The Wednesday of the Tenth Week after Trinity

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The doom and gloom of today’s Gospel text is real. It is a continuation of the theme we began considering on Sunday, when we heard our Lord’s earlier prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem—a prophecy which was fulfilled in A.D. 70 at the hands of the Roman general, Titus. And now, two chapters later, our Lord reiterates His earlier prophecy, speaking of the complete and utter destruction of Jerusalem and the failing of men’s hearts which would accompany it. There is nothing positive said in this reading. It almost makes one wonder why we willingly said after the reading of this Gospel text concluded: “This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise be to Thee, O Christ.” After all, the term “Gospel” means “Good News.” There isn’t any good news here, nor does there seem to be much reason for praising Christ for these words.

And yet, we believe and confess that all of Christ’s Words are good, and that they are all worthy of praise, even the challenging ones. For this strong word of judgment in the Gospel text is paired with beautiful prayers and promises of grace elsewhere in the liturgy, most especially in the Epistle from 1 Corinthians 15. The contrast between this judgment and grace invites us reflect on the truth that: There are only two ways that one can go in this life—the way of Christ’s judgment or the way of His grace.

The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 was a brutal affair, as we considered on Sunday. It was the judgment of God coming against His people who had rejected their Messiah. For Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father, and apart from faith in Him, there is no escape from judgment. Christ’s earlier prophecy focused on the completeness of the destruction of Jerusalem. The finality of its judgment is a foreshadowing of the finality of judgment on the Last Day. When the judgment comes, there will be no escape.

But Christ’s prophecy in today’s Gospel highlights something slightly different. He says:

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her” (Luke 21:20-21).

Christ would have us know that the final judgment is not yet here. When that final judgment does come, there will be no escape. But until that day, there is time for escape. There is time to flee. And so, Christ says to those who are in Judea: “Flee!” To those in the midst of Jerusalem, He says: “Depart!” For until our last hour comes, there is always time to flee from God’s judgment to His grace in Christ.

And so, in contrast to this brutal description of judgment by our Lord in the Gospel text, today’s Collect shows us how to heed Christ warning to “Flee” and “Depart” from judgment. In what is probably one of the most beautiful collects ever written, we pray:

O God, who declarest Thine almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: give unto us abundantly Thy grace: that we, running to Thy promises, may be made partakers of Thy heavenly treasure.

So it is that fleeing to God’s promises is our only way of escape from the impending judgment.

Our Epistle from Saint Paul’s great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15 teaches us about this further. In that reading, the Apostle teaches us about the difference between the earthly and the heavenly body, or the “terrestrial” and “celestial” bodies, as our reading describes them. The earthly body is the body filled with sin because of the fall. Original sin has corrupted and weakened our natural body so that it is but a shadow of what it was made to be. Therefore, we are justly under the wrath of God. We deserve His temporal and eternal punishment. This is the lot of all men who are descendants of Adam and are born in the natural way.

But it is also true that Christ has come as the last Adam—the perfect human being. He lived a sinless life and sacrificed Himself to appease the wrath of God. And then He was raised to newness of life in order to justify us before the Father so that all who believe in Him have passed from judgment to life. Truly, the last Adam has become a life-giving spirit for us (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:45).

And so, when the final day comes and we are raised in glory to life eternal, we will not be angels, as some mistakenly believe. In the resurrection on the Last Day, you will be raised in your human body. And you will be exactly who God has made you to be. The corruption of this sin-filled body will be exchanged for incorruption. The dishonor of this body will be exchanged for glory. The weakness of the flesh will be exchanged for power. The natural body will be raised a spiritual body. And you will be you, exactly as God intended you to be—a cleansed, perfect human being who will live forever in the new creation with the resurrected and glorified Lord Jesus Christ.

And so it is that fleeing to Christ is our only escape from judgment. The joys of paradise await those who repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ. And God’s terrible judgment awaits all those who do not repent of their sins or believe in Christ. But we must recognize this important point: There is no neutral, third option. There is no “pass” for someone who wants to get out of it all. When Jerusalem is surrounded and judgment comes, one will either flee to Christ, or he will suffer the judgment that is coming. There are only two ways that one can go in this life—the way of Christ’s judgment or the way of His grace.

And so, dear friends in Christ, let us daily choose the path of Christ’s grace. And by the power of the Holy Spirit, let us humble ourselves and run to Christ’s promises, that we might be made partakers of His heavenly treasure.

God grant it.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.