These Things

Living faithfully in the midst of collapse

It’s continually interesting that every generation thinks they are seeing these things. And frankly, they are. Even so, no one expected “these things” more than the earliest Christians, the apostles and Paul chief among them. And the apostles and Paul did experience these things.

And so are we, though obviously not nearly to the extent that the early Church did.

Jesus’ words had an immediate context: the fall of Jerusalem. But they also call his disciples to an ongoing posture. History keeps replaying versions of these things. That’s why every generation recognizes themselves in his warnings. An important question we could ask of Christians is, “Why are we trying to stop them?”

Humanly, we understand why anyone would try and stop difficulty. Christianly, not so much.

Further, people so often want to nail down the timing of these things, likely because we like to know things and be forewarned of them (indeed, to escape them). Note that this is the exact question they ask Jesus: When will these things happen? We’ve built whole industries on predicting the end, as though Jesus’ goal were to satisfy our curiosity rather than shape our character.

But in today’s passage, he doesn’t give a timeline. He gives the nature of what these things are and his disciples’ posture when they come. What we have are instructions from him as to how to live within these things.

And what he says seems a bit contradictory.

Some of you will be executed.

But also,

…not a hair on your heads will be lost.

How can these coexist?

This isn’t about safety of the body, but preservation of the person. Jesus is promising that nothing done to one’s body can erase them from God’s memory, and therefore nothing done to your body can prevent your restoration in the resurrection. So yes, Paul, they may chop your head off, but I will remember every hair that is upon it.

Jesus holds both realities together because he knows death is not the end of us. What’s threatened is temporary; what’s promised is eternal. The Christian’s goal is not to escape death, but to declare the life Christ gives within it. This is yet another layer of the Kingdom’s “already-but-not-yet” nature.

Danger and difficulty will come. But hold on, God is with you even in these things. So we don’t watch for the end in fear. We watch for Christ with faith. The point isn’t to predict the chaos - or even to escape its sting - but to endure it faithfully. As he says,

By holding fast, you will gain your lives.

Luke 21:7-28

They asked him, “Teacher, when will these things happen? What sign will show that these things are about to happen?”

Jesus said, “Watch out that you aren’t deceived. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ and ‘It’s time!’ Don’t follow them. When you hear of wars and rebellions, don’t be alarmed. These things must happen first, but the end won’t happen immediately.”

Then Jesus said to them, “Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other. There will be great earthquakes and wide-scale food shortages and epidemics. There will also be terrifying sights and great signs in the sky. But before all this occurs, they will take you into custody and harass you because of your faith. They will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will provide you with an opportunity to testify. Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance. I’ll give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to counter or contradict. You will be betrayed by your parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, and friends. They will execute some of you. Everyone will hate you because of my name. Still, not a hair on your heads will be lost. By holding fast, you will gain your lives.

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that its destruction is close at hand. At that time, those in Judea must flee to the mountains, those in the city must escape, and those in the countryside must not enter the city. These are the days of punishment, when everything written will find its fulfillment. How terrible it will be at that time for women who are pregnant or for women who are nursing their children. There will be great agony on the earth and angry judgment on this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be plundered by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are concluded.

“There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. Now when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is near.”

Psalm 27:1-3

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Should I fear anyone?
The Lord is a fortress protecting my life.
Should I be frightened of anything?
When evildoers come at me trying to eat me up—
it’s they, my foes and my enemies,
who stumble and fall!
If an army camps against me,
my heart won’t be afraid.
If war comes up against me,
I will continue to trust in this.

Prayer

God,

Help your people, including me, to know what it is to hold fast in the faithfulness of your love. With all the pressures, voices, and calls for personal rights and safety, set us firmly in the posture of a people who respond compassionately, invite liberally, and give sacrificially.

Teach us not to fear what shakes, but to stay faithful to what lasts.

By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.