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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke
PART 5 - CHRIST'S TRIUMPHAL ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM (Luke 19:28 - 21:38)
10. The Sermon on the Mount of Olives About the Future Destruction (Luke 21:5-38)
LUKE 21:25-33 -- Signs of the End
25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the wave roaring; 26 Men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” 29 Then He spoke to them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. 31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
32 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
We pray daily, “Your kingdom come!” – our aim is to further the kingdom of God. By this petition we mean the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers today, and the increase of those who are devoted to Christ, in preparation for his second coming with glory, that God may be present with men.
Christ does not lie. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one of his words to change. Moreover, all the stars, planets, and multitudes of suns will melt and pass away when Christ comes in great glory. He will set up a new heaven and a new earth coming from the love of God, and full of his truth, where life will go on according to Christ’s words, for his word is the source of life, and the fountain of eternal love. Fill your heart with the word of Jesus and you will live forever. Carry out your Lord’s commands through his power given to you and you will glorify the Coming One with all your heart.
Once again, Christ answered his disciples’ answer with a parable of the fig tree, which is a symbol of the people of the Old Testament (Hosea 9:10; Micah 7:1; Jeremiah 8:13; Mark 11:12; Luke 13:6-9). In summer, the fig tree bears many green leaves and sweet fruit. In winter it’s leaves fall and it looks at night like a fearful dead ghost by the light of the full moon. In the spring, when the sap runs into it through the rays of the sun, life re-appears in the tree. Likewise Jesus gave hope to the spiritually fruitless dead nation. After a long winter a summer will come with much fruit. He said, “If this happens, the kingdom of God must be drawing near. If not, the kingdom will still be far away.” Thank God that the human race and its weak generation will not end through nuclear wars and chemical poisons, unless the expected kingdom comes before.
LUKE 21:34-36
34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Christ’s word wakes us out of sleep after our long waiting for his delayed coming. So let your mind not be involved with worries, drowned in fear, or pessimistic in indifference, as the existentialists say, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we shall die.” Dear brother, do not be shallow like them, taken up with worldly cares; but turn toward the other world, and believe in the truth of God and the Last Judgment, which hisses like a rope thrown to wrap around the neck of him who flees to encircle him.
The Day of the Lord is coming. Are you prepared for judgment? Do not think that the credit side of your worldly life statement of account can cover your debit side of failure and deficiency. The light of Christ’s glory will show that you are imperfect in yourself, and nothing but an imperfect human. Then you will cry: “Help!” when the time of salvation has elapsed. Today, Christ shows you his pierced hands, and binds your sinful soul together with him on the cross, that your soul may trust by faith in his pardoning love, and live in newness of his life.
Watch, know yourself in the light of God, pray humbly, believe in Christ’s promises, be thankful and confess your sins, make devout supplication for others, and pray that the Lord may help you at all times, for only those who pray thus are worthy of entering the kingdom of God. You are unable to stand before the great glory of Christ, but the Holy Spirit will comfort, establish, and support you if you are born again of water and the Spirit, and become a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
As he then commanded his disciples to flee immediately as soon as the destroying armies come, Christ also commands us today to take heed to ourselves, to flee away from lusts of the flesh, to overcome our earthly cares, to get ready for the great day, and to come to him with unspeakable joy and endless gratitude.
LUKE 21:37-38
37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.
Jesus saw his death approaching. He did not flee, but turned aside from those who wanted to arrest him, for his hour had not yet come. All day long, he taught in the temple, and the multitudes came to him joyfully to be inspired by his power, and eased in their consciences. Then in the dark night, Jesus hid himself together with his disciples away from his enemies in the Kidron Valley, at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Many Jews regarded this region as unclean because of the many tombs in it, and the remnants of burnt sacrifices thrown there. In that place Jesus rested, slept, prayed, and gained new strength for striving for the next day. He got up every morning in those regions, which were considered unclean, fearful, and haunted, went up to the heights of the temple in the bright daylight. There he preached to the lost sheep that crowded around him as a flock without a shepherd. They plucked up courage for a living hope through the power of God flowing from the Son of Man.
PRAYER: O Lord, You call me and you love me. Open my ear to your words. Give me a heart to follow you. Free me from my bonds that you may not find me at your coming bound to lusts and worries, but expecting you and praying with the saints who rely on your gospel alone.
QUESTION 128: How do we prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming?