Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

The Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
11/12/10
Luke 21:5-28
Bror Erickson


[5] And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, [6] "As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." [7] And they asked him, "Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?" [8] And he said, "See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is at hand!' Do not go after them. [9] And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once."
[10] Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. [11] There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. [12] But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake. [13] This will be your opportunity to bear witness. [14] Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, [15] for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. [16] You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. [17] You will be hated by all for my name's sake. [18] But not a hair of your head will perish. [19] By your endurance you will gain your lives.
[20] "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. [21] Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, [22] for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. [23] Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. [24] They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
[25] "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, [26] people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. [27] And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. [28] Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near." Luke 21:5-28 (ESV)


“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
It is easy to read so much into this, and develop fantasies that incorporate the Jewish Myths of which Paul warned Titus, sell a book and live off the proceeds in decadent opulence while your followers live in fear day in and day out, trying to get their atheist neighbors to commit to the taking care of their animals should one be raptured.” Now when these things begin to take place straighten up, and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”
But then Jesus doesn’t say any of this to elicit fear from anyone. He does not give a spirit of fear. Nor does he promise that Christians are going to be spared tribulation with the rapture. I don’t get that here anyways. He promises that your family is going to drag you before courts and rulers for being a Christian. And many a Christian has experienced such persecution, and who knows how many to come will also experience it. “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up, and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”
Of course most of what Jesus talks about here has already happened, the concrete of it anyway. Jerusalem has been surrounded by Army after Army since he uttered these words. The Temple destroyed, and Josephus writes a gripping and horrifying account of Titus’s victory there. Graphic enough to induce vomiting in the weak stomached. The Romans have come and gone. The Muslim marauders and the crusaders enjoyed fighting over it for centuries, the Brits took it from the Turks. I believe the French fought for it too. The Jordanians had it, and the Jews took it again in the twentieth century, and a few wars have been fought for it again. And every time a Palestinian pegs a Jew in the head with a rock, people predict Armageddon and nuclear holocaust, and I suppose a few people have fainted at the news. But the temple has long since been destroyed.
“And when these things begin to take place, straighten up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
The best commentary I have heard on these things is that yes indeed, when you see these things happening you should be reminded that the end is near. There is no timeline. Neither will there be one given. Earthquakes, typhoons, tidal waves, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, apostasy, government corruption. Let these be reminders that the end is near. The world won’t see it coming. They will be busy buying and selling, marrying and being given into marriage, just like in the days of Noah. I imagine Christians will be doing much of the same. Why not?
I read a pastor the other day who recommended not planning where we want to be in five years because we can’t predict economy or when Christ is coming back. Really? Why should that stop one from planning? Sure we don’t know when Christ is coming back. I suppose if we knew the world would end tomorrow there might not be much use in planning. Luther, though, said he’d plant an apple tree if he knew. He knew what he was saying. No, we can’t predict the economy or anything else. But what business lets that stop them from planning. If God wills it, it comes about, if not, oh well. Perhaps plans are foiled. We know that can happen. But it is foolish not to plan for tomorrow, it just might happen. Tomorrow just might happen. But, “now when you see these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your head, because redemption is drawing near.”
And draw near it does, every day closer. And every time we see these things happen we are reminded that the end does come. This world will pass away. Our home is not here but in heaven. Our life is with him, and he has redeemed us, and will redeem us. And the end is not for fear, but for joy. Our redemption draws near.
In the mean time, we thank God for every day of grace he gives to this world that another soul hears the gospel because of our martyrdom, or witness. That another soul is saved because of what Christ has done for them. That we have another day in this world as a gift from God to live and rejoice in our salvation. Confident that our redemption does draw near.
The day is coming when we will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory, when we will be taken up to be with him. As the earth and heavens are destroyed and recreated that we can live for eternity in a world not racked with death, or sin, apostasy or disaster, but in all eternity ruled by peace, and life and love because the son of Man died that you and I might live, and have redemption.
Now the peace of God that surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.