As we take our seats, it would be helpful if you have that passage open in front of you.
We're going to be referring to it as we go through this morning's sermon.
For those of you who don't know me, my name is Alistair.
I have the privilege of being on staff here at the church,
and I have the joy of speaking on this passage.
But before we look at it, let's just take a moment to still our hearts
and pray to the God of this universe.
Lord, we thank you that you are with us.
We thank you that your rod and staff comfort us
and that you have promised to never leave us.
Help us remember these truths as we think about your word this morning
and help us learn and be challenged from it.
In Jesus' name we ask all these things. Amen.
On December 29th, 1913, so it's quite a little bit away,
there was an ad in the London Times newspaper by Ernest Shackleton.
He was a polar explorer, and during his life he led three expeditions to the Antarctic.
The ad in the Times read like this.
Now when I first read this ad, my thought was,
Ernest, what are you playing at?
Why would you get an ad like that?
You're not going to get anyone on your side.
This is the worst recruitment strategy in the world.
If you were going to write an ad like that,
maybe you'd start with something along the lines of
Antarctic cruise, get paid to be on holiday,
skiing in untouched snow, unseen wildlife, majestic views.
See, we'd love to sugarcoat it, wouldn't we?
But the truth is that Ernest was giving an honest picture
of what it would be like to go on an Antarctic expedition.
He put all of his cards on the table,
told the people the way it was going to be,
and let them decide whether they wanted to join him or not.
He didn't promise them a bed of roses,
but told them exactly what to expect.
And the truth is that it wasn't going to be pretty.
Now in the passage that was read out to us earlier on,
Jesus gives his disciples a similar kind of description, doesn't he?
Jesus is telling his disciples what life is going to look like
when he is taken away from them.
Now at this point in Luke's Gospel,
we are in Jerusalem with Jesus.
Jesus arrived in chapter 19,
and he's been teaching in the temple every day.
But now Jesus turns and focuses on his disciples,
because the cross is just on the horizon.
In just a few days, their Lord and Savior will be crucified,
but he will be raised from the dead.
And when he is in heaven with the Father,
there will be a time of waiting until his return.
There will be a time where King Jesus is physically absent,
and so in our passage this morning,
we see the departing words of the returning King.
The departing words of the returning King.
Jesus is preparing his disciples
for what life is going to be like
as they wait for his second coming.
And he gives them three imperatives,
three actions that they are to do
as they live in anticipation of his return.
Watch out, stand firm, and look up.
So let's look at these departing words
of the returning King together.
The first thing we see in verses 5 to 8,
Jesus says to his disciples,
Watch out, watch out.
If you have an NIV this morning,
or one of the Pew Bibles,
look down with me at verse 8,
and you'll see that Jesus says,
Watch out that you are not deceived.
What is it that the disciples are to watch out for?
And why?
Well, in verse 5,
they are standing admiring the temple.
They see the massive stones,
the beautiful furnishings,
the vast grounds which all point to
the spectacular architectural achievement
that the temple is.
The temple is beautiful.
It is big.
It is a monument to remind people
of the strength,
power,
and beauty of the God
who is worshipped there.
And quite rightfully,
the disciples stand there
and they're taken aback.
And they're discussing
how beautiful it is together.
And then Jesus drops a bomb
on their conversation.
One day,
Jesus says,
this monument which is dedicated to God,
this magnificent place of worship,
will be gone.
It will be destroyed.
Not one stone will be left
in its place.
The outward beauty of the temple
is no indication
of the spiritual state
of those who are in it.
If you remember back to chapter 19,
you'll remember that the spiritual state
of those in the temple
was not great.
The temple was beautiful
on the outside,
but the hearts of those
who were in it
were far from beautiful.
God's judgment is going to come
on the people of Israel
because of their disobedience.
And the temple
will be destroyed.
Devastating news
for any Jew.
The temple was their place
of worship.
It was the place
where they went to show
their dedication
and devotion to God.
The place where they met with God
and worshipped Him.
And one day,
it's all going to be gone.
Can you imagine
some of the questions
running through the disciples' minds
as they hear this?
But Jesus,
haven't you come
to kick out the Romans?
To sit on your earthly throne
here and rule over Jerusalem
as God's king?
How can you say
that the temple
will be destroyed?
Where will we worship God?
Tons of questions
running through their minds.
But the question they ask
is not
to do with
exactly how all this will happen,
but they say,
Jesus, when?
When will this happen
and what are the signs
of its coming?
You see that in verse 7.
When will these things happen?
And Jesus answers their question
and tells them
the first sign
of the coming kingdom of God.
