< Luke 21 >

Jesus observed people in the temple and commended the widow who cast in “all her living” though it was a very small amount of money, but it was relatively large in relation to the wealthy who cast in just a small portion of their wealth, on the principle: “If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not”.2 Corinthians 8:122 Corinthians 8:12XWaiting for response

The temple was a glorious building, recently completed after forty-six years’ construction,v.5Luke 21:5XWaiting for response but Jesus made a dramatic statement: “The days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down”.v.6Luke 21:6XWaiting for response The disciples naturally wished to know when this would happen v.7Luke 21:7XWaiting for response and Jesus told them of future events which would affect them personally, Jerusalem, and the Jews in the land; speaking both of the near future v.32Luke 21:32XWaiting for response and of the time far off v.24Luke 21:24XWaiting for response when he would finally return. That time was a period of peace and tranquillity, maintained by the Roman legions, but Jesus told them this would soon end with “wars and commotions” but this would not signify the end.v.9Luke 21:9XWaiting for response Nation would soon rise up against nation,v.10Luke 21:10XWaiting for response there would be great natural calamities,v.11Luke 21:11XWaiting for response and the disciples would be persecuted by the authorities v.12Luke 21:12XWaiting for response and betrayed by their nearest and dearest,v.16Luke 21:16XWaiting for response but they were to trust in God v.18Luke 21:18XWaiting for response and be courageous.v.19Luke 21:19XWaiting for response

Jesus gave them a specific sign to watch for so that they could act to save themselves. Jerusalem would be encompassed with armies and the disciples would then know its destruction was imminent v.20Luke 21:20XWaiting for response and should flee into the mountains of Judea.v.21Luke 21:21XWaiting for response And so in A.D.70, following a Jewish rebellion, the Roman legions besieged Jerusalem. Dramatically the Jews sallied forth and discomforted the Roman soldiers who retreated briefly, giving the disciples of Christ the opportunity to flee before the Romans returned to destroy the city and slaughter most of the inhabitants.vs.22-23Luke 21:22-23XWaiting for response

Jesus said that the Jews “shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”.v.24Luke 21:24XWaiting for response And so Jerusalem was in the hands of the Gentiles for eighteen hundred years, with the Jews scattered throughout the world, but recently they have returned to the land. The State of Israel was established in 1948 and the whole city of Jerusalem was taken by the Jews in 1967. This is a great sign that we are very near to the return of Christ. He observed that people recognise Summer is close when the leaves begin to appear on the trees,vs.29-30Luke 21:29-30XWaiting for response and so we should know from these signs the nearness of the summertime of the world’s history when God’s kingdom will be re-established: “So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand”.v.31Luke 21:31XWaiting for response