The Imperatives of The End

Scripture Introduction:

Did you know that the world’s oldest wooden wheel has been around for more than 5,000 years?

Also, did you know that dead skin cells are a main ingredient in household dust. That’s kind of gross isn’t it?

Which country do you think has more pyramids than any other country in the world? You’d think it was Egypt but it’s actually Sudan.

Everybody touch your left ear and keep doing that.

Did you know that there are parts of Africa in all four hemispheres? It’s amazing how huge that continent really is.

There are only two parts of the body without blood vessels. Cartilage is one of those. Any idea the other? It’s the cornea of your eye.

German chocolate cake was not invented in Germany but in Texas.

1 in 5,000 north Atlantic lobsters are born bright blue.

Avocados are a fruit and not a vegetable

Due to thermal expansion the Eiffel Tower can be 15cm taller during the summer.

Human teeth are the only part of the body that cannot heal themselves.

Baby rabbits are called kits.

The unicorn is the national animal of Scotland

Nutmeg is technically a hallucinogen

Pigeons can tell the difference between a Picasso and a Monet painting. A 1995 study showed that these birds are able to differentiate between these two artists.

Ketchup was once sold as medicine.

Are you wondering why I’m giving you all these facts? Well, how many of you are still touching your left ear?

I did this to illustrate the difference between what is called an indicative—that’s a statement of fact like “ketchup was once sold as medicine.” and an imperative—touch your left ear and keep doing that.

Now in this illustration it doesn’t matter much if you kept listening or not. I think it’s still effective to ask where did your mind go as we did this exercise. Where you still thinking about touching your ear? Was that the instruction that carried the day for you? Or did your mind start to wonder with all those facts and statements and some things which had you scratching your head and wondering if they were really true…and even…how can that be?

I’m going to read this lengthy passage in Luke 21:5-38 in just a moment and I want you to notice what captures your attention in this passage. Do you notice imperatives? Do you notice statements of fact?

Luke 21:5–38 ESV

And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “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.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 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. 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.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 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. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives. “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 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, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 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. 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. “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, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

Sermon Introduction:

If you are anything like me, then the things which really grabbed your attention are the “here is what is going to happen”…there are so many questions that we have from a text like this.

We really want to know what is going to happen. We see things in the news and we start to think…oh, man is this Jesus coming back? What does this mean for us?

Or we look at a passage like this and we get really bogged down with all the questions. When will this happen? Is this talking about the destruction of the temple and ONLY the destruction of the temple?

What does it mean “this generation” will not pass away? Does he mean the generation when the signs start to happen? Does he mean the disciples and he’s talking still about the destruction of the temple?

Is this talking about the second coming, a rapture of the church, what is this talking about?

Lot’s of questions. And, again, whenever we come to a place like this I know I’m going to disappoint all of you who come to a text like this with these questions. I’m going to say I have some thoughts and opinions on these things…but that’s not going to be our focus.

I’ve got a super cool Bible software that allows me to do some neat things. One of those things that I can do is I can take a lengthy passage like this and say...”show me all of the imperatives”. And it scrapes away all the verses that are telling us facts…and it shines a spotlight on the imperatives.

Because really, I think that is what is important right. Is Jesus’ main concern here to say, “here is a look at the future” or is it to say...”Here is how you should respond”. I’d submit to you that what is really significant are the imperatives. And so we are going to focus on them.

Now there are a few imperatives in here that we won’t focus on because they are more part of the story…like “let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” or even “Look at the fig tree” those are kind of functioning different.

I see 3 main imperatives in this passage. See that you are not led astray, Settle it in your mind not to meditate upon what you will say, and lastly watch yourselves.

I. See that you are not led astray

In verses 5-9, we’re still supposed to be a little connected with the story of the widow’s offering and what Jesus said about the religious institution.

Verse 5 his disciples look at all the beauty and splendor and everything of the temple and says to Jesus, “isn’t this some pretty stuff?”

In verse 6 Jesus informs them that very soon it will be destroyed. And so, honestly, I think much of what we are talking about in this passage is the destruction of Jerusalem that happened in AD70…but there is woven into this I also believe some language which couldn’t fit there and is likely referring to the second coming. Figuring out which is which can be difficult though.

When is that going to happen…verse 7?

Did you notice that Jesus doesn’t totally answer that. This guy is looking for a date and Jesus doesn’t give it. Instead he gives a few details—kind of hard to comprehend details at times—and these imperatives.

The first one is “See that you are not led astray”.

See. This word means to beware of, to watch out for, to pay attention to. Look closely. Analyze carefully.

But what? Look to make sure you aren’t being led astray....wandering off the path.

Let’s keep listening as Jesus fills this out for us. Many will come in my name? That means claiming the name of Christ…that means claiming to be saviors, messiahs, rescuers, helpers, etc....I am he! I am your rescue! I am the one who will deliver you!

It won’t be as obvious…it won’t be someone saying “I am Jesus Christ come again in the flesh”. No it will be taking up his mantle…Messiah…Anointed One…Rescuer.

The time is at hand! Now is the time for your rescue, redemption, rise up, stand up, take what is yours, now is the day!

Do not go after them....don’t follow them....don’t give yourselves to this.

And this Jesus paints a little more. When you hear of wars and tumults (that’s political turmoil, unrest, disorder)…he says…do not be terrified.

Friends, these things are connected. Fear leads to false idols. When you are scared people can sell you almost anything.

