Sign…

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “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.” They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 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. “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.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven. “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. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls. (Luke 21:5-19, NRSV)

Many would tell us this passage is one that tells us when the end is coming…

But hasn’t all the things that Jesus says will happen before the end all ready happened again and again and again? These are things that seem to be every day occurrences.

Jesus also tells us elsewhere that no one knows the time, no one knows the day or the hour. Jesus himself does not know when the end will come, so how do we think we can figure it out?

This passage is comfort for those it was written for. It was a notice to say all of these things you are going through do not mean the end is near, but have faith and live in the hope that Jesus is the promised Messiah and all is well.

Jesus is giving us the same promise. Not asking us to figure out the day the world will end, but giving us the promise that all will be well when we trust in Him.