Daily with Jesus, Dec. 13
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The Prediction about the Temple and Jerusalem (Luke 21:5-28).
The Prediction about the Temple and Jerusalem (Luke 21:5-28).
We learn about the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and the destruction of the temple itself.
However, the point of this is that:
God wants us to be aware and be on alert for His return.
God wants us to be aware and be on alert for His return.
Look at how Luke gave the introductory verses that makes Jesus talk about the destruction of the temple.
In Luke 21:1-5
He looked up and saw the rich dropping their offerings into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow dropping in two tiny coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For all these people have put in gifts out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”
Then we learn about:
The Destruction of Temple
The Destruction of Temple
In verse 5 we learn:
As some were talking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,
The Temple is an important element in God’s plan. It is a place of worship. From the O.T. perspective, this is the place where God dwelled among His people.
We have learned from Matthew 21:12-13, that Jesus talks about the temple.
Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!”
So here we learn that Jesus talks about what the Temple’s function ought to be - house of prayer. He was in the temple when He uttered these words. So Jesus Himself gives so much importance to the temple.
The temple we will be looking at today is temple built or modified by Herod to gain some favor from the Jews.
See the picture here!
The first one was the Solomon’s temple, the second one was built by the post-exilic people when they returned from Babylon. That stood for about 500 years. However, there were some considerable modifications that need to be done. So Herod, to gain some favor took care of that part of the business.
The work started in 18 B.C., and was completed in 65 A.D.
A lot of time, expense, and labor was put into it.
So it turned out to be a beautiful temple.
The Jewish historian Josephus tells that the rocks used for this temple were huge - 60 feet long; their width is a span of three people spreading out their hands. So, this is a huge rock, and huge building.
Luke tells us this temple was also adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God. There must be lots of gold and such used in this construction.
However, we learn something from Jesus, while these people were talking about this temple.
God’s Judgement upon Temple
God’s Judgement upon Temple
Jesus says in Luke 21:6
“These things that you see—the days will come when not one stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
What? This is a striking statement, right?
The thing that you see is not going to be as is. This is going to be destroyed. Jesus makes it clear that “the days will come when no stone will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”
This is the predication of the destruction of the temple.
God’s house should have been used for its intended purposes. But we know that the temple was not used for God’s purposes.
As soon as Jesus said that, there is an inquiry.
“Teacher,” they asked him, “so when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
By using the term - Teacher, the text is telling us that this is not a private conversation with disciples alone, but the public were also in view.
Jesus affirms that the days will come - it is not that these days “might” come, but “will” come. This is going to happen!
That all the stones will be thrown down.
Jesus here predicts the destruction in 70 A.D., by the Romans. They will come, and burn the city down, and also the “temple.”
So the inquiry: When will these things happen? And what will be the sign when “these things” are about to take place.
Jesus then gives the signs.
The Signs of Destruction
The Signs of Destruction
We must keep in mind that the verses from 8-19 are talking about the signs of destruction in their time. Not a universal sign or signs for the entire world.
The first “sign” is then Jesus talks about the False Messiahs.
Then he said, “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Don’t follow them.
There are going to be those who come deceiving people in the name of Jesus, saying “I am he.”
The Greek text has “ἐγώ εἰμι” - I AM. This refers to the I AM in Exodus 3:14.
Pillar commentary on Luke says this:
The Gospel according to Luke The Destruction of the Temple (21:5–24)
In the second Jewish revolt (132–35), Bar Kokhba claimed to be the Messiah, and his claim swept many devout Jews into revolt.
So there was a (or some) people who claimed to be Messiah. Jesus not only warns them, but also warns us to be careful about these false messiahs who would come in His name.
Then Jesus talks about the signs.
The Disasters That Would Take Place
The Disasters That Would Take Place
There is going to be news about wars, rebellions. However, do not panic because these must happen.
This is the plan of God. However, the end will not come right away. Meaning, this is how God ordered things, and this is what will happen.
Nations will rise against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms.
Earthquakes, famines, and plagues.
However, before all this happens, there is going to be persecution.
The Persecution of Believers
The Persecution of Believers
But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you. They will hand you over to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name.
The Purpose of this Persecution
The Purpose of this Persecution
This will give you an opportunity to bear witness.
Yes, there is going to be persecution. But this, though a difficult phase in life, gives you an opportunity to witness.
The term for “witness” here means that one not only “gives” a testimony, but actually “be” that testimony- through action, through their lives.
That is, if one “truly” places their trust in Jesus Christ, and what He means to them, they will NOT give up on Him. They don’t have to “preach” an hour long message, but they would testify to these authorities with their lives.
Basically, their lives speak about Jesus.
The Comfort and Promise in the Midst of Persecution
The Comfort and Promise in the Midst of Persecution
Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time, for I will give you such words and a wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
God does not forsake His people in the midst of crisis. He will always be with them.
Jesus further talks about the betrayal of their friends, relatives and family. He said that you will be hated because of my name.
There is also a promise Jesus makes - that without God’s will, nothing happens.
Verse 18, “but not a hair of your head will be lost” should be understood spiritually. They will face persecution. However, nothing happens without God’s will.
Jesus closes this section by saying, “By your endurance, gain our lives.”
Meaning, be strong in your faith, and you will receive the promises of God.
The Destruction of Jerusalem
The Destruction of Jerusalem
Verses 20-24 talks about the destruction of Jerusalem.
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation has come near. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those inside the city must leave it, and those who are in the country must not enter it, because these are days of vengeance to fulfill all the things that are written. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
What is this telling us?
The destruction is total. The Roman army will not leave anything. Jerusalem will be surrounded.
This punishment in verse 22 is going to come from God, and what was written will be fulfilled.
It is interesting to note in the Gospel of Luke, when Jesus read the scroll in the synagogue, He said that ‘In your hearings, this prophecy is fulfilled.” At the end of His public ministry, Jesus says the similar things - “to fulfill all the things that were written.”
The next two verses explains the magnitude of the destruction
Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for there will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will be killed by the sword and be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
What does it mean by the times of Gentiles?
The gospel must be preached to all gentiles .
The Gospel according to Luke The Destruction of the Temple (21:5–24)
Gentiles will be both the cause of the fall of Jerusalem and the object of the proclamation of the gospel, which must be preached to them as a fulfillment of God’s saving mission within Israel before the return of the Son of Man.
The Return of the Son of Man
The Return of the Son of Man
The favorite title for Jesus.
“Then there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars; and there will be anguish on the earth among nations bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and expectation of the things that are coming on the world, because the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”
This is certainly talking about when Christ would return in person.
Within this section we learn about the cosmic signs. This is something to look for!
We do not know what signs there will be, but we have to keep an eye on the signs in sun, moon, and the stars.
Then there will be anguish on earth.
People will faint from fear because the powers of the heaven will be shaken.
The Coming of the Son of Man.
After these things, the Son of Man comes in great glory and power.
But when these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption is near.”
In this verse Jesus gives them hope.
All other will be fearful and fainting, but you do not have to.
All you have to do is look up, because your redemption is near.
When Jesus returns, it is not time to fear, but rejoice.
What can we Learn?
What can we Learn?
Jesus gave signs of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem.
He gave promises that He would be their help, and so our help in the midst of trials.
All of us at some point in life will go through troubles, and are going through troubles. But God does not and will not forsake us. We can take comfort and we must take comfort in the words of Jesus.
The world is going to come to and end. Terrible things will happen to the world. All, as believes we have to do is be watchful, we have to be on guard, be alert, be ready.
We must be praying (v.36).
We must look forward for that day. That Day is only known to God. So we must be praying and looking to be with our Savior.