God’s greatest blessings to you, my friend, as we start another week that He has given us!Read Luke 21:7 – 19.
To set the context of today’s reading, Jesus and His disciples are watching the offerings being brought into the temple treasury. Some of the disciples are commenting on the magnificence of the temple buildings, and Jesus responds with a “nested prophecy”, by telling them about both the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the end of days. Naturally, the disciples want to know when these prophetic events will occur. But instead of giving them a timeline, Our Lord outlines for His disciples (and for us) what to watch for as those days approach; and He gives us guidance on preparing ourselves for the end times.
As you read Jesus’ words this morning, take note of these key points:
There will be deceivers that actually claim to be Jesus. vv 8 – “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He, ’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.”
There will be wars and commotions and famines and pestilences and fearful sights – through it all, Jesus tells us “do not be terrified”.
As followers of Our Lord, we can expect to be persecuted and literally hunted down by the authorities. And Jesus tells us that this will be our opportunity to testify about Him! Further, He says not to worry about what we will say, how we respond when we are dragged before the rulers because we believe; Jesus Himself will give us “a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist. (vv 15)”
Our Lord then tells us in this passage that we will be hated by all and even betrayed by family because of His name – so great will this hatred be that some will even be put to death! But, even through death, Our Savior promises that (vv 18) “not a hair of your head shall be lost.” Obviously, Jesus is differentiating here between our earthly bodies and our eternal home with Him. As Paul says it, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” –
II Corinthians 5:1.Finally, Jesus makes this simple yet remarkable statement to each of us (vv 19) “By your patience possess your souls.”. Through His exhortation, He is reminding each of us to live our lives in the face of trials and turmoil and persecution with endurance and quiet grace; to dwell in His peace when there is no peace; and to fully embrace that eternal perspective that He died on the cross to give us.
Lord Jesus, thank You for all that You have given me, even eternal life. Thank You, Lord, for Your peace through trials and persecutions and betrayals. Thank You, Lord, that You will always be with me, and You will never forsake me. Amen!
