Sermon Tone Analysis

PRAY

Intro: What should we expect in the Christian life?

Smooth sailing?

Just put your faith in Jesus and all your problems will go away?

No, what you can expect is to be desperately dependent on Jesus to get you through living like Jesus in a world rebelling against God’s authority.

We can expect that Christians of every generation will face hardship and will need to lead holy lives to draw attention to Christ.

But we live with joy and hope, knowing that, because we have gained God through faith in Jesus, we will be found in him at the second coming of our Lord!

Preparation for hardship and readiness for Christ’s second coming introduces the whole section of Luke 21:5-38, which we can only cover in part this time.

This segment of Jesus’ teaching is often called the Olivet Discourse, or I might name it his Eschatological Discourse (discussion of future things).

Luke summarizes the discourse in some places, where Mark has a little more detail (Mark 13), and Matthew substantially more (Matt 24 & 25) because he includes some parables Jesus used for illustration.

The bulk of the material is nearly identical (with slight variation in wording), and we’ll note a detail here and there from the synoptic parallels, but we’re of course camping out in the text in Luke as we journey through that gospel.

Jesus has just finished a series of confrontations with the spiritual leaders in Israel (during this final week before his crucifixion), and now the focus of discussion shifts toward future things.

What launches the conversation forward into eschatology (future things), is the commentary by some disciples about the impressiveness of the temple grounds, which leads Jesus to describe a future destruction of this temple structure.

That reference to the temple being destroyed leads to questions about when and what signs, which Jesus uses as opportunity to discuss what to expect in the nearer future destruction of Jerusalem (which takes place in 70AD) and then in the final days before his return (the end time).

Most significantly, though, Jesus tells them how they ought to live in light of the certainty of such events.

Here’s what you can expect, and here’s how you should live.

It will not be easy, but in Christ you will make it through to glory.

One more thing as we jump into more specifics: It is helpful for us to note that Jesus does not talk about these things chronologically, but thematically.

This is true with both main elements in the discourse—future things depicted and the suffering of his people described—they cover near and far future fulfillment.

What will happen to the things of this world, even to Israel’s magnificent temple and city?

*** (and see v. 33… city destroyed)

This glorious temple will be torn down - When?

What signs?

(they ask)

The destruction of 70AD was God’s Judgment on Israel (Luke 19:44, “because you did not know the time of your visitation”).

And the point of the ensuing discussion (the whole thing, not just our verses for today) is that yes believers will know it when it happens (difficult to miss), and most importantly that Christ’s people need to be ready—ready for hardship, and ready for his return.

Instead of answering the questions directly, Jesus does do so indirectly, though not as specifically as they would like, no doubt.

How should Jesus’ followers respond to grand claims and great calamities?

- (v. 8) Do not be led astray (by anyone else claiming to be Messiah or messiah-like, or claiming to know the time)...

- (v. 9) Do not be terrified (these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once)

(tumult - violent group disturbance caused by insurrection or rioting)

Why should we not fear?

(We could go many places for scriptural reminders, but consider comfort from Paul in Romans 8 alone.)

[repeat question] Trust the Lord.

Stay calm, and stand firm.

(Stay calm - Do not overreact.

… Stand firm - Do not waiver from what you know is true, from the One who is your confidence.)

[transition] The previous verse ends with “but the end will not be at once.”

What should believers expect in the world and in their lives in the interim?

-International wars and major natural disasters (vv.

10-11)

(pestilences/plagues - the sense is an epidemic disease with a high death rate, as well as a destructive plagues of pests)

(the reference to “terrors and great signs from heaven” indicates ominous things that tend to cause dread and awe) - And these are not yet ones that arise to the level of similar but much more intense things to take place near to the very end of this age.

(In the same context as Luke’s vv.

21-28, Mark and Matthew record Jesus as saying this of the last tribulation: (also Mt. 24:21)

So back in Luke 21, vv.

8,9,10,&11 all speak of things that are ongoing throughout history, that are similar to the end, but not nearly to the same degree (even the destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem will be an example of this).

-(but before all this… in the even nearer future) You Can Expect Persecution (v.

12)

(persecute is to cause suffering, whether physically or emotionally… hand you over to synagogues is a reference to delivering them to local religious authorities, and to imprisonment [and we can’t help but think of these things taking place exactly as Jesus said, which Luke records in the book of Acts] for doing nothing other than preaching Christ… And does it end with local scuffles and imprisonment?

