|
After you've read David's thoughts, share yours! Send a reply email to David!!
DAVID'S EMAIL BIBLE STUDY:
A. INTRODUCTION
... Other than sudden deaths, most have some preparation, a time to "wrap your head around it", "put your house in order", and give last farewells. Not Jesus. He knew what was coming, and how awful it would be. His line of succession (the disciples) was looking worse and worse: infighting, incomprehension, doubts. So Jesus uses every moment of his final "Holy Week" to teach, inspire, connect.
C. SUMMARY.
Jesus spends each day in the Temple courtyard, talking, teaching, answering, observing, with crowds all around. He observes a poor widow placing her meagre offering ("The Widow's Mite") at the Temple. He affirms the greatness of her sacrifice, given her poverty; and contrasts it with those who have so much that their offering is not very sacrificial. The disciples, like tourists, are awed by the splendor of Jerusalem's Temple. The next 25 verses have three purposes. First, to warn that the great city, Temple, and nation would be destroyed (as it was by Rome in 70 A.D.) Second, to warn those early generations of Christians that they would face harsh and even fatal persecution. Third, to warn everybody right to us that people will obsess over "End Times": call in the 2nd coming, End of the World, Armageddon, Judgement Day. Jesus' advice? Don't worry. Be ready. Stand tall.
D. KEY POINTS
1. How much do you owe God? Everything. Blank Check. As an old hymn says, "I surrender all". Worried? Don't be. With New Testament Christianity the idea of offering" moves from rule and obligation to attitude and spirit. Jesus seeks a fullness of commitment. The widow gives little, but she puts her "all" into it. Paul declares "the Lord loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). At Thanksgiving time, I often quote the phrase "an attitude of gratitude". What Christianity has tried to do with "offering" is to get away from the idea of, "there I've done my duty"; and move to "here, God, is my expression of love". It is a fine line, isn't it? Our recently completed Stewardship/Pledge campaign topped $1 million for the first time. People from all across our church spectrum made a personal decision to show God a wonderful depth of commitment. It's not easy to raise. But it is easy to give it - when it comes from the heart. One million dollars is a lot of "widows' mites", people giving fully.
2. The APOCALYPSE. People have yearned for, feared, awaited, and predicted the end of the world from the beginning. Lots of reasons for that. People believe the world will be a better place under God's full control. Plus, things sure look like we're going to heck in a handbasket. Some see specific signs pointing to the End Times. Every religion I've studied has a concept of life as we know it reaching a conclusion, ushering in a new age. Fundamentalist Jews are looking for the Messiah. Fundamentalist Muslims anxiously await "the Hidden Imam". Fundamentalist Christians are certain of Jesus' "Second Coming" very soon. They look to biblical prophecies, calculate numerology from the Bible, even pick dates. Jesus anticipated this.
In today's verses he talks about the destruction of Jerusalem (vs 6, 24), wars and rumors of war (vs. 9), earthquakes and famine (vs. 11), fearful events and signs (vs. 11), persecution and martyrdom of Christians (vs. 12-16). Jesus is stating the obvious, for that generation and ever since. We can worry, panic, obsess. Or we can be faithful, be prepared, be proud. The Boy Scouts tell us to "be prepared", and they're not thinking about the end of the world. Your financial advisor, lawyer, children, doctors, they all want you to be prepared. Jesus is adding the spiritual factor: be prepared. Whether Jesus comes tomorrow, or the Grim Reaper, or a pink slip, or the IRS, there are always steps to take to be ready. On the faith side we call it CHRISTLIKENESS. Being as much like Christ as possible. Trying. Emulating. Following. Discipling. Know Christ to the fullest extent, apply it to yourself. Then, Jesus concludes (vs. 28), "When these things begin to take place (all the Apocalyptic stuff), stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near". That's confidence. Or "Blessed Assurance".
|
