Jesus Foretells the Future
1As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”
2Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”
3Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4“Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’* They will deceive many. 7And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.
9“When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me.* 10For the Good News must first be preached to all nations.* 11But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
12“A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. 13And everyone will hate you because you are my followers.* But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
14“The day is coming when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration* standing where he* should not be.” (Reader, pay attention!) “Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. 15A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. 16A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. 17How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. 18And pray that your flight will not be in winter. 19For there will be greater anguish in those days than at any time since God created the world. And it will never be so great again. 20In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, not a single person will survive. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.
21“Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. 22For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 23Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!
24“At that time, after the anguish of those days,
the sun will be darkened,
the moon will give no light,
25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.*
26Then everyone will see the Son of Man* coming on the clouds with great power and glory.* 27And he will send out his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the world*—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.
28“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. 30I tell you the truth, this generation* will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.
32“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert*!
34“The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
October 14 Reflection & Worship
Committed to the Task
THOSE ON THE ROAD TO HEAVEN WILL NOT BE CONTENT TO GO THERE ALONE.
LOOK BACK The final week of Jesus’ life is so important that about 40 percent of the verses in the four Gospel accounts focus on the “week that changed the world.” This past week you have read Matthew’s account, and tomorrow you will finish reading Mark’s (and in the next three weeks you’ll come to Luke’s and John’s record of that week). Notice which elements are repeated, which are omitted, and which are elaborated upon by the different Gospel writers. In each case, the author’s intent is not to confuse you but to convince you that Jesus is indeed
• the King of the Jews (Matthew)
• the Selfless Servant (Mark)
• the Son of Man (Luke)
• the Son of God (John)
As you see the final days of Jesus’ life through the eyes of a tax collector (Matthew), a missionary (Mark), a physician (Luke), and a fisherman (John), don’t be surprised if your vision is sharpened to see his purpose in coming and his purpose for leaving you here on earth until his return.
LOOK UP Last words have a tendency to be lasting words. And the final utterances of Jesus are no different.
The Great Commission is the name given to the final marching orders Jesus delivered to his disciples just before his Ascension. You’ll find the Great Commission in each of the four Gospel accounts and (for good measure) in the book of Acts. Take a few moments to look up each of the following verses, and on a separate sheet of paper write down in your own words what Jesus told his disciples to do while he was away preparing an eternal home for them:
• Acts 1:8
LOOK AHEAD Coca-Cola . . . Honda . . . Microsoft . . . Why is it that a cola or car or computer software can become a household word in places most people can hardly find on a map, while the good news of Jesus Christ remains a mystery to millions nearly twenty centuries after the news first broke?
Is it because their “product” has a better name than ours? Not likely. After all, we’re introducing people to the one whose name is so majestic that it fills the earth (Psalm 8:1).
Is it because their “product” is better for you than ours? Hardly. We have the privilege of introducing people to the bread of life and the living water.
Is it because their budget is bigger than ours? Maybe. And yet, more than two billion dollars are invested in world missions every year.
Or is it perhaps because they are simply more committed to their commission than we as Christians are committed to ours? It’s well worth pondering and praying over.