9/20/12. Luke 21:20-28. LOOK FOR THE LORD-devotional

Key Verse: 21:28                                                                                 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF

“When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Dear Lord, thank you for sending several friends into our lives today. Thank you for help me and Julie to be able to spend the day together. I pray that I can grow as a good friend for others. Lord, I pray that you may help us to reach out to others and the share the gospel with them. I pray that you may raise up gospel workers at NIU who can touch the hearts of the students with the love of Jesus. Please plant your word in my heart today. I thank you and I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Part 1: Signs of Jerusalem’s Destruction (20-24).

Verses 20-24, “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. ²² For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. ²³ How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”

Jesus answered his disciples’ question about the signs of the temple’s destruction. Jesus warned that when they saw armies surrounding the city, its desolation was near. A siege onJerusalemby Roman armies began in AD 66 and concluded in AD 70 with the city’s destruction.

Why did such a calamity occur? It is a consequence of rejecting Jesus as the Savior and repenting and believing in him. Many of the Jewish people at that time, hated the Romans. They were upset that their temple was being violated by emperor worship and other pagan practices. They were nationalistic.  As a result they got the Romans upset and they came to destroy the temple and drive Jews fromJerusalem. The temple was burnt and demolished.

Would this have happened if they accepted Jesus? They would have realized that the temple was obsolete. They would not be so hung up on their nationalistic ideas. Instead of thinking of asRomebeing the enemy they would have thought thatRomewere the lost flock of God and tried their best to evangelize them and win them over to Jesus Christ. Instead of fighting they would have tried to love their enemy and turned the other cheek. But they did not accept Jesus and their actions and their attitudes brought the wrath of the Romans upon them. Was it the wrath of God or was it a consequence of not accepting Jesus as their Savior? God only knows.

It was also a time of salvation for those who believed. The Christians in the city, who remembered Jesus’ words, saw the signs and immediately fled. They went to Pela and were saved. Jesus saved them 40 years after his death on the cross simply by speaking a word of warning.

One thing is sure, God sent his Son as our Savior and extended his grace unanimously to all those who will accept him. On the other hand, whoever does not believe stands condemned already. They will have to face the consequences of their rejection of the Savior. We must know that rejection of God’s grace has tragic consequences and we can’t blame God for those consequences.

I suffer a lot inwardly because of my unrepentant heart. It is my own doing. I cannot blame God. I just need to repent and accept Jesus newly and be forgiven and try again. There is enough grace and power to change my heart and help me to mature in my faith. I can live in the joy of salvation because of the grace of God.

Part 2: Signs of The Lord’s Return (25-28).

Verses 25-28, “²⁵ “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶ People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷ At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Jesus taught his disciples about the signs of the end of the age. These signs are cosmic in nature, seen in the sun, moon, and stars. They indicate that a new beginning is coming for all of God’s creation. The period of time before the Lord’s second coming will be a time of tribulation.

There is much suffering occurring today. There signs in the environment, especially with global warming that are defining this century. These could be signs of the end of the age.

People will faint in terror, but believers are to lift their heads up. Why? Because the Lord’s return is near. “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” All of those who believe in him will experience the fulfillment of redemption.

There could be much speculation about the signs, but there is no speculation about how we should respond to any suffering or tragedy. We must lift up our eyes to Jesus and we must draw near to him. This must be our response each time. I want to lift up my head to Jesus now in the midst of my relational issues for when I do I know that my redemption draweth near.

We also have to have a real hope in the second coming of Jesus. Most think this is impractical and unnecessary. But it a main tenant of Christian doctrine. It is very practical and real and is going to happen in God’s time.

Prayer: Lord, help us to keep our eyes on Jesus.

One Word: Lift up your heads