#36: Wednesday, 1 April, 2020.
Wednesday, 1 April The Messiah Claims His Kingdom on Earth. Matt. 24:1–35
In the last reading, we said that in his critique of the Pharisees and religious leaders, we encountered Jesus the Prophet, echoing the harsh words of the Old Testament prophets.
There are two meanings covered under the mantle of prophecy. Prophets foretell, that is, they outline future events that have not yet happened; and prophets also forthtell – that is, they speak out against injustice and disobedience, and sometimes in support or comfort to those who are standing faithfully for God. In the last chapter, Jesus was forthtelling; in these next two chapters, he is foretelling. Both forms are prophecy.
The two chapters – 24 & 25 – are really one continuous passage. The chapter division is unhelpful. Just because of the length of the whole passage, we will take two days to read them, but please remember that for today and tomorrow, we are listening to Jesus give one basic sermon.
The other great difficulty in writing about this passage is that some Christians will approach it with a fixed view in mind about what it all means. I want to encourage you to put all preconceptions behind and simply read with me the words that Jesus actually spoke.
Jesus has left the temple precinct. His disciples, now outside, look up at the soaring walls and marvel at its magnificence. Jesus responds to their awe with the stunning observation that the entire temple will be destroyed, with not one stone left upon another. A little later, when they all sit down (v3), the disciples ask him for an explanation, and a timeline.
Yes, well, we all want the timeline, don’t we? They clearly interpret the falling down of the temple walls with the end of the age and the coming of the Messiah into his power. That perspective frames their question in v3: Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?
This destruction of the temple is the endpoint of his long answer. We have to be careful not to read this as 21st century readers only. We have to hear Jesus’ words as though we were the disciples – Jews in an oppressed setting, yearning for deliverance from the occupying overlords. Nothing in this entire passage is related to the return of Jesus to earth still to come in our future. Nothing the disciples had heard would have led them to expect that! They hadn’t even got their heads around his death, let alone his resurrection and ascension. It is all – 100% – to do with the promise of Jesus coming into his Kingdom.
In the last few days, he has staked his claim on Jerusalem and on the temple. His prediction that the temple will fall is entirely consistent with his statement that the temple can be pulled down and he will build it again in three days. He, Jesus, will replace the Old Testament temple.
· The temple was the place where God dwelt. Jesus is the new place where God has made his dwelling-place with humankind. He has come in the form of a man to live among men. God is with us – that is what Emmanuel means.
· The temple was the place where you could go to pray, to intercede with the Most High God. Jesus is the new place where we come to pray. He is the new intermediary between God and humankind.
· The temple was the place where you got your sins forgiven, via a sacrifice. Jesus is the new place where we have our sins forgiven, through his very own sacrifice.
· The temple was the place where the whole community of Israel gathered in community. It was their central home. Jesus is the new place where the community of God have their centre. He is our resting place and our true home.
The sign that all of this will be fulfilled will be the destruction of not only the temple, but of Jerusalem itself as the capital of Israel. This will happen, Jesus promises, within this generation (v34). The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in 70AD was the proof that Jesus was a reliable prophet. Before that time, (i.e., in the years in between the resurrection and the Fall of Jerusalem) there would be all kinds of unrest. So, don’t hang around Jerusalem waiting for this. It will be a dangerous place to be. Get out! (vv15-25)
Many people have wondered over the cryptic reference to the desolating sacrilege or the abomination that causes desolation in v15. But that’s not difficult. What was the most abominable sacrilege that could possibly be performed in the holy city of Jerusalem? Surely it must be the murder of the Son whom the Father sent to restore the vineyard as Jesus has just told about in the parable in 21:33–46. The murder of the King’s Son is precisely that abomination, that desolating sacrilege. Once that has happened, said Jesus, then the clock will start to run down. Within one generation, all this old order will be destroyed.
In v14, we are told that in this intervening 35 or so years, between the crucifixion and the Fall of Jerusalem, the gospel will be preached throughout the world, as a testimony to the nations. Some people have read this as a prophecy to our own day, that the Gospel must be preached to every people group in the modern world. But that is not how the disciples would have heard it. For them, as for every Greek and Roman, “the entire world” signified the Mediterranean coasts and nearby, accessible countries. They had no idea of the existence of Australia or Peru or Vietnam or Zimbabwe.
We can be confident that this is what Jesus meant, because throughout the New Testament, we have at least five occasions when the scripture tells us that this prophecy was fulfilled, using more or less the same words that Jesus used. See: Acts 2:5–11; Rom. 10:16–18 and 16:25–6; Col. 1:5–6 and 1:23.
So, what are we to take from all of this complicated passage for our devotional reflection today?
Perhaps just this is enough: Jesus declared that he was claiming his kingdom. He put some clear prophecies on the table to prove his credentials. Those prophecies were fulfilled. He is worthy of acceptance as a prophet, according to the rules for prophecy set down in the Old Testament and the New Testament. His word is true and can be trusted.
Are we concerned for our future? Are we worried about the planet, or our family, or the political situation either locally or globally? Do we trust Jesus to keep his word? Yes, we can. He has claimed his kingdom, and he is about to enter into it. Trust him with your life. He will not let you down.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, I suppose the disciples found these words of yours difficult. So if they did, it’s not surprising that I do. But I’m going to set aside for the time being what I don’t understand and just stand under your sure promise. You are God, you are King and you have died to redeem me, body and spirit. I will trust you. Amen.