

Please read Luke 21:5-37 and discuss:

• Mission inspiration from the text - What do verses 12-15 teach us about our mission, and have you had experiences that relate to this? 

• Share Stories – Have you had any recent experiences of Serving, Investing, or Inviting someone toward Jesus? (Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.)

• Practical Next Steps – Who is God putting on your heart to reach? Discuss and pray for those you regularly engage with, including any ‘people of peace’ (* See note) in your life—those open to you and the gospel.

Let’s pray together: 

• Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.

Links:

• Audio version: https://communitychurchputney.podbean.com/

• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/59qst6EonKlI0EZHLQsfBy?si=mcPUnkdZR2WDPqAiytnHAw

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/community-church-putney-sermons/id566901794

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DDzzo5gqIx6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

• YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@communitychurchSW15