Jesus is still in the courtroom, where another twist to truth was about to come out.  Any intention to destroy Herod's temple would have been terrorism; and that is how the false witnesses presented what Jesus had said.  But John tells us what really happened.  "The Jews then responded to him, 'What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?'  Jesus answered them, 'Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.'  They replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?' But the temple he had spoken of was his body.  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken." (John 2:18-22)

The temple, Herod’s Temple, was as much to glorify Herod and gain the people’s favour as to worship God.  But Jesus said that the religious authorities had turned the place into a den of thieves (Jeremiah 7:11; Mark 11:17).  God was being robbed of His glory (Isaiah 42:8).  But Jesus called His body a temple – a place containing the presence of God, because He is God.  He had the right to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:18).  The witnesses did not know either the purpose of God’s House nor of God's Messiah – so they assumed what was false and ignored what was true.  They had heard the words from Jesus' mouth, but not understood what He meant.  

The disciples were no better.  Despite Jesus telling them three times that He would die and be raised to life on the third day (Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33-34) it was only after the resurrection that they were able to join the dots and understand what He had meant (John 12:16).  So, why did this eyewitness account from two people (Matthew 26:60-61) of Jesus 'terrorist confession' fail to bring a conviction?  Mark says that the eye/ear witnesses all said something different!  This is as important as it is fascinating. Words are very important, but only if hearers get the right meaning.  We do not just listen to words, but we interpret them according to the context and our understanding of the speaker. Those who were determined to resist the Lordship of Jesus, would never understand Him; those who ignore the Scriptures cannot understand truth (Mark 12:24), and have no way of receiving His message.  But those who do, become children of God (John 1:12).  It is the same today!

So, keep on saying what is true about Jesus (Acts 4:20).  You may be misquoted, misunderstood, and maligned - but you are in good company with the Old Testament prophets (Matthew 5:11-12). But you must keep on saying it, because there is no other way for people to know how to be saved (Romans 10:14) ... and despite your doubts and even suffering, some will listen and bow to Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:22), even in your workplace.