Don’t Just Read the Signposts, Witness!
Luke 21:5-19
Everyone wants to know about the end of time. Books have been written about biblical prophecy. Many have stated days for the Lord’s return which have long passed. But Jesus Himself warns us not to get preoccupied with times and seasons which are in the Father’s authority. Only He knows the time. Yet we get a glimpses from Jesus of the end times. This morning’s passage is one of them.
Jesus had just commented of the widow’s two mites which she had cast into the treasury. Others had put in coins of gold and silver into the treasury. The ring of gold and silver coin, and many of them, stood in stark contrast to the widow’s offering of two tiny copper coins. Jesus had commented that others had given out of their abundance, but this widow gave all. We like to use that passage to preach on giving our all, even if it is a little, but this somewhat misses the point of the story. When the widow woman gave those two coins, she had nothing more to live on. She was going home to die. No one came to aid that poor widow, even though the Law commanded such. What happened to all that gold and silver coin?
The answer to this seems to be that they used it to furnish the Temple. It was a magnificent work of art. The gleaming and gilded marble, giant bronze doors and the votive decorations made for quite a spectacle. The disciples were totally taken captive by the splendor. But behind the gold and marble was a dirty little secret. It was the sepulcher build over the bones of dead men and woman. The bones of that widow woman were about to be added to the carnage, although I think Jesus took care of that woman like the Lord through Elijah intervened for the widow woman at Zarapath and her son.
They tell Jesus of the awe of the place. But Jesus was clearly unimpressed. His blunt reaction was to tell them that the time was coming that there would not be left one stone left upon another. It was about to be overthrown. This is not the first time Jesus had told them this. He wept over the city as He entered the city on Palm Sunday. Even though the crowds were cheering, He knew that they would be crying out for His death in just a few short days. He told them that their rejection of Jesus would result in the siege and overthrow of their city.
The stunned disciples blurt out two questions: “When will this happen?” And what sign will announce that this is about to happen?” These questions are our questions also. We must first realize that Jesus was answering the disciples’ questions here primarily. This means the immediate context is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD and NOT the second coming of Christ. Most of these disciples would be dead by this time, but John and others remained. The first thing Jesus warns them is not to be deceived, a lesson we should also learn. For them it was a warning that false Messiah’s would arise, claiming they were to deliver Jerusalem. There was even one of these in the city at this time by the name of Barabbas. This one would deceive the Jews to the point they asked for him rather than Jesus. On our part, we need to be on guard not to be deceived by prophecy “scholars” who claim to have cracked the code and predict when Jesus shall return. We can think of the Millerites, Russellites and other Adventists who have deceived many. They say “I AM” and that the time is near. Jesus clearly says not to follow such leaders. Remember, someone who claims to be a prophet, and their prophecy fails to come to pass is a “false prophet.” This is a very serious charge.
Although there are parts of the prophecy which relate to the disciples and the destruction of Jerusalem, there is also a fulfillment which is still in our future. The catastrophe which destroyed Jerusalem is also a type of the destruction which will come to earth just prior to the return of Jesus. There will be fearful and wondrous signs from heaven. The earth will be shaken. There will be famines and pestilences. There will be numerous wars and rumors of war. People will be frightened. But the question I have is this? When has there not been these troubles? In many ways, I read this as business as usual. Certainly, there may be an increase in these things, but many sincere people have been wrong before. In the times of the Emperor Justinian, a distant volcanic explosion cooled the earth. The dust darkened the sun, and the moon was blood red. The bubonic plague erupted and killed many. Many felt this was the prophesied end of the world. The time of the Reformation also appeared to be the end. But the end was “not yet.” World War 1 happened in the year 1914 which Russell of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Predicted. But the end was not yet. So we need to be cautious about interpreting the signs in light of today’s events.
