Do not be terrified
Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
9 “When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.”
Another complex text about the end of time. Jesus’ words speak to the present moment in which we live, as they have spoken to previous generations of Christians in moments of crisis in the past.
That is the first thing to say about attempting to understand a passage like this in the present. This passage was given by God to and for Christians of all times, not just to Christians in 2022, so what we hear in the passage must be things that would have made sense in a previous time.
Second, notice the warnings to not be fearful and to not be drawn into flash in the moment pursuing after signs of the end. (vs. 8 – Beware that you are not led astray; vs. 9 you will hear of wars – do not be terrified) In the present moment then the media stories about nuclear threat and an expanded war should not cause us fear. For we know that God will see us through (vs. 18). I realize that followers of Jesus are being killed – as has been the case since the start of the church – but their lives are ultimately safe in Jesus. “Those who lose their lives for my sake and for the gospel will find them.” (Luke 9:24)
Third, we will have opportunity to testify to God’s action in the world. But we do not need to prepare our speeches ahead of time, we will be given the words to say (vs. 14,15) we will be given the words we need at the time we need them. Standing for Jesus and the gospel will be difficult, but the promise is made that the Holy Spirit will help us be strong and endure.
PRAYER:
God of mercy, talk of the end frightens us. We become trapped in our fear. In this present moment teach us to live fearless in hope, that your kingdom is coming, and that all will be well in Your reign which is coming to this world. In Jesus’ name. Amen.