The Return of Jesus Christ (Luke, Part 10)
Luke 21:5-36
Introduction / Recap
- Last week, we saw Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem
-- This fulfilled God’s prophecy of Zechariah 9:9, “Messiah riding on a colt”
-- It also announced Jesus as the Messiah promised by God
-- Re: He took this position to declare who He was, and the religious hated it
- Big takeaways for us all centered around, “How do we react to Jesus?”
1. How do we respond to His calling?
2. How do we live for Him in everything we do?
3. How are we fulfilling the Great Commission to bring others to Him?
- Today we are going to attempt to tackle one of the toughest (prophetic) chapters
-- It is the chapter that gives us comprehensive insight into the return of Jesus
-- However, it can be one of the most misunderstood passages (i.e., Revelation)
-- We must be careful to hear and listen to what the Spirit is saying (Amen?)
- Read Luke 21:5-36 / Pray
- Critical: We must be careful not to add to or take away from this
-- Attempting to explain these verses must be done with fear and respect
-- But, it must be done truthfully and based on what it says, not what we think
-- Prayerfully, together we can learn about these times, and gain strength in it
-- Why? Because Jesus is (now) preparing us to walk through these times
Point 1 – The signs of the present age
- Jesus teaches on three events, of which disciples thought were simultaneous
-- They are: Jerusalem’s destruction, the Lord’s return, and the world’s end
-- To disciples, they are seen as one continuous event vs. seen in God’s timing
- How? It’s in the phrasing of Jesus’ words:
• Predict the temple’s destruction – even as they admired its majesty (v5-6)
• This prophetic claim led to obvious questions from the disciples (v7)
• And Jesus’ response is for them (us) to not be deceived (press in here) (v8)
- It’s easy to get caught up in the majesty & mystery and lose the main point
-- MAIN: Jesus will return, and He speaks clearly of the signs of His coming
- First will be false messiah’s claiming to be Jesus
• They will claim to be God by proclaiming their own deity
• Will claim that the end has come because they have arrived (bit self-serving)
• But Jesus said: “…do not believe them” (i.e., do not follow them)!
- Matthew 7:15, “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.”
- Consider: When it is Jesus, we will ALL know it (see this later in v27)
-- There is no reason someone should have to announce they are Jesus
-- THIS is what gets people in trouble … people follow without Godly truth
-- BIG: Jesus does not need to show His ID to get our affirmation or recognition
- Second will be of wars and violence (GR: akatastasias) (v10)
• However, we are not to be frightened (GR: ptoethete); do not be troubled
• War must happen – b/c men’s hearts are gripped in sin; pitted against
• We may think that the end is near b/c we hear of war, but …
• Thankfully, He gives us comforting words to stand on
- John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.” (Who has overcome? Lesson: Life is not about us!)
- Third, He declares that natural catastrophes will occur: (v11)
• Earthquakes and other natural disasters (floods, fires, etc.)
• Famines (seen as world-wide hunger, shortage of resources)
• Pestilence (great disease and plagues of which there is no cure)
• Astronomical happenings (meteors, asteroids, sun darkened, etc.)
- TR: So, one might logically ask … aren’t these things happening now?
-- The obvious answer is yes, but thankfully, Jesus continues to prepare US …
Point 2 – What are the signs prior to the end?
- Jesus is very clear to point us towards four key components to occur:
- First, persecution of the believer (by civil and religious authorities) (v12)
-- Why? “Because we are His followers” – persecuted “because of His name”
- By following Him, we declare that we righteously support:
• Jesus as the standard of true Godliness
• That Jesus represents living a life of godly purity
• And that Jesus brings a message of repentance and self-denial
- (saw this part 5) Luke 9:23-24, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”
- Second, our persecution will still be a tremendous opportunity to witness (v13)
-- APP: We ought to be willing to be totally loyal to Him; testifying in all things
-- This is what brings people to Him … Fact: men won’t die for a lie (re: cross)
- Third, while being persecuted, we won’t have to prepare our defense (v14)
-- Why? God will supply us with the words and the responses to the charges
-- FACT: Wisdom comes from Him if we are leaning in to hear and accept it
-- Jesus’ encouragement is to not worry about preparing to respond; don’t fret!!
- Fourth, He promises we will be betrayed by family & friends (v16); Ask, why?
