THE WORD 4 ev 1

Read Matthew 24 (click here for link)

Where yesterday’s reading seemed harsh, todays seems bleak. Jesus predicts the end. But the end of what, exactly?

Near the beginning of the chapter the disciples ask Jesus what appears to be three separate questions: When will the things you describe occur? What will be the signs that will herald your return? What will be the things that happen at the end of the age? Jesus supplies a lengthy answer; however it is difficult to determine in which order Jesus answers the disciples questions. Does he answer them in the order they were asked, or does he answer the last question first and first, last? In fact, at times, there doesn’t seem to be any ryhm or reason to his answers, one moment speaking about the near event and in next moment speaking about the remote future. Because of these difficulties, much confusion abounds as to the interpretation of this passage. As a result it seems as though whenever a major catastrophic event occurs somewhere around the globe there are those who cite this passage and raise the alarm that end must be near.

Word to the wise: Be wary of anyone who makes these claims!

Here are a few things of which we can be certain:

1. Jesus is speaking of at least two different events separated by a long period of time. The first event Jesus refers to is the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. This is relatively clear because of various direct statements He makes, such as, that no two stones of the temple will be left standing together. He also says, “…this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” These references and others were immediately fulfilled in 70 A.D. when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem—only about 40 years after Jesus’ crucifixion. Antiquity records this event as one of the most brutal sieges of any city in History. The historian Josephus, a man whom the Romans used to attempt negotiations with the Jewish rebels, recorded that about one million people died at the end of it all, many of them crucified. In fact, it is rumored that the Romans ran out of space to fit their makeshift crosses. Josephus even records the horrible account of woman roasting her own new born child for food. It seems almost too abominable to be true, but then we remember what Jesus said, “How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again."

2. The second event to which Jesus refers is the coming of the Son of Man riding on the clouds which will be the end of the age. However, exactly when this will happen, no one knows, apparently not even our Lord! It will simply be like lightening which comes out of nowhere, traveling from the east to the west. While there will be signs that that will point us to the coming our Lord, none of these signs will definitively tell us when this will take place. These signs will simply be a reminder that our Lord is indeed returning. Jesus says that such things are like “the beginning of birth pangs.” In other words, in the same way that a pregnant woman’s contractions tells her that she is about to give birth, so History will be filled with terrible reminders that our world is headed toward judgment. However, like that pregnant woman’s labor, no one can predict which contraction will be the last, bringing forth the long awaited baby. Thus, Jesus very carefully explains to his disciples that they are to always be ready, for they do not know when their master will return. So it is that we still wait—like an eager father by the side of his laboring wife—we watch the contractions of this world which began with the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

3. Our Lord is vastly more patient than we are; and he uses his patients liberally. In the days of Noah, God waited patiently for 120 years for that sinful generation to repent. He did not bring destruction immediately, but instead set Noah to an incredibly long task, building the ark, which no doubt may have frustrated Noah at times, but nevertheless it gave him ample opportunity to preach. So too, our Lord waits. Even as sinfulness increases in this present age, he waits. He waits for you and me to be like patient Noah—to proclaim the good news while there is still time.

Have a blessed day,
Pastor Aaron