Discipleship's Calling Today
Luke 21:5-19
5 Some people were talking about the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and ornaments dedicated to God. Jesus said, 6 “As for the things you are admiring, the time is coming when not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What sign will show that these things are about to happen?”
8 Jesus said, “Watch out that you aren’t deceived. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘It’s time!’ Don’t follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end won’t happen immediately.”
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other. 11 There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky. 12 But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will provide you with an opportunity to testify. 14 Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance. 15 I’ll give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to counter or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends. They will execute some of you. 17 Everyone will hate you because of my name. 18 Still, not a hair on your heads will be lost. 19 By holding fast, you will gain your lives.
GATHERING FOR SUNDAY
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Greetings everyone,
I’ll admit, I loved stupid action films in high school. Of course Arnold Schwarzenegger needs an honorable mention here. In late 1999 he starred in “End of Days.” The premise was pretty simple, the devil is coming to earth and Arnold can fight off the apocalypse with big guns and big action. I’m pretty sure there were large explosions, too.
This movie even had this true lemon of biblical interpretation: the mark of the beast is actually 999 and not 666, because, in dreams, numbers are upside down and/or inverted. Thus 1999 is the end of time. -Even at that age, this sounded fishy.
Sunday's text is Luke 21:5-19, and it's about the Eschaton, or the end of days. We do Luke’s writings and Jesus’ teachings a true disservice when we hear a verse like this one and begin imagining the exact signs that let us know when Jesus is coming back. We really miss the point when we get so focused on the return in the future that we don’t hear discipleship’s calling today.
So, this Sunday, we’ll hear Jesus’ warning about what we shouldn't be distracted by to focus on what he expects of us.
Peace,
Zach