March 6, 2016
Evening Service

After Jesus cleansed the temple in chapter 19, He spent a lot of time there teaching and preaching the gospel message.  This is where He was confronted by the chief priests, elders, scribes and Sadducees in chapter 20.  His presence there, along with His disciples, seems to bring on an observation that leads to some very profound teaching and prophecy.  Place yourself sitting with Jesus in the temple. Absorbing the presence of this man you believe is the Messiah as you watch His every move and listen to every word He speaks.  Let’s listen and learn along with them.

Luke 21:1-4 And looking up, He saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.  (2)  And He also saw a certain poor widow casting in two mites.  (3)  And He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has cast in more than all of them.  (4) For all these have cast in to the offerings of God from their abundance, but out of her poverty she has cast in all the living she had.”

·         Jesus comments on this widow’s gift and it reveals a truth about Him to us.

·         He knows our heart.  He knows the intent of our actions.  He wants us to act and give according to our love for Him, not out of duty or just to be seen.  “God loves a cheerful giver.”  (I Cor. 9:7)

·         In this age of great abundance are we giving with the right attitude?

 

Luke 21:5-7 And as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts, He said,  (6)  “As to these things which you see, days will come in which there shall not be left a stone on a stone, which shall not be thrown down.”  (7)  And they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign when these things are about to take place?”

·         I can just picture these men sitting and talking about the beauty of the temple, and Jesus uses an opportunity to teach and prophecy.  The disciples continue the conversation with a question.   In chapter 20, Jesus was not so willing to answer the questions of the religious leaders because they were not seeking a true answer only one to entrap Him with.   This shows me that Jesus is  available to answer any real questions offered from those who were truly seeking God.

Luke 11:9-10 And I say to you, Ask and it shall be given you. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it shall be opened to you.  (10)  For everyone who asks receives. And he who seeks finds. And to him who knocks it shall be opened.

 

Luke 21:8-19 And He said, “Take heed that you are not deceived, for many shall come in My name, saying, I AM! Also, The time has come! Do not go after them.  (9)  But when you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified, for all these things must first occur, but the end is not at once.  (10)  And He said to them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  (11)  And great earthquakes shall be in different places, and famines and plagues. And there shall be terrors and great signs from Heaven.  (12)  But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.  (13)  And it shall return to you for a testimony.  (14)  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer.  (15)  For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.  (16)  And you shall be betrayed also by parents and brothers and kinsmen and friends. And they will cause some of you to be put to death.  (17)  And you shall be hated by all for My name's sake.  (18)  But there shall not a hair of your head perish.  (19) By your patience you will gain your souls.”

·         Jesus’ discourse has three messages in it. The first answers the question that was asked.  Many of these things have come to pass or are coming to pass.  The prophecy is that things will get worse as time marches on.  Each generation has seen all these things escalate within their lifetimes with wars and rumors of wars as well as many natural disasters.   Can’t we say that is true of ours?

·         The second is a prophecy to those who have chosen to be followers of Jesus.  It will not be an easy life to live.  He prophesies of persecutions, imprisonments and being hated by all people.  Choosing to be a Jesus follower is choosing to suffer.

·         The third is a prophecy that all this suffering will give us an opportunity to testify of the hope that lies within us and that the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say when we need them.  God will use those tough times to spread His word and all we have to do is yield our will to His.

 

Luke 21:20-24 “And when you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that its destruction has come.  (21)  And let those in Judea flee to the mountains. And those in its midst, let them go out. And those in the country let them not go into her.  (22)  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  (23)  But woe to those who are with child, and to those suckling in those days! For there shall be great distress in the land and wrath on this people.  (24)  And they shall fall by the sword's edge. And shall be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the nations until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

·         Jesus again refers to the destruction of Jerusalem that was fulfilled in 70 AD by Titus and the Roman army.  They surrounded the city and then withdrew for a short time allowing the believers inside time to escape just as the prophecy warned them to.  Titus returned shortly thereafter and destroyed the city.

·         From that time forward Jerusalem has largely been controlled by a Gentile influence just as the prophecy stated.

·         Jesus now gives some prophecy of what is yet still to come.

 

Luke 21:25-28 “And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars. And on the earth will be anxiety of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; (26) men fainting from fear, and expecting those things which have come on the earth. For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken.  (27)  And then they shall see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  (28) And when these things begin to happen, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near.”

·         These signs will be clearly visible to those upon the earth.  A great disturbance will occur in our atmosphere that causes great calamity upon earth.  This will precede the Second Coming of Christ with “power and great glory.”

·         Jesus then uses a parable to emphasize His point.

 

Luke 21:29-33 And He spoke a parable to them: “Behold the fig-tree and all the trees.  (30)  Now when they sprout leaves, seeing it you will know that summer is now near.  (31)  So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  (32)  Truly I say to you, this generation shall not pass away until all these things are fulfilled.  (33) The heaven and the earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away.”

·         Jesus uses this parable to encourage us to watch for these signs of the times and not be surprised when occur.  We can all walk out in our backyard and see the trees budding and know summer is coming.  We should be equally spiritual in tune with Jesus words and know the end is near.

·         It is not nature and its beauty that will endure through time, but it will only be the Words of Jesus that last forever.

·         He now ends this discourse in the temple with a warning for us all.

 

Luke 21:34-38  “And take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts are weighed down with headaches and drinking and anxieties of this life; and that day should suddenly come on you;  (35)  for it shall come as a snare on all those sitting on the face of the whole earth.  (36) Watch therefore, praying in every season that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things which shall occur, and to stand before the Son of Man.”  (37)  And in the days He was teaching in the temple. And in the nights He went out, and lodged in the mount called the Mount of Olives.  (38)  And all the people came early in the morning to Him in the temple, in order to hear Him.

·         His warning is this; don’t get caught up with the affairs of this life so deep that we become so consumed by this world that His coming catches us unaware. 

·         Look at all the words Jesus spoke that have now come true.  He now warns us to “Watch and pray.”  Don’t you think we would be wise to do that?

·         Paul likewise encouraged us in the Roman letter.

 

Romans 13:11-14  This also, knowing the time, that it is now high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.  (12)  The night is far spent, the day is at hand; therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.  (13)  Let us walk properly, as in the day; not in revelry and drunkenness; not in co-habitation and lustful acts; not in strife and envy.  (14)  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not take thought beforehand for the lusts of the flesh.

 

Lord may we always be watching for Your return and busy about Your work.