I think we would do well to instead concentrate on the latter parts of Jesus’ message to the disciples which centers on the cost of discipleship. The church has undergone persecution throughout its long history. Unfortunately, it has also persecuted, which is contrary to the message of Jesus. Jesus told the disciples they would be hated by all the nations. And if the Gospel is truly preached, it has been and is today the case. To proclaim that Jesus is Lord means that someone else is not. The kings and the rulers of this world are happy to use Christianity or some other religion as being useful to control people they consider to be idiots. the Bible promises that all who would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. What a contrast this is to the American prosperity gospel we hear preached today.
The disciples were to be brought before kings and rulers who would question them about their faith in Jesus. In the immediate context, the Jewish synagogues would disown and betray them to the government. The actual word here “hand over” is the same Greek word used to describe Judas’ betrayal of Jesus as well as the handing over of Jesus to Pilate. It was against Jewish Law to turn over a brother to a foreign power for judgment. This was an act of betrayal. Israelites accused of capital crimes were to be judged by fellow Israelites. Even Paul hints at this when he suggested that the church settle its own disputes rather than go to the Roman law courts.
These acts of betrayal would extend to one’s own family members. It would be they who would turn them over. This kind of betrayal has a long sordid history. The Torah stated that family members were to be the first to cast stones against a rebellious son. But in so corrupt a people, it was often the good who actually suffered. The Communists used children to tell on their parents. In the Reformation era, families betrayed those who defected from Roman Catholicism. Some were imprisoned and tortured and others executed, sometimes by the most barbaric means. So even inside the four walls of the church, these things have been practiced. It is, of course, incumbent that when these things happen and we are turned over to the authorities, that we are not actually guilty of crimes. Peter tells us that there is no reward for suffering as an actual evildoer. But there is also great reward for suffering wrongfully for Jesus’ sake.
So it seems to me, that we need to set our gaze upon our witness for Jesus. Witness is costly. In fact, the original Greek meaning of the word “martyr” is simply one who brings testimony in court. It doesn’t take much imagination to see why the meaning of the word has changed to what we understand today. We must bear this witness in very troubling and uncertain times. We need to be able to give an answer to those who accuse us. What do we say? Just think of yourself being in chains in prison the day before your appearance in court. The questions you might be asked race through your head. You are tempted to fudge your position so that it brings less offense. You are tempted to give up on Jesus altogether. You might think, “deny now, repent later.” This is why Jesus tells us not to fret as the Spirit will answer for you. He will give you the words at that time. Instead concentrate upon the fact that Jesus will never leave you or forsake you in these times. We must be steadfast, for in this we possess our souls.
I am writing this on October 30th. Tomorrow we remember the bravery of Martin Luther who posted 95 theses (complaints) on the door of the church at Wittenberg. These words unintentionally started a revolution in the church called the Protestant Reformation in 1517. It became a time of great danger and turmoil as the Protestants suffered greatly. There was confusion everywhere. Martin Luther was called to give account before the Emperor at Worms. He knew that he faced either recanting or being burnt at the stake. Even if he recanted, he probably would have been locked away in a cell for the rest of his life. He faltered a bit on the first day and asked for a day to respond to these charges. The next day, he boldly proclaimed and would not recant. “Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me, Amen.” He then knew that he would be convicted, but God save him from death, although many of the Protestants did not.
We live in confusing times. The prophecy people are reading the tea leaves of prophecy. They may well be wrong, as so many before them have been wrong. They use their understanding of prophecy as the base of doing evangelism, to win souls to Christ. But I truly wonder if we can convert people by scaring the hell out of them. We must be sober in our assessment of the situation. People need to be told they must repent, or else. But perhaps the better way to evangelize is to be true to the gospel, including being persecuted, betrayed, judged, imprisoned and executed. As it has been said: “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Just look where the church is growing today. Is it not where it is being persecuted? So lets put less emphasis on the signs of the times and more on being a faithful witness. Jesus will come at the appointed time. This time is not known to us. But in the suffering of the saints, the church has always confessed its expectations of the return of Jesus and the resurrection to life everlasting.