It might mean scared of your own death, scared of a pandemic, etc. OR…and hear me well…it could also be fear of losing power, fear of losing a way of life, etc.

Fear motivates both sides of unrest. And in those times when somebody rises up and says, “follow me, I’ll deliver you from this disaster...” this is precisely what Jesus is talking about.

“Go after them...”, “led astray”. It means to diverge from the path of Jesus into another path.

So, how do you know you aren’t going to diverge? One, understand that Christ is the answer to our fear. Secondly, knowing the way and path of Jesus and refusing to move from that regardless of wars and unrest.

If it doesn’t look like Jesus don’t go after it. Don’t sell out the way of Christ for safety.

It is a way that is marked by holiness. It is a way that is marked by care for the vulnerable. It is a way that is marked with suffering. It is a way marked with deep and abiding joy. It is a way that is marked with hope and love. It is a way that is marked by the fruit of the Spirit.

Move from those…and you’ve gone astray. Doesn’t matter if you’re following a donkey, elephant, or any other false messiahs down that path. If it’s contrary to the fruit of the Spirit our fear is leading us astray.

Pay attention to that, says Jesus. When times get scary those other ways are going to be tempting. Follow me…I’ll get you out of this mess. That’s going to be a tempting sounding message. But don’t go. That’s what Jesus is saying.

II. Settle in your mind not to meditate on what you will say.

In verses 10-18 Jesus tells his disciples of horrible things that will happen. Again, is this one of those AD70 things or is this something future. My guess is that many of these are a little bit of both.

What Jesus says here certainly happened to the disciples. They were many delivered up to death, some put in prison. Many hated for being affiliated with Jesus. But they endured and we trust the promise of Christ in verse 18 that they will not ultimately perish.

But there is an imperative in here as well. And it’s an interesting one. Verse 14.

Settle in your minds..place in your heart, store it up, be already decided. “Be utterly determined, resolve at the center of your being” is how one commentator defined the word.

And so what are they to be decided upon...That they will not meditated beforehand how to answer.

What does that mean? You know what this looks like, don’t you. You ever have a conversation that you are really dreading to have…and you work through in your mind what you are going to say. You play out the whole conversation in your head.

But what happens when you meet with this person. They don’t ever respond exactly how you had them responding in your head. It’s different. And so you’re either caught off guard or you have to try to get the conversation to go into the place where you had predetermined to take it.

It’s not respecting the dynamic of another human being, honestly. But that’s not why Jesus says this here. This, again, has to do with worry.

Why do we have these conversations in our head? Because we want to be victors in our little dispute. We want to best our opponent. We want to silence our critics. And so we think about the best way to do this.

But why do we even do that? It probably has something to do with pride. But at the end of the day it’s probably because we want to keep ourselves safe and the things we value secure.

The disciples could easily listen to all of Jesus’ words here and think…oh man, I’ve got to get ready. I’ve got to plan. The more I know the more facts I have the better I’ll be prepared. The more I’ll know how to respond.

But here Jesus says don’t do that because I’ll give you the words to say. Not the words to say to preserve your life—that’s not promise…because as it says “some of you will be put to death”.

But he says this because your goal isn’t to defend yourself. It’s not to have a well planned out defense. It’s to trust in the Holy Spirit. It’s to trust in Jesus’ care for you.

I like how one commentator put it:

The Gospel according to Luke The Destruction of the Temple (21:5–24)

Faithfulness does not consist in forecasting the future and determining preemptive responses. Rather, disciples are commanded to trust that God will give them grace to complete their service in his name and that he will speak through them in their deepest need. “The best preparation,” says Bovon, “consists in not being prepared, and the only worry is not to worry at all.”

I’m just going to trust the Lord with this. You know, if you want a good example of this type of thing I think again of Roy Bradford.

He is going to get his arm amputated this upcoming Wednesday. And I was asking him about the details…how far up will they go…etc. and his response was similar to what Jesus is saying here. “Well, we don’t really know but it doesn’t matter much. The Lord has that in His hands. We’ll just deal with it as it comes and trust him and be faithful and praise Him for whatever it is.”

That’s what Jesus is talking about here. Trust me with your future. Don’t try to control it.

Lastly, Watch yourselves

The third imperative is to watch. I think we might think that what comes after that is something like, “Watch for the heavens…watch for the return…read your Bible with your newspaper…something like that.

But Jesus doesn’t say that. He says, “watch yourselves. In fact he says… “but watch yourselves” at the end of a lengthy here is what is going to happen section.

It’s almost like is saying don’t focus there. Consider the fig tree…when you see these things taking place the kingdom of God is near…your redemption is coming....verse 34 but don’t focus on that, instead watch yourselves.

Lest your hearts be weighed down and you end up just drinking and worrying your life away. That can happen, right. We wait for signs and signs and signs and read the newspaper...

Red heifer…every stinking year. What does that do? It discourages you. Your eyes are in the wrong place.

Watch yourselves. Watch your own heart…and place it under Christ…stay awake and pray for strength. Help me endure, Jesus. Help me stay faithful.

Conclusion

There is actually one of more imperative that we’ll look at in conclusion. Straighten up…redemption is near.

Do you know what that means?

Redemption is near....

No more sin.

No more sorrow.

No more struggle. No more crying.

But will this day be YOUR redemption? What will it mean for you…will you be responding as those who are running for the hills, hiding, despairing at the coming of the King? Or will it be a day of rejoicing for your long awaited redemption?