The first sign
that the kingdom of God
is coming
is that false teachers
will rise up
and claim
that they are Jesus.
They will claim
that they are sent
by God
and Jesus says
in verse 8,
watch out.
Do not be deceived.
Do not follow them.
Now we might sit here today
and think,
well, obviously.
If someone stands
on the corner
of the street
and shouts
that they are God's king
and that God's kingdom
is coming,
we're not going to
believe them, are we?
But put yourself
in the shoes
of the disciples.
In just a few days,
their teacher,
their Lord,
their friend,
is going to be crucified.
Once he is resurrected
and with the Father,
they will be looking
for Jesus' return.
They will be eagerly
expecting him
to come back.
And so Jesus warns them,
says, watch out.
People will come
and they will try
to divert your attention
from the kingdom of God.
They will try to pull you
away from me.
Watch out,
Jesus says.
One of the signs
of the coming kingdom
of God
is that false messiahs
will appear
and try to distract you
from God.
Do not be deceived,
Jesus says.
Do not follow them.
Are we watching out?
And we sit here
this morning
around 2,000 years
away from the events
described here.
But the warning
to watch out
is just as true today
as it was back then.
King Jesus
has not yet returned.
We are still waiting
for God's kingdom
to come in its fullness.
And so like the disciples,
we have to watch out.
We need to pay attention
to the things
that we read,
to the things
that we listen to,
to the things
that we allow access
to influence
our hearts and minds.
Now the internet
is a wonderful thing.
I love the internet.
I really do.
Not just for the cat videos,
but for everything else.
It gives you access
to some wonderful resources,
great sermons,
great books,
great articles,
great podcasts,
you name it.
But it also has things
that aren't helpful,
things that can be
quite dangerous.
Just like the temple,
on the surface,
it all looks fine.
But if you dig around
a little bit,
you'll find that
it is not fine at all.
It is just as deceitful
as the hearts
that are currently
worshipping in the temple.
We need to watch out
and not be deceived.
Do not listen to those
who speak of themselves
as more than mere people.
Do not listen to those
who proclaim
that they have
a greater knowledge
of God's kingdom
or of God's timing.
Be careful
and watch out
for those
who proclaim
Jesus plus something
equals salvation.
Because the truth is
that Jesus plus anything
equals wrong.
Jesus is everything.
Jesus is all.
And we need to watch out.
Jesus says,
do not be deceived
and do not follow them.
The King will come back
and if we trust in Him,
if we are at peace
with Him,
we will be in His arms
and His comfort
will be with us.
We need to watch out.
And the second thing
that this departing King says
is that His disciples
need to stand firm.
In verses 9 to 24,
stand firm.
The disciples need to stand firm
in light of different signs
of the coming kingdom of God.
these signs are
wars and disasters,
the destruction of Jerusalem
and persecution.
And in light of all of these signs,
Jesus says in verse 19,
stand firm.
In verses 9 to 11,
you see Jesus saying
that they are to stand firm
in light of wars and disasters
that will come upon the earth.
Jesus is explaining
some of the terrifying events
that will happen.
But He doesn't say this
so that they can speculate
as to when the kingdom of God
is coming.
He says this to encourage them
because all of these events,
as terrible and terrifying
as they are,
they are pointing to the great event
of the King's return.
These are the signs
which will affect the whole world.
But in verse 9,
Jesus encourages His disciples
and says,
do not be frightened.
Can you see the tenderness
of Jesus?
Even though He is predicting
times of difficulty,
He looks at His disciples
and says,
don't be scared.
This is the Son of God
who is speaking.
This is the one
through whom
the whole world
was creating.
He knows what's going to happen.
He knows the end result.
These wars,
yes,
they will be painful.
Yes,
they will destroy people
and places.
But Jesus knows
they will not last forever
because the King will come
victorious
and there will be
no more crying,
no more pain
and God will dwell
with His people.
And until then,
there will be wars
and disasters.
But do not be frightened
because these wars
will not hinder
the kingdom of God.
and nor will the kingdom
of God delay.
God is working
according to His perfect timing,
according to His perfect plan
which no war can foil,
which no person can mess up.
God's plan will be accomplished.
And then in verses 20 to 24,
Jesus is speaking about the signs
that will befall Jerusalem.
Now we've seen this before,
haven't we?
Again,
in chapter 19,
Jesus has warned Jerusalem
of their coming judgment
for how they've rejected God.
In verse 22,
if you look down,
you'll see it says,
for this is the time
of punishment
in fulfillment
of all that has been written.
God has been warning
the people of Israel
for hundreds
and hundreds of years
that they need to repent
and turn to Him.
