Luke 21:5ff but with
special reference to vv 25-36
There is certainly one thing that
Jesus talks about in this passage that has already happened - the fall of Jerusalem and what triggered the
whole conversation was that the disciples were admiring the temple which had
been there for a few years, the third temple and Jesus says is will be
destroyed. Around AD 70 it was. As for the other things he talks about in this
passage time does not matter and Jesus moves between different eras as though
all are the same and in a way they are to him!
Some of these things have happened, some have always happened and some
are to come.
I am coming soon.
If you go to the book of
Revelation there is this language that can be difficult. However there is a
very simple message in Revelation and that is that God is in control and
through Jesus has won the victory and one of these days he is coming again in
victory and it will be fulfilled in a perfect and satisfying way. When Jesus
came, people had expectations of the long expected Messiah and they got it
wrong. They expected him to be a mighty leader and ruler who would free them
from Rome and bring a mighty Jewish Kingdom. Jesus blew it all out of the water
and has established a kingdom that is bigger than expected and bigger than any
other in all ages that crosses all boundaries.
Nobody then envisaged
that the Messiah was going to hang upon a cross but it is there in Isaiah
chapter 52 ...the suffering servant, God's promised one, brings you and me life
if we put our trust in Him. He fulfilled all things in OT Scripture beyond
expectation and the same will be true when He comes again. We'll turn round and
we'll say wow, wow, I never thought it would be like that. God has an eye
for detail and it will be right!
Jesus talks about sign
in the sun, stars and the moon and we may not see what he means by that – now. These
are the sorts of things that confuse us.
But when he talks about nations
being in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea we can
understand a little better - this millennium we've seen two tsunamis,
the demolishing of the houses in Whitby this week, and sea levels are rising- it’s
serious. He is coming again whether it's before lunch or later. .who knows!
Jesus draws upon a
picture from the book of Daniel, a vision that Daniel had of the Son of man. In
the Old Testament it could just mean a person, a man, Ezekiel uses it all the
time of himself. If you read Daniel 7, you will see that the person spoken of
there is clearly somebody other than an ordinary human being, and it's actually
God and Jesus uses the phrase quite regularly of himself through his
ministry as it had an ambiguity about it. Here though he is explicit, you will see the Son of Man coming and he draws directly and specifically on the words of Daniel; Jesus
sees himself as being God.
When he comes all will
see him come and I don’t think it will be television – God is better and bigger than television and he’ll use his
own means!
Jesus won't be coming as
a vulnerable babe who people can argue with, He will be coming as the King of
all ages and before him every knee will bow, (Philippians 2:11), people
who believe and people who don't believe, He will have total and utter
authority. The son of Man is coming. So He goes on to say: stand in
confidence, lift up your heads,
because your redemption is drawing near. So many things squish us, even as
Christians, we can get pessimistic, but Jesus says: put your head up in me,
look at who I am, look at what I have done; whatever happens in this world,
whatever happens in this human frail Christian church, there will be people
there when Jesus comes back and the saints go marching in.
Jesus words are secure.
My words will endure even though heaven and earth pass away but His words will
be fulfilled completely and in a satisfying way. He says, read the signs, you
see the fig tree budding, we know that spring is coming, when those signs are
taking place, you know that the Kingdom is coming. We can see those signs around;
we need to be ready for that day when He comes. He is saying be ready at all
times, that is the emphasis. Are you ready for the Lord of eternity? Maranatha,
Come Lord Jesus, come!
Rev. Steven Abram
Hello bros and sis, this was said at Millwich church last Sunday. Don't you find this message full of joy and light! May the Lord bless you. In Jesus'name. Nicky.
Picture at: http://www.ldolphin.org/Sadvent.html
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