Luke 21:5-19

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I’ve gone back and forth on this “destruction of Jerusalem” vs. “end of the age” issue, but my Study Bible helped out this morning. It suggested that much of verses 8-18 in today’s reading could easily apply to both of these events. That is, we may not be choosing between an either/or position. So that’s helpful.

Another helpful item was in verse 9: When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified… Someone this past Tuesday night (at EHS) said to me that they get angry when they watch the news. I understand that – I get angry too! We may get angry for different reasons, but national and world events can easily trouble us, especially when we are powerless to do anything but pray. So Jesus’ words are a major consolation to us. Things happen, but He is in control and He has us in His protection. As we read in the past few days, His angels will sweep us up from the four corners of the earth. Thank you, Jesus!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 13:24-31

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” But in those days, after that tribulation… (v. 24) These few words reflect back to the “tribulation” mentioned in verse 19. Then verse 24 goes on to talk of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and the powers in the heavens, events never before seen in all of creation. Putting all these things together gets us to the point where much of what was discussed in the earlier part of the chapter does indeed refer to the “End of the Age”, not to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

One continuing troubling item is in verse 30: …this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Obviously, “this generation” cannot refer to the generation living while Jesus spoke these words, since many of those events did not take place during His generation. One footnote that I saw suggested that “generation” could be translated as “race”, that is, all of humankind. My Study Bible suggested that “this generation” possibly referred to those who were alive when the events described in verses 24 to 27 were taking place, that they would not die without witnessing the coming of the Son of Man. It takes a much deeper study of these verses in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21, in conjunction with Revelation to begin to put all this information together. Many have tried and still no one knows “the day or the hour” (Matthew 24:36).

One item that I had passed over in Matthew jumped out in Mark: And then He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. (v. 27) It is comforting to know that “His elect” will be taken from (or after) all this tribulation – that Jesus has a special place for “His elect”. We just pray that we and our Spirit-filled descendants are included in that group.

Slava Bohu!

Mark 13:14-23

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I don’t recall any of the Synoptics’ “duplicate” writings that we have read so far that have been so word-for-word as Matthew and Mark on today’s reading, “The Abomination of Desolation”. So, what to say??

I thought I’d look at verse 19: For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. That phrase, “…tribulation as has not been…”… I’m trying to imagine the worst tribulations this world has seen – earthquakes; hurricanes, typhoons and tsunamis; war, especially bombs falling for hours on end; avalanches, mudslides, and volcanic eruptions. So now combine all these horrors and keep it up for days, weeks, months…!! Horror!! As I said a day or two ago, I don’t want to be around for those days!!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 13:1-13

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” So, a few moons ago I was taking up an offense for Andrew not being included with Peter, James, and John at the Transfiguration. Now in today’s reading he is included in those few (four) with whom Jesus is speaking “privately” (v. 4), so I’m pleased for our namesake!! :-)!

My Study Bible cites Josephus that some of these temple stones (v. 2) were 37 by 12 by 18 feet. That’s huge!!

The ESV header on verses 3-13 says “Signs of the End of the Age”. However, the question by Peter, Andrew, James, and John followed immediately after the discussion of the destruction of the temple in verses 1-3: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” (v. 4) So I’m confused as to why these verses 1-13 refer to the “End of the Age”. To me these verses could refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. The only suggestion for the “End of the Age” is in verse 10: And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. Even that, however, could refer to the known world existing in 70 A.D., and Paul and others had pretty well covered much of the known world by then. Neither of the other two Synoptic writers is able to convince me otherwise either. Your thoughts?

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 24:29-35

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” So today Jesus is responding to that second question that the disciples posed in verse 3: …and what will be the sign of your coming…

Jesus answers that question in verses 29 to 31. I can envision a lot of that, but what I wonder is this: Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man… (v. 30) I wonder what will be that “sign”. The cross…? Pisces…? Intriguing!

There is something else in those few verses that makes me wonder: …all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven… (v. 30b) I know that we are looking at our Lord from our three-dimensional perspective. But I wonder HOW “all the tribes of the earth” will see Jesus’ return, presumably all at the same time. I try to picture this universal cloud of Jesus returning – the entire earth “covered”. GLORY!!

Folks, it’s ALL glory…!!!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 24:15-28

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I’ve read these end-time prophesies hundreds of times and heard a lot about the great tribulation and the rapture – never knowing just exactly what I believed about all that. Different writers have it all explained and come to different conclusions. But today I noticed something new: … if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. (v. 22) I knew of the tribulation and the “run for your life” verses, but somehow missed the devastation so enormous that … no human being would be saved. I don’t want to be around for that!

Slava Bohu!

Matthew 24:1-14

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” The disciples asked Jesus three questions: …when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age? (v. 3b) Today He is answering the third question, the “end of the age”. In our next two readings He will answer the first two questions.

As I read through Jesus’ description of the end times, I was struck that He might be speaking directly to and about His disciples – tribulation, death, being hated, falling away, betrayal, false prophets… Then I came to the end of the last verse: …and then the end will come. (v. 14b) After all that, all the way to “the end”! So we all still have that to look forward to. Not a happy thought!!

One other item of note is Jesus’ humanity: As he sat on the Mount of Olives… (v. 3a) Not a big deal, but notice – Jesus has been at the temple teaching and preaching (v. 1 and chapter 23). Now He is headed west, maybe to Bethany for the evening, possibly to the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha. On the way there He passes down into and through the Kidron Valley and climbs up the Mount of Olives – then just sits there for a while looking down at Jerusalem and the temple. A perfectly normal thing to do… And His disciples ask Him questions – privately. Take a break, sit down, chat. Perfectly normal…!

Slava Bohu!

Luke 20:45-21:4

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” I’ve probably noticed it before: …who devour widows’ houses… (v. 47), but never really thought about it. Is Jesus saying that the scribes are able to take advantage of uneducated Jewish widows, promising them “whatever”, then taking ownership or control of their properties? Here is what I found online: “This they did under pretense of counseling them in the knowledge of the law and in the management of their estates. They took advantage of their ignorance and their unprotected state, and either extorted large sums for their counsel, or perverted the property to their own use.” https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mark/12-40.htm That’s cruel!!

Slava Bohu!

Mark 12:38-44

Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.

“Notice what you notice.” The Widow’s Mite. Jesus is commending this widow, who put in only about one penny – but it was all that she had to live on. However, I don’t think he was condemning or chastising those who were giving more. He said that …they all contributed out of their abundance… (v. 44), but I don’t see that comment as degrading the gifts from those who had more. As Treasurer, I can assure you that if we did not have donors who gave “out of their abundance” our budget would be a whole lot worse off than it is now!

The Old Testament sets the tithe as a standard, as David said this past Sunday. However, Jesus’ words go a lot further, as He said to the “rich young ruler”, “Go and sell all that you have and give to the poor … and come follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21, Luke 18:22, slightly edited) At St. Andrew’s, my sense is that there are many parishioners who go much more than their tithe, others who are careful to meet the ten percent fairly closely, and others who fall short of the OT guideline. We accept whatever gifts come in and offer no further guidance, except that we ask Vestry candidates to be committed to the OT guideline of the tithe. So, give whatever God puts on your heart. Pray about it and seek Him first!

Slava Bohu!