11-16-25                                Luke 21:5-19

5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6 “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.”
  7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8 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.
  9 “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.” 10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; 11 there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
  12 “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. 13 This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, 15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 You will be hated by all because of my name. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.”

Jesus brought a few surprises into this world by His all-inclusive love and wants to do so again in you.

Luke recounts the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, the holy festival celebrating God’s deliverance of the first-born from death by the blood of the lamb and the rescue of his people from slavery in Egypt. On this day they enter the Temple courts and are overcome by the beauty they find. This temple was refurbished by Herod the Great, a project that took 80 years to complete. It was being enlarged and embellished with the very best of materials by the most talented of artisans. Tapestries made of linen in rich colors veiled the entrance. White marble covered pillars, walls, and floors. Gold adored gates and doors. This temple filled the minds of the visitors with dreams of prosperity, permanence, and security. It made them anticipate that even though they were controlled by Roman rule, their future was surely secure. It led them to see this as a sign that their own prosperity and freedom would follow. Jesus warns them not to be fooled by the extravagance that surrounds them. Even though it was the temple that was given this upgraded renewal, it did not indicate the devotion of the one who initiated the improvements. It is merely a veneer that provided a false façade. Jesus tells them: The days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down. They are surprised and want to know WHEN this will happen. Notice they did not question Jesus about how he knew this or where he got his information. They believe that Jesus was sent by God, so if he said the temple would be destroyed, it would be so. Their ready acceptance did alert Jesus to provide them with a warning: “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.  You didn’t think that fraudulent information is something new on the scene of this world, did you? Jesus is concerned that they will too easily fall prey to false prophets, taking their creative omens and dire forecasts as truth. His reminder is that there are conflicts between nations and catastrophic disasters that happen here on earth all the time. It is part of the reality of human nature and the destructive habits we pursue. 

He also made it known that those who choose to follow him would be persecuted. They would find themselves unpopular and despised for their loyalty to Him, not only by those in power but also by their own family members. To place one’s faith in the name of Jesus always puts one in opposition with those whose priorities lie elsewhere. It continues to do so. As Jesus made known to us, only one Master can be served

We may think that if only we knew when the end would come, then we would gain sufficient motivation to make those changes in ourselves that we know we should make in our life. But Jesus is indicating it isn’t that easy. We humans do have a tendency to procrastinate when it comes to making positive changes in our lives, taking up that new direction which Jesus maps out for us. But we would like to know when things are going to happen so we can quickly straighten ourselves out. We are probably also afraid that we won’t be able to sustain real goodness for long, so we need to wait until the time span will be short. Please remember that the blood of the Lamb saves you, you are the recipient of forgiveness.  Then, whatever comes, however your life is challenged and disrupted; you are not alone. Jesus promises to give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 

This lesson which Jesus was teaching keeps coming back to Jesus’ concern with our lived experience. Dealing with the end of time and the catastrophic events which happen on earth may seem more exciting then your day to day existence. But Jesus makes it known here that the upheaval in society and worldly events are the background that provide the opportunities for you to act. He says: This will give you an opportunity to testify. Sometimes it will be words that Jesus’ supplies but sometimes the message is silent and comes in the wisdom of action, what you do, not what you sat.

On this day, we are lifting up before you the testimony of the women in the church who have made good things happen for others, who are in the midst of turmoil and disruption. We recognize those who have stitched the quilts that created some warmth to wrap up in. We remind you of the women who gathered supplies and sewed up sturdy school bags so children could attend school with the basic items they needed. Layettes for newborns and basic health kits have been put together to assist those who face crises that have deprived them of their homes and adequate livelihoods. These women, and everyone who adds their support to their endeavors, pool resources, so they can provide loans to cottage-based industries for other women to create their own clothes, pottery, and crafts, or raise animals to produce incomes for their families. Faith-motivated women help women who also assist men and children in rebuilding their lives. Women in this congregation have dedicated time, effort, and funds to support such ministries. There is room for more to be involved. This is part of what Jesus was talking about when he spoke to the people about the opportunities that are given to testify.

Jesus provides a promise that even as others distain what you are about in His name, Not a hair of your head will perish!  We know this is not a promise of immunity from dying or even a gift that will keep the troubles of this life away from you. Life on this earth is a temporary one and evil has invaded. Rather, it is a promise that you are not facing those troubles alone and the very presence of the Lord is with you. He is with you not only today but each day on through eternity. You have been called, as you are, to witness of Christ and through your endurance you will keep your soul.  Take up the opportunities that open for you to make known your faith in Jesus Christ and know the blessings of that witness.