No, some would be led away to be questioned before kings and other great rulers.

It took place just as Jesus predicted, and the Apostle Paul would become the prime example in his missionary travels of repeatedly suffering all these things… one who himself, before dramatic transformation in Christ, was a fervent persecutor of the church.)

Even if Jesus speaks here to his first generation of followers, these types of things described are not unique to only the original disciples - Paul would tell Timothy to prepare himself and others that there would be times of persecution for the church - 2 Tim 3:12

Back in Luke 21, in both v. 12 & v. 17, note that this suffering and persecution is for “my name’s sake.”

Such persecution of believers should only come For His Name’s Sake—not because of wrongdoing, and not for selfish reasons.

We should never supposedly be ‘persecuted’ for what is actually selfishly motivated in our hearts.

Such does not honor Christ… does not glorify God.

We strive to live peaceful and godly lives without unnecessary conflict with governing authorities, but such is not always possible, when they are out to get you for simply worshipping God and preaching Christ.

In such cases, for the sake of his great name is the very reason that you respond to opposition in the way described in the following verses (13-15).

How should Christ’s people react when persecuted?

Jesus says, with positive connotation, this will lead to/produce/result in bearing testimony with your lives.

So here’s the first thought for how you should respond:

-Consider suffering and persecution an opportunity to testify (in word and behavior—a witness to Christ, the hope of glory in you... a chance to verbally testify concerning Jesus before your enemies).

Suffering and persecution are opportunities… to grow in Christlikeness, to experience God’s grace through greater dependence on him, to look like Jesus before those watching to see if he really changes people, and to verbally and publicly profess the gospel, to confess that Jesus is Lord.

There could be nothing more worthy of suffering for, of living for, and of giving your life in the cause of.

-Secondly, (Settle it in your minds ahead of time) Do not worry and overthink what you will say when brought before them.

Trust Christ, by his Holy Spirit, to be your strength and wisdom for how to answer.

(back in Luke 21:15) “I will give you…!” mouth and wisdom that they can’t withstand or contradict.

In other words, they will have to lie and malign you, and you will speak honestly and wisely in such a way that honors God and proves justice.

Therefore their treatment of you will be unjust and heap condemnation on their own heads.

Your conscience will be clear and the gospel will be clear!

- Thank you, Lord, that through your Holy Spirit God promises to be with us and in us (Jn 14:16-17).

(In the Bible) No one said this would be easy.

Nothing about vv.

16&17 sounds easy.

-Possibly betrayed by family and friends

-Potentially martyred (the meaning of the word martyr literally stems from this idea of giving up your life in testimony of faith).

-Hated by everyone [hyberbole]... who doesn’t love and fear God on his terms (Jesus is Lord!) … who won’t bow to the Lordship of Jesus.

You know, by God’s grace revealed to you and in you, what they do not know.

That God the Son willingly came as a man, instead of clinging to his eternal glory, made himself nothing and took the form of a slave by comparison, born in the likeness of men (Php 2:6-7).

And that he humbly and obediently submitted to the will of the Father and died on a cross to pay for sin (Php 2:8).

So Paul can say (in the same letter) with all sincerity of his own present imprisonment and various sufferings at many times for the name of Jesus Christ,

So, no one said this would be easy.

In fact, Jesus himself said that it would not be.

HOWEVER…

But in Christ you will ultimately make it through to glory.

-Our text says “But not a hair on your head will perish.”

-again, hyperbole, as a metaphorical statement to comfort them that their ultimate salvation is sure and secure

-By your endurance you will gain your lives.

- (Gk. hypomonē, “endurance, steadfastness, perseverance, patience”) “Through endurance believers will gain their lives (that is, will be enabled to partake of the full benefits of final salvation in the end times.”

-Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2003.

***

How should you think about the hard truth of the fallen world around you, the real suffering that we all face, and the meaninglessness, ultimately, of all pursuits that are limited to this world?

What are we to think of Christians being unfairly treated for simply obeying Jesus?

Welcome to the blood-stained and joy-soaked Christian life.

We have it backwards when we think that God exists to do our pleasure and to make us comfortable in our present existence.

***

Pleasure in God is eternal.

And that relationship to God is mediated to us through Jesus Christ.

In him is peace, purpose, meaning, identity, and joy.

In him is growth toward greater holiness.

In him is power to persevere.

Such is our forward-looking hope and confidence in the face of suffering and persecution.

Jesus never said living in a fallen world would be easy.