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As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. ‘Tell us,’ they said, ‘when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?’ (Matthew 24:3).
Read Matthew 24:1–14
If any one subject holds a large swathe of attention in Christian circles, it’s the End Times. Everyone, from pre-Jesus to the 21st century, wants to know exactly what time things are going to wrap up here on this pale blue dot.
Reading this passage through 21st-century lenses, we might approach Jesus and say, ‘When, exactly, are you planning on coming back? You know, setting things right, getting rid of pain and suffering and, like, evil people?’ After a pause, we might say, ‘Can you just text me about an hour beforehand so I can get everything all tidied up?’
We want to know it all, really. We want to know the time, the manner, and our readiness for that moment, just like those first disciples. Jesus had drawn their attention to the buildings around the temple and the huge stones, and he said something shocking: Everything is going to be thrown down. What the temple stood for, the law and its burdens, will be overthrown, and the gospel of the kingdom will be preached (verse 14).
Jesus does not tell them the time but opens their eyes to the temperature of the world at that time: God’s people are persecuted; people will stray from the faith; they will betray and hate each other. False prophets will appear and deceive. Because wickedness will be the currency of the age, love will die out to an ember.
Maybe it’s always been like this, but it sure feels kind of ending-ish right now, doesn’t it?
But for the Christian, that’s not a source of fear or dread, though the end may be both fearful and dreadful; we cling to the life buoy of the gospel of the kingdom. In that gospel circle, we are saved. It is through Christ that we will be rescued even when everything around us, everything we know and may have clung to, is thrown down.
‘Turn your eyes upon Jesus,’ as the song says, ‘look full in his wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace’ (Helen Lemmel).
Jesus, author of salvation, help us to keep our eyes on you when we are fearful of what is happening in the world around us. Give us your peace and reassurance that you hold all time and space in your hands. Amen.
Reid Matthias is the school pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College in Tallebudgera, Queensland. Reid is married to Christine, who, together with their three incredible daughters, Elsa, Josephine and Greta, have created a Spotify channel (A 13) where they have recorded music. Reid has recently published his seventh novel, A Miserable Antagonist, and maintains the blog ireid.blogspot.com
