They went to Jesus with a deference born of the fear that still hung over them; for they concluded that he must be a prophet sent of God to restore the sanctity of the temple. They asked him, “What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?” Jesus had already given them the strongest proof of his divine commission. He knew that no evidence he could present to them would convince them that he was the Messiah if his act of cleansing the temple had failed to do so. Therefore he answered their challenge with these words, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” They supposed he referred to the temple of Jerusalem, and were astounded at his apparent presumption. Their unbelieving minds were unable to discern that he referred to his own body, the earthly temple of the Son of God. With indignation they answered, “Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?” {2SP 121.3}

De gik til Jesus med en vis ærbødighed på grund af den frygt, som endnu var tilbage hos dem; thi de sluttede at han måtte være en profet, som var sendt fra Gud for at genoprette templets hellighed. De spurgte ham: "Hvad viser du os for et tegn, når du gør dette?" Jesus havde allerede givet dem det kraftigste bevis på sin guddommelige sendelse. (122) Han vidste, at intet tegn, som han kunne give dem, kunne overbevise dem om, at han var Messias, dersom ikke det, at han havde renset templet, kunne gøre det. Derfor svarede han således: "Nedbryder dette tempel, og i tre dage vil jeg oprejse det." De antog, at han hentydede til Jerusalems tempel og blev forbavsede over hans tilsyneladende frækhed. Deres vantro sind var ikke i stand til at fatte, at han hentydede til sit eget legeme, Guds Søns jordiske tempel. De svarede med vrede: "På dette tempel er bygget seksogfyrre år, og du vil oprejse det på tre dage!"