I’m not good at judging distance. I regularly underestimate how far away something is. Actually, now that I think about it, I underestimate many things - money, time. I usually round down when sharing how much something costs with Dale and I always think I have time to get one more thing done in my day.
Several years ago, three dear friends came to visit me in Washington, DC. We hadn’t been living there long and had a steady stream of visitors come to our nation’s capital. I absolutely loved playing tour guide, curating their visit to make sure they saw everything important to them. This tour was no different and I had a long list of “must see” monuments and museums that ended with a Capitol tour. We had just finished taking the elevator up to the top of the Washington monument and were heading towards the Capitol. We could clearly see the beautiful building perched on top of a grassy knoll at the end of the National Mall. One of my friends, concerned about possibly being late for our Capitol tour said, “That looks far. How long will it take for us to walk there?” I confidently stated, “Fifteen minutes, tops.” Famous last words.
We began walking at a regular pace at first, and while the end was definitely in sight, it didn’t seem like we were getting any closer to the Capitol. I looked down at my watch to discover that ten minutes had quickly passed and we still had a long way to go. I mentioned that we needed to move faster if we were going to make our tour, but honestly didn’t know if we’d make it. Anxiety was building within me, not only because we were seemingly inching along at a snail’s pace to our goal, but because I had led my friends into this mess! By the time we finally reached the tour line, behind the Capitol, we were sweating profusely and some even had blisters on our feet. The end was in sight, but it took much longer and was more painful than I could ever have imagined. Needless to say, those friends do not let me lead our annual trips anymore!!
In today’s reading from Luke, Jesus is taking every opportunity He is afforded during this last week leading up to His death to prepare His students for what is coming. The end is in sight, but it will come in phases and take longer to get there than any of them realize!
Read Luke 21:5-38
During that final week in Jerusalem, Jesus fell into a natural rhythm of teaching in the temple during the day, then retreating to the Mount of Olives in the evenings to rest. This quickly became known to the pilgrims in the city for Passover and the people would come early to the temple to get a good seat and hear Rabbi Jesus.
Warnings - of the End of the Temple, Jerusalem and Earth as We Know It!
In verses 5-24, Luke documents Jesus’ warnings concerning the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem. Some of the people with Jesus were admiring the beauty of the temple, and no doubt, it was spectacular. More than twice the size of the Acropolis in Athens, Herod the Great’s Temple Mount exceeded that of most of the seven wonders of the world in size and beauty. Yet Jesus proclaimed that there would come a day when the temple would be destroyed. How could this be? And when would it happen?
Jesus goes on to explain that the time for these things is known only to God. There would be false teachers and messiahs that will come and tempt them to follow, claiming, “I am he,” and, “The time is near.” (v 8) but they should not listen. In fact, they should not expect that this waiting will be easy. Nations and kingdoms will oppose one another and those who follow Jesus will be persecuted in horrific ways. They will be kicked out of their synagogues, brought before kings and governors (much like what is about to happen to Jesus) and even disowned or betrayed by their own family members. “You will be hated by everyone because of my name,but not a hair of your head will be lost.By your endurance, gain your lives.” (vv 17-19) While Jesus does predict that some disciples will be killed because of their faith, He assures that God’s people will suffer no eternal spiritual harm, but actually gain their lives by enduring these coming trials.
Next Jesus moves to the destruction of Jerusalem and predicts accurately what will happen in 70 AD when Roman forces lay siege to Jerusalem and destroy it utterly. “They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (v 24) Jesus uses this atrocity as a pattern or a typological example that points to the ultimate destruction that will come at the end of the age when Christ returns.
In his 75 AD book, The Wars of the Jews, Jewish historian Flavius Josephus confirme all that Jesus foretold recounting “how Jerusalem and the Temple were beseiged, plundered, and utterly destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD, and how the people endured famine, pestilence, slaughter, torture, slavery, dispersion, and exile. Written for his patron, the Roman Emperor Vespasian, Josephus was commissioned to write this history in order to exonerate the Romans for having wrought such calamity and affliction on a holy temple, a holy city, and a holy people.” (from Book IV)
Having warned of the approaching destruction of the temple and Jerusalem, Jesus now turns to the more distant future and shares of his second coming. These events will not happen simultaneously, but in order. There will be geological and astronomical events that cause worldwide fear and panic. We will wonder if the earth is going to cease to exist. “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.” (vv 27-28) Redemption of our broken bodies; redemption of our broken world!
Be on the Lookout!
Jesus lastly uses the image of a tree to warn His followers to pay attention to the signs that the kingdom of God is near. Just as we know that summer is approaching because the trees produce pollen, then flowers and leaves, long before they produce harvestable fruit, we must listen to Jesus’ words - all of them - and pay close attention to how they are coming to pass. Therefore, we should be on alert and not drowsy from worries or carousing, because while His return will seem like forever in coming, all of a sudden He will appear and “it will come on all who live on the face of the whole earth.” Jesus’ first coming was nondescript; only a select few who were looking for Him knew of His birth. When He comes a second time, there will be no mistaking - the end is in sight!
Big Picture Question for Today:
* Reading through some of Jewish historian Josephus' work, we know that everything Jesus foresaw regarding the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem came to pass. While Jesus’ second coming is in sight, we have no idea how long it will take for Him to get here, but when He does, it will be obvious. How are you preparing yourself for His return?
Pray Psalm 46, a Song of the sons of Korah:
God is our refuge and strength,a helper who is always foundin times of trouble.
Therefore we will not be afraid,though the earth tremblesand the mountains toppleinto the depths of the seas,
though its water roars and foamsand the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
There is a river—its streams delight the city of God,the holy dwelling place of the Most High.
God is within her; she will not be toppled.God will help her when the morning dawns.Nations rage, kingdoms topple;the earth melts when he lifts his voice.The Lord of Armies is with us;the God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah
Come, see the works of the Lord,who brings devastation on the earth.He makes wars cease throughout the earth.He shatters bows and cuts spears to pieces;He sets wagons ablaze.
“Stop fighting, and know that I am God,exalted among the nations, exalted on the earth.”The Lord of Armies is with us;the God of Jacob is our stronghold.Selah
