Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 2:20

"The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?" — John 2:20 (ASV)

The Jews’ demand for a sign is quite in agreement with their general attitude toward Jesus during his lifetime (16:1; Mark 8:11). On this particular occasion, Jesus answered enigmatically, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it in three days.” His critics assumed that he was speaking of Herod’s temple, which had been in process of construction for fortysix years and was still incomplete. Jesus, says the author, really meant the temple of his body, which he would raise up in three days’ time.