The Jews mock Jesus as if He were an impotent, ruined temple. They should have known better.
When Solomon built the temple, he prayed that Yahweh would hear prayers directed toward that place. Even when Israel went into exile, Solomon hoped, Yahweh would still hear the prayers of the people directed toward the temple (1 Kings 8).
Israel finally did go into exile, and left behind the dusty ruins of Solomon’s temple, and for seventy years they prayed toward the temple, toward the ruins of the temple, hoping that Yahweh would hear and restore them. The temple did not save itself, but it did save them: For seventy years, they turned to the temple ruins, prayed for restoration, and were restored.
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