Coming to Reign
Luke 21:25-36
Tony’s Overview Video
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- Read the Bible Lesson by Tony Cartledge in this month’s issue of the Nurturing Faith Journal
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Key Verse: Luke 21:34 –
“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly …”
It’s finally here: the year is winding down, holidays are coming, children are excited, parents are harried, Christmas decorations mark the chill in the air – and the church celebrates Advent.
After a lengthy period of blandly-named “Ordinary Time,” the church calendar turns to the four-week anticipation of Christ’s coming (or “advent”).
The Christmas season is also a traditional time for many churches to emphasize giving to the cause of missions. The cause of global missions is a call to proclaim through work and word Christ’s advent to all the world, so that all may celebrate Christ’s second advent. Our text for today considers one of those unsettling passages about the time when Christ returns to the earth, not as a babe in a manger, but as the magnificent king of the universe.
The “Little Apocalypse”
Faithful Hebrews, from at least the 8th century BCE onward, looked for the coming of a Messiah to vindicate the just. Several of Isaiah’s prophesies gave voice to the hope that a descendant of David would come and set things right on earth. When a child named Jesus was born to Mary, many came to believe that he was the Messiah sent from God. [DD]
Christians believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but he was not the kind of Messiah first-century Jews expected. The gospels tell how Jesus lived a remarkable life, died a redemptive death, and was resurrected in glory, but the world was still a sinful place where injustice and violence flourished.
Before his crucifixion, Jesus made it clear that his work was not done. After his ascension, Christ would continue to be present in the lives of his own through the power of the Spirit, but there was also more to come. Jesus proclaimed his intention to return in power, bringing an eternal rule of justice and peace. In the meantime, Jesus’ followers were to carry on his work.
The promise of Christ’s return is good news for those who love God and yearn for closer fellowship. But, the gospels insist that those who reject God’s way will have no cause for joy at what New Testament writers called the Parousia, the “Appearing” of Christ. The first advent is a memory that we celebrate today. The second is yet to come. Our commemoration of the first advent challenges us to prepare our hearts for the second.
The early church remembered Jesus’ talk of a second coming and preserved it in the apocalyptic style of writing that grew out of Israel’s greatest times of stress and persecution. As found in the latter chapters of Daniel and in the prophecies of Ezekiel, apocalyptic writing makes much use of metaphor as a kind of code, offering hope to insiders that present oppressors will be brought down by the mighty power of God. The enemy’s defeat was often described in terms of cataclysmic changes in the cosmos.
This is precisely the kind of language we find in the Book of Revelation, as well as in what is often called the “Little Apocalypse,” found in all three synoptic gospels (Mark 13; Matthew 24; Luke 21). Today’s text derives from Luke’s version of the apocalyptic warning. [DD]
Be watchful (vv. 25-28)
To a degree, Luke reinterprets Mark’s earlier account of the Little Apocalypse, which Matthew followed more faithfully. As in the other synoptics, the section we study today comes immediately after Jesus’ description of a time of great troubles prior to his second advent. The account has Jesus predicting a future in which wars, famines, plagues, and cosmic portents would be followed by an attack on Jerusalem. Luke, however, removes the fall of Jerusalem (which had already occurred, in 70 CE, when Luke wrote) from the events of the eschaton, substituting a period of undetermined length: “until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (v. 22). Some writers think of this as “the age of the church,” which must be fulfilled before Christ’s second advent.
There is no clear time-table for this event. Many people have sought to predict the time of Christ’s return from supposed clues in the Bible, and all have been wrong. The enterprise is a waste of time, for the most certain thing Jesus said about his return is that everyone would be surprised (Matt. 24:36, Mark 13:32). That is why it is so important to be ready at all times.
Luke’s version speaks of “signs in the sun and the moon and the stars,” far less dramatic than Mark’s insistence that the sun and moon would be darkened and the stars would fall from the sky. [DD] Luke is unique in adding that there would be “distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves” (v. 25b; compare Ps. 65:8-9 and Rev. 6:12-17), with people worldwide fainting “from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world” (v. 26a) as the powers of the heavens were shaken.
While some popular writers interpret these things literally, they should probably be taken as general metaphors of foreboding, confusion, and panic.