God has been patiently waiting
and calling them back
to Himself,
but they have not listened.
They have continued
in their lives of rebellion,
but now,
Jesus says,
the time of fulfillment
has come.
Judgment is coming.
Now if we look back
in history,
we can see that this judgment
came in 70 AD
as the Romans march in
and destroy Jerusalem.
Jesus is warning
His disciples
of what is going to happen.
He is telling them
that they need
to stand firm.
Jerusalem,
you need to stop
putting your confidence
in this temple.
Stop putting your confidence
in a building.
Instead,
focus on the King Jesus.
The glory of a temple
is nothing
compared to the King
who will return one day.
and all people
will see His power
and His majestic glory.
Sandwiched in between
the wars
and the destruction
of Jerusalem
is the third sign
which points
to the return
of the King.
Verses 12 to 19,
Jesus explains
that the disciples
will be persecuted.
And in light
of all of this,
in verse 19,
Jesus says,
stand firm.
Jesus is laying out
the difficult truths
about the cost
of being a Christian.
They will be persecuted,
betrayed,
taken to court
and some of them
will be killed.
Why is all of this
happening?
Why?
Verses 12 and 17,
Jesus says twice
that all of this
is happening
because of His name.
Jesus tells His disciples
that they will be
taken to court.
They will be imprisoned.
They will be betrayed
by family members
and friends,
even put to death.
Why?
Verse 17,
because this world
hates me,
Jesus says.
Whilst these horrendous
acts affect the disciples,
the truth is
that they are actually
an attack
on Jesus Himself.
Imagine the fear
of the disciples
when they hear
these things.
It's not like
the departing king
is giving them
a nice to-do list.
Make sure the grass
is cut when I'm gone.
Make sure the grounds
are kept neat
and tidy.
Make sure the people
of my house
are kept happy,
healthy and well fed.
No.
Jesus is saying,
in my absence
you will be mistreated.
You will be hated
and looked down on
all because of me.
You can imagine
the disciples asking
in their minds,
can't you,
Jesus,
what is the point?
Why are you going
to let all this happen?
In verse 13,
Jesus says,
all of this will happen
but you will be
bearing witness
of me.
The way you
conduct yourselves,
the stands
that you take
for me,
the way you act
in front of your
persecutors,
all of it
will bear witness
to my name.
The way you live
and show
what the gospel
really is.
All of this
is an opportunity
for you to tell people
about me,
Jesus says.
All of this
is not meaningless
but it is pointing
to me,
the future king
who will return.
Now,
I know that
for some of us
this morning
this is a very
live situation.
Maybe you've
come from a week
at work
in the office
or at home
and you've been
struggling on account
of your faith
in Jesus.
You've had to
take a stand
for something
because of what
you believe.
Listen to Jesus
as he encourages
you through his
word that none
of it is in vain.
In all the
difficulties of
living life
as a Christian
in a world
that hates Jesus,
we are bearing
witness to him.
In all of this
stand firm,
Jesus says.
In verse 14
we see the
fourth and final
do not statement.
Follow along
with me.
In verse 8
you see
do not be
deceived,
do not follow
them.
In verse 9
do not be
frightened of
the wars
and disasters
and in verse 14
Jesus says
do not worry.
How can Jesus
say this
in light of
all of these
things?
Well,
verse 15
the amazing
promise that
is there.
Jesus says
you don't have
to worry
because I
will be with
you.
Jesus isn't
going to leave
his disciples
empty handed.
He isn't
going away
and leaving
them to their
own devices.
No,
Jesus says
I will be
with you.
That is why
you do not
have to
worry.
Do not
worry about
what you
are going
to say
because I
will give
you the
words to
say when
the time
is right.
I will
give you
the wisdom
that you
need so
that your
enemies,
so that
my enemies
will not
be able to
contradict or
resist you.
In all of
this,
Jesus says,
stand firm
and not a
hair on your
head will
perish,
Jesus says
in verse
18.
Now this
doesn't mean
that the
disciples won't
die.
Jesus has
just told
them in
verse 16
that they
will,
but it
means that
Jesus is
offering them
a greater
protection,
a more
important
protection,
the protection
of their
souls.
The worst
thing that
your persecutors
can do,
Jesus says,
is they
can kill
your body.
That's it.
They cannot
harm your
soul.
Your soul
is protected
by God.
Stand firm
and you
will win
life.
As you
stand firm,
Jesus says,
you are
bearing witness
to me,
living in a
world which
hates me.
Remember
all the
time that
your soul
is hiding
in the
protection of
the king.