-- To save their own lives, to secure some favor/pardon, to escape punishment
-- To escape their own responsibilities, to preserve their own skin/place
-- Bottom line: the believer shall be hated because of who we follow (Jesus)
- Yet … good news! Even in the persecution we still have hope in a protector!
-- Psalm 7:1, “I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors (pause) (shout) rescue me!” (note the exclamation point!)
- Our charge is simple: To know that God is in control of every aspect of life (v18)
-- And further, He even controls our eternity (v19) and where we spend it
-- APP: A genuine believer must stand firm and NOT deny God; but follow!
-- Why do we declare this as a good thing? James 1:12, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
-- This is our reward that we hope for … a crown of life that never fades
- TR: Today’s big question: “What will happen when Jesus returns?”
Point 3 – The coming of the Son of Man
- v20-24 take a detour and describe the destruction of Jerusalem
-- If you remember, we talked about this last week – Titus’ army, 66-70AD
-- Since He talking to the disciples, they correlated all of this into one event
- FACT: The most pivotal event of all time will still be the coming of Jesus
-- It’s why He speaks of the heavenly bodies being shaken (v25)
-- Warning: We must be careful to not get trapped in the methods of legalism
- There are so many things we do not know about the forces of God, example:
-- DNA was discovered in 1860s by Swiss chemist Johann Friedrich Miescher
-- It was further developed and researched on in 1950s by Watson and Crick
-- However, don’t miss this … God always knew what it was as Creator
-- What Jesus refers to in v25 is that the entire universe will be affected
- FACT: Jesus’ return will bring about a celestial event of unknown impact
-- APP: When the creator makes Himself known, why wouldn’t creation respond?
-- Re: Last week: even the rocks/trees would cry out and praise His arrival
- This will bring incredible distress to mankind, and even to creation itself
-- The oceans will be in turmoil, people will be terrified, and then …
-- EVERYONE (v27) will see the Son of Man (Jesus’ name for Himself) return
- This is important – His return will be seen by all creation and at the same time
-- Consider: the backdrop of Heaven is pitch darkness (space)
-- And then suddenly, the most brilliant light appears before all creation
-- And from that light, appears the most radiant being of all
-- Filled with the Shekinah glory of God – Jesus will return to conquer sin/evil
- Free: Want you to consider the power in which Jesus has in just His return
-- 2 Thessalonians 2:8, “Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will slay him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.” (A war and battle with Satan? Bible says his breath conquers …)
- This is a tremendous encouragement for us today … to know He is coming
-- FACT: We will not miss it – He has not come – His glory is still to come
-- And our encouragement? To not be distressed, not to worry, not to fear
-- In that moment, we shall become one with Him, and forever be with Him
- TR: Today’s insight, “What does Jesus leave us with for right now?”
Point 4 – We are to live with encouragement!
- Jesus tells us to WATCH OUT! (prosexate, means to give attention to)
-- Don’t be engaged in the things of this world as your life’s focus (see examples)
• Carousing – being aloof, frivolous, irresponsible, unserious
• Drunkenness – Not being sober, alert, irresponsible; dulling your mind
o Not about having a beverage, but being uncontrolled
• Anxieties or cares of life (food, clothes, hobbies, desires, stuff)
o Valuing your stuff over God’s direction
- Our calling is to be on guard for these things … why? (re-read v34-35)
-- When Jesus returns, He most certainly may catch us off guard & unprepared!
- FACT: The day of the Lord’s coming demands our watchfulness
-- And in waiting, we are to be living a life of prayer, dedicated to His ways
• Knowing that God counts us as worthy because we follow Jesus
• Watching and praying to avoid the things to come (ref: “horrors”, v36)
o Consider the horrors of hell and those who go there …
• Being confident to be able to stand righteous before God
- Matthew 25:13, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.”
- This is our calling, our command, to be fully prepared for His arrival
-- We should not be afraid of it – but welcome Him because we are ready!
- Bottom line: We DO NOT fear His return, but we can’t misunderstand it either
-- We should know the signs behind His coming, and be ready to explain them
-- In that explaining, like today, we gain strength and courage for what’s coming
-- APP: We live as servants who expect the Master to return at any moment
- This is why Jesus went to great length to talk to us … so we’d know
-- I wonder, what lengths will WE go to, to help prepare others to know Him?
-- Will we witness, testify, and demonstrate who He is to us?
- Pray
