112019 – Luke 21. 5-19
The context is simple. The “original source” for this text is the Gospel of Mark.
As he does frequently through the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is speaking both to his twelve disciples and to a more “general larger audience.”
People want to LEAN-IN and to LISTEN. They want to “overhear” what Jesus has to say. They want to be A PART of his conversation.
A timeline would put us right at the beginning of HOLY WEEK, perhaps shortly after “the procession” into the city, itself.
Luke has a much more “positive view” of the Temple then Mark does. At the time of his writing, the Temple is NO MORE. It has already been DEMOLISHED by the Romans.
So, here in Luke we DO NOT have “prophecy,” but rather interpretation of history, by the gospel writer. Luke is writing about an event that has already occurred.
Yes the building was at ONE POINT beautiful and glamorous. Over EIGHT DECADES in the making…it was constantly under construction and re-construction.
The city attempted to put up a STOUT defense and the Romans actually had a HARD TIME in subjugating the city.
When it did ULTIMATELY fall, it was not pretty. Everything that could be destroyed WAS destroyed. The people were frail, emaciated and starving. Blood actually did “run in the streets…”
And, “the roar of flames” streaming far and wide was mingled with the groaning of the fallen victims. To MOST, it looked as if “the entire city” were ablaze. Cries from the hilltops were mingled with the cries and the screaming from within the city itself.
The whole scene was UTTERLY devastating. The people that WERE ABLE to get out and flee were “displaced and dispersed” among the nations…
We know this, the JEWS blamed the Christians and the Christian community blamed the JEWISH community.
NOTHING is forever…and that is one of the points being made. Grandeur and beauty FADE and even wealth is FLEETING.
We are FOOLED by so many things…just think of all the people that daily give out personal information to telemarketers or on various forms of social media.
I love the posts on social media that say we are going to VEGAS for two weeks, wish us LUCK and wish us WELL…and these same people are surprised why?…when they arrive at home to find their homes trashed and emptied of all their valuables…
All things will eventually come to an end.
All things…
And remember, they are only “things”…are “things” that important to us?
I prefer to believe that all time and all history are in God’s hands. He is in control. I am not, nor will I ever be. It is like way above my pay grade! Human history will likewise one day have an END.
And if we are not “more careful” as a people, as a nation and as a world, we may just be hastening that day along.
I believe that MY GOD will be present and ruling at the end of human history, just as he was present at the beginning of human history.
I also believe that my God will be present WITH ME…beside me…no matter what happens OR occurs.
So the important question is just “HOW” are we supposed to live our lives TODAY?
No one knows WHAT tomorrow will bring…or even, if we will live TO SEE tomorrow. That is not our call.
There are no guarantees and never have been!
We are to be our best selves – TODAY. We are to be authentic, loving, kind, respectful and caring, TODAY. Doing…what is right…TODAY.
We are to live our lives each and every day that we are given, as if Jesus Christ were coming back tomorrow.
That’s HOW we are supposed to LIVE our lives…
We are to live TODAY as if we were going to meet God face-to-face tomorrow morning at 8:30 and have breakfast with him. If you believe THAT it WILL affect the way you live your life TODAY! Life is GOOD. Live it to the fullest.
You know, it would be pretty cool to have breakfast with God tomorrow-I wonder how he likes his eggs?
But I do know THIS – it will be an honor and a privilege to BE with him.
So for TODAY – why not just live FOR HIM? Who knows you may just see him for breakfast!
Amen.