Watch Out
It's not so much "What?" and "When?" as it is "How."
It’s interesting that the disciples ask When? and What? and Jesus begins his answer with a How.
Watch out for deception.
He does go into the “what,” acknowledging that there will be difficulty. But he’s much more concerned with how the disciples respond to what will happen.
Today, many still scramble around trying to discern the signs of the times. And to be clear, there are some things to understand with this. But in the end, Jesus does not tell his disciples about what will happen so that they can change it (or rush it forward!). Rather, he tells them so that they will withstand the times by staying true to who they are.
…staying true to who they are…
Think about it. Whatever else you want to say about what’s going on in the world, what it means, or this or that about it, the goal is the same - Christlikeness through it all.
The one who [whose love] endures to the end will be delivered.
Matthew 24:1-14
Now Jesus left the temple and was going away. His disciples came to point out to him the temple buildings. He responded, “Do you see all these things? I assure that no stone will be left on another. Everything will be demolished.”
Now while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”
Jesus replied, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the Christ.’ They will deceive many people. You will hear about wars and reports of wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places. But all these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because disobedience will expand, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come.
Psalm 46:1-2a
God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble.
That’s why we won’t be afraid when the world falls apart.
Prayer1
God,
We often ask you to invade our lives, to plumb the secrets of our hearts unknown even to ourselves. But in fact we do not desire that. What we really want to scream, if only to ourselves, is ‘Do not reveal to us who we are!’ We think we are better people if you leave us to our illusions. Yes, we know another word for a life of illusion is hell. But we are surrounded by many caught up in such a hell – people too deficient of soul even to be capable of lying, but only of self‑deceit. Dear God, we ask your mercy on all those so caught, particularly if we are among them. The loneliness of such a life is terrifying. Remind us, compel us to be truthful, painful as that is. For without the truth, without you, we die. Save us from the pleasantness which too often is but a name for ambition. Save us from the temptation to say to another what we think she wants to hear rather than what we both need to hear. The regimen of living your truth is hard, but help us remember that any love but truthful love is cursed. The lie wrapped in love is just another word for violence. For God’s sake, for the world’s sake, give us the courage and the love to speak truthfully, so that we might be at peace with one another and with you.
By your Spirit & in Christ,
Amen.
Taken from Stanley Hauerwas’ Prayers Plainly Spoken.