Richard
Wurmbrand
is a
practical
example of
what it
looks like
to stand
in light,
to stand
firm in
persecution.
For those
of you who've
never heard
of him,
he was a
Romanian
pastor who
spoke out
against the
communist
government as
they tried to
control the
church in
Romania.
He was
imprisoned and
tortured for
14 years
because of
his outspokenness
and his
illegal work
with the
underground
churches in
Romania.
and he
has to
say this
about
standing
firm in
Jesus in
his book
Tortured
for Christ.
I
tremble
because of
the sufferings
of those
persecuted in
different lands.
In the
depth of
my heart,
I would
like to
keep the
beauty of
my own
vineyard,
to not
be involved
in such
a huge
fight.
I would
like so
much to
be somewhere
in quietness
and rest,
but it is
not possible.
the quietness
and rest
for which I
long would
be an escape
from reality
and dangerous
for my soul.
Richard is
saying that
yes, we can
shy away from
standing up for
Jesus, but that
is dangerous
and it is
detached from
reality.
Instead, Jesus
is calling us to
a life of
sacrifice as we
face a world
which hates
him and as a
result of that
hatred will
persecute us.
Jesus
says, stand
firm to
his disciples.
Are we
standing firm
this morning?
As we
live in a
world which
hates Jesus,
which persecutes
and judges
Christians because
of their faith,
are we taking
a stand?
Are we
representing
Jesus?
This is the
cost of being
a Christian.
You will be
hated.
We will be
rejected and
despised.
We will be
judged and
persecuted, but
not because of
ourselves, but
because of who
we serve.
What might it
look like for
us to stand
firm?
For some of
us it might be
a very public
thing because
we're naturally
in the public
eye.
For others it
might mean not
joining in with
something or not
encouraging something
within our
families.
In any case,
for each and
every one of us
this definitely
means that in
all situations,
in all
circumstances,
we are to
bear witness
to Jesus.
And we are
to take every
opportunity to
explain why we
are different.
Our obligation
is to God,
not to this
world.
Our duty is to
serve the
King, the one
who protects
our souls,
not to serve
people who can
only destroy
our bodies.
Take courage
in the promise
of verse 15.
Jesus is with
you.
The King of
this universe
is on your
side.
The hands
which created
and sustained
the whole world,
the God whose
power spoke
this very world
into being,
is with you.
In all of the
persecution that
we suffer now,
or that we will
suffer in the
future as a
result of our
faith in Jesus,
stand firm.
So we are to
watch out.
We are to
stand firm.
And then Jesus
tells his
disciples in
verses 25 to
38 that they
are to look up.
25 to 38,
look up.
So Jesus is
telling his
disciples about
all of these
signs that
will come,
but not so
that they can
speculate as to
the timing of
the King's
return.
Instead,
he's telling
them all of
these things so
that they can
remember,
even though he
is gone,
he's coming
back.
All of these
signs are
pointers to
the King's
return,
but the
question remains,
how will
Jesus return?
Well, look at
the marvelous
description that
we see in
verse 27.
Jesus will
return coming
in a cloud
with power
and with
great glory.
Jesus'
return will
not be a
secret event
hidden from
the world,
but all will
see him as
he comes.
And on that
day, all
people will
acknowledge his
power and
his glory.
When Jesus
entered Jerusalem
in chapter 19,
we looked at
this a few
weeks ago,
he entered the
city on the
back of a
donkey.
But when
he returns,
there will
be no
mistake about
who Jesus
is, because
his power and
his glory will
be on display.
The rightful
King will
return with
true authority,
with glory and
sovereign power.
All nations
and peoples from
every language
will gather and
worship him.
His dominion is
everlasting and
his kingdom will
never, ever be
destroyed.
This is God's
King and this
is how he will
return.
But notice the
two responses to
Jesus' return in
verses 26 and
28.
In verse 26,
you see some
people who will
be terrified as
they see the
King returning.
And then in
verse 28, you
see some people
who will welcome
the King.
They will stand
up, lift up
their heads and
rejoice because
their redemption
is drawing near.
These are the
two responses
to Jesus.
If people
reject Jesus,
if they don't
believe in him
and have faith
in him,
then when he
returns they
will be afraid
of the coming
judgment.
God will
be
and have faith in
Jesus.
They will rejoice
because he is
returning to reign
over his people
and we will be
completely reconciled
with God.
That is the great
news of our
returning King.
They will rejoice
because their
redemption, their
salvation will be
complete.
God will dwell with
them and we will
dwell with God.
these are the two
reactions to the
King.
How will you react
this morning?
Will you