Week 41 "Not One Stone"

Video Notes:

·       What in life and the world is permanent and what is temporary?

·       Look at some of these massive stones…We can tell the original Herodian stones by their bordered edges. In fact the largest quarried stone in the world is located a couple of hundred yards north from here.

·       The disciples, and the Jews of their day, thought the Temple would stand forever… they were wrong. Jesus said that not one stone of the Temple would be left upon another, and it happened just the way He said. When the Romans tore down the temple in AD 70, they pushed the great stones of the Temple, the walls, and even the pedestrian arch that once was above us here, down into this street. You can see the impact they left.

·       In recent years this section has been excavated and the great stones were left where they fell as a reminder of the destruction of the temple.

·       What in our lives do we think is rock-solid, permanent? Where do we place our trust?

Text: This week we’re covering Luke 20:45-47 and all of Luke 21 which covers Jesus’ answers to the disciples’ questions about the future of the Temple, Jerusalem, and Israel, as well as the promised return of Christ. It is a section that is a good one to try to match up Jesus’ answers with the right questions. Also, making an outline as you work through this section is also helpful. Interestingly, Jesus speaks very practically into their situation about things that would happen in their generation. I the process of speaking to the concerns of the disciples, he speaks great advice to us as well.

Other passages to read: We encourage you to read "horizontally" in these passages that are parallel or provide background information to our text from Luke 20:

·           This whole passage is paralleled : Matthew 24:1-51; Mark 13:1-3

·           Widow’s Gift: Mark 12:41-44; 2 Kings 12:9 (origin of offering box)

·           Persecution of the Church: Matthew 10:17-23; Acts 22:19; 26:9-11

·           City Surrounded: Luke 19:43-44

·           Watch Yourselves & Stay Awake: Matthew 25:13; 26:41; Romans 13:11-14; Gal. 6:1; 1 Timothy 4:16; 1 Peter 4:7; 2 John 1:8.

·           Daily in the temple: Matthew 21:17; 26:55; Mark 11:19; John 8:1-2.

Points to ponder: In your study this week, you might want to think about one of these questions:

·         What does this short pericope about the widow’s gift teach us about giving?

·         Why was Jesus more concerned about the opposition his followers would face than about the destruction of the temple?

·         What really is the disciples question and how does Jesus answer?

·         Several things are said to be “near” in this chapter. What are they and how is this important?

·         What does Jesus mean when he says, “for my name’s sake”?

·         How does v. 14-15 translate into the way we live? What does this challenge us to do or not do?

We try to answer these questions on the Jesus4Everyone blog in the next week’s post.

Questions to ask ourselves: The following questions are intended to help us move towards greater personal application of what we learn about Jesus…

·         How do I approach my giving to the Lord? It is worship or something else?

·         What do I consider to the most important and permanent thing in my life (other than God)? How would I handle its loss?

·         How should I react to what I hear, see, and read in the news this week?

·         What would I need to change in my life if I was to face persecution for my faith?

·         If Jesus promises to give us an appropriate answer in moments of trial, when do I take time to listen to the Holy Spirit speak to my current situation?

Pastor Randy’s Sermon Notes: "The Comings of Jesus"

Read Luke 21:5-36

• Listen to God’s Word

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” (v 33)

• Live in anticipation of His coming

“Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” (v 28)

• Look for opportunities to live and love like Jesus

“But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.” (v 13)

Quotes and Commentary:

This week I am providing my own textual outline of this passage in an effort to help us follow the thrust of Jesus teaching on this subject and not miss his practical directives. Also, my interpretive comments are [blue text in brackets]

1. The Widow’s Offering

·         She gave all she had

·         They gave more, but less, out of their abundance

·         their offerings literally adorned the outside walls of the temple (the golden vine) which would be destroyed in 70 ad.

·         Her offering adorned the temple of her heart for God’s eternal pleasure.

2. Destruction of the Temple Foretold (5-11)

·         “Not one stone left on another” v.6 [Our Video focus]

·         v. 7 Two Questions

o   When will these things be?

o   What will be the sign? [“signs” are a short-term confirmation of a long-term prediction. So signs should have been expected to be seen by that audience…in their generation.]

·         Answers & Warnings:

o   Don’t be led astray

§  Many false prophets claiming to be Jesus

o   Don’t go after them [Don’t follow them]

o   Don’t be terrified at the news [wars and rumors]

·         They must take place

§  The end will not be at once

·         There will be wars

o   nation     à nation

o   kingdom àkingdom

·         There will be great earthquakes

·         There will be famines & pestilences (diseases)

o   in various places

·         There will be terrors & great signs

o   from heaven

3. Persecution of the Church Foretold (12-19)

·         v. 12 But before all this...they will:

o   lay hands on you

o   persecute you

o   deliver you up

§  to the synagogues

§  to the prisons

·         Even by parents, brothers, relatives, friends (16)

o   brought before kings & governors

§  for my name’s sake

o   This is your opportunity to witness

§  Settle it in your mind

§  Not planned out in advance

·         [not looking for trouble]

·         [not depending on yourself]

·         [not seeking to escape]

§  Spirit-provided defense

·         adversaries cant withstand

·         Adversaries can’t contradict

§  Some of you will be killed

o   All hate you

o   Not a hair of your head will perish [nothing about you will be lost]

4. Destruction of Jerusalem (20-24)

A.   Jerusalem surrounded

o   Flee to the mountains

§  Desolation has come near

·         Inside cityà depart

·         Outside cityà do not enter it

§  These are the days of vengeance [for what?]

·         Fulfilling all that is written

Parallel structure here:

A. Lament for pregnant & nursing women

B. there will be great distress upon the earth

[earth/land often used to refer to Israel]

B’                               wrath against this people

        C. They will fall by the sword

        C’ They will be led captive

B.   Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles

o   Until time of Gentiles is fulfilled

[Fulfilled=like a cargo ship that has been filled and is ready to sail.

Like Noah filling the ark. Now the Ark is Christ.]

5. 2^nd Coming of Christ Foretold (25-28)

·         Signs in sun, moon, and stars [signs in Bible are always in the short term]

·         On earth distress of nations in perplexity

o   roaring sea and waves

·         People fainting with fear and foreboding

·         Powers of heaven shaken (see v. 11)

·         They will see Jesus coming in a cloud

o   Power & great glory [OT allusion to the Shekinah]

·         Now when these things begin to take place…

o   Straighten up

o   [Look up] Raise your heads. Why?

§  Your redemption is drawing near

6. Parable of the Fig Tree—not just a Fig Tree (29-33)

·         you see for yourselves and know…

·         This generation will not pass away

o   Until all has taken place. [Need to take seriously Jesus’ time reference]

7. Watch Yourselves (34-36)

·         Watch yourselves

o   [it is possible for the heart to be weighed down by]

§  dissipation—what waters down my life

§  drunkenness—what numbs my life

§  cares of this life—what strangles my life

o   Day comes suddenly like a trap

o   Day comes upon all (the whole earth)

·         Stay awake at all times

o   Praying for strength to escape

§  the things which will take place

§  to stand before the Son of Man

8. Sunrise, Sunset (37)

·         Every day he was teaching in the temple

·         Every night on the Mt. of Olives

·         Early Morning “classes”

o   the people came to hear him

o   coming to “hear” him is better than coming to “see” him (Herod)

Previously on Ponderable: In your study the last couple of weeks, you might have thought about and answered these questions that were posed. Here are some of my answers to these questions:

• Why was Jesus warning the people about the scribes at this point? Because they were hypocritical, making a public show of their spirituality while privately being greedy, proud, and abusive.

·         What was wrong with the scribes giving? What made it wrong? First of all it was in order to be noticed. Secondly, it was defiled because they were oppressing “widows” and God takes justice very seriously as well as looking on the heart. Thirdly it was deficient in that it was given out of their excess, in essence costing them nothing.