Afterward, the apocalypse declares that Christ (described as the “Son of Man”) would descend to the earth in power and great glory. Matthew and Mark insist that Jesus will be accompanied by the angels from heaven and the gathered “elect” (those who have chosen to follow him) from both heaven and earth (Matt. 24:31; Mark 13:27). Luke, however, keeps the spotlight on Christ alone (v. 27).
Only Luke adds this warning: “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near” (v. 28). This is the only time the word “redemption” occurs in Luke or Acts; it is more common in the writings of Paul.
The use of the term is a reminder that the Bible speaks of our redemption as both a present reality and something that remains to be fulfilled.
See the signs (vv. 29-33)
All three synoptics compare the predictions to a sprouting fig tree that heralds the arrival of summer (Matt. 24:32-33; Mark 13:28-29; Luke 21:29-31). Matthew and Mark speak of it as a “lesson” proclaiming that “he is near.” Luke calls the story of the fig tree a “parable,” and adds other subtle changes.
For example, Luke adds “and all the trees” to the fig tree, possibly a reference to the Gentiles’ inclusion in the kingdom: some consider the fig tree as symbolic of Israel. In Israel’s traditions, fruiting fig trees were considered a sign of God’s blessing (Deut. 8:7-8; Hos. 9:10; Mic. 4:4). [DD]
Luke also replaces “he is near” with “the kingdom of God is near.” This may be nothing more than a circumlocution, but it may also suggest a shift in emphasis. By juxtaposing the return of Christ and the fulfillment of the kingdom, Luke defused the expectations of false prophets that the kingdom was imminent (19:11; 21:9). There is a sense in which the kingdom became present with Christ, but its ultimate fulfillment is connected with Christ’s return.
All synoptic writers agree, however, on Jesus’ prediction that “this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place” (v. 32). This led many early believers, including Paul, to expect Christ’s return during their lifetimes.
With Luke’s reinterpretation, however, readers may understand “generation” as the “generation of the church,” or even “the generation of the eschaton” that was introduced with Christ’s incarnation, to be fulfilled in a second advent.
Expecting hearers or readers to question the radical claims of the text, all three synoptics include the claim “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away” (compare Isa. 40:8, Ps. 119:89).
Be ready (vv. 34-36)
Luke alone adds the warning found in vv. 34-36, one modern believers would do well to heed. It is a caution against letting selfish pleasures and the concerns of this life distract us from being prepared for Christ’s return.
“Be on guard!” is a forceful command to avoid being weighed down by earthly pleasures and concerns. The only other time “weighed down” is used in Luke is at 9:32, where the disciples were overcome with sleep and in danger of failing to see Christ’s transfiguration. [DD]
Both the worries and amusements of life are immediate, and thus more likely to garner our attention. Jesus speaks of them as a trap that can ensnare the believer, so that he or she will be captive to the world when the day of Christ’s return comes (v. 35).
Jesus called believers to see past the cares and pleasures of this world and to be alert, praying daily for the strength to escape temptation and be able to take one’s stand without fear when Christ returns (v. 36).
How do we respond to a text like this? Some give it too much attention, anticipating a literal fulfillment of every warning metaphor. Others give it too little heed, seeing the apocalyptic nature of the text as too bizarre for serious consideration by moderns.
Perhaps we could best choose a middle road, not expecting the heavens to collapse upon us, but still holding to a belief that Christ will one day bring earthly history to a conclusion. If that is the case, we need to be ready, keeping our heads up (v. 28) and remaining alert (v. 36), prepared to stand before Christ without shame.
Adult Teaching Resources
Download the PDF of teaching resources for this lesson.
This PDF contains the Teaching Guide, Digging Deeper, and Hardest Question pages.
Read Scripture online: Luke 21:25-36
Youth Teaching Resources
Parent Prep
Advent is a time to prepare for the realization of Jesus, the Son of God, in our world. How will you prepare your household for Christmas? How will you manage all the stuff that is packed into the season of Advent? How will you know when to stop? What if you put signs along the way to help you to know when to stop? Find an Advent devotional and do it as a family? Light the candle of the Advent wreath together? Use these as sign-posts along the way to slow you down. Then you might not only be ready for family on Christmas morning, but you will be ready for the realization of Jesus Christ in our world.
Additional Links/Resources
Read Scripture online: Luke 21:25-36
Download the PDF for youth teaching resources using the button below. This PDF contains the Teaching Guide for this lesson:
Video
Encourage youth to check out this video ahead of the lesson.
“The Signs of Deathly Hallows Clip” from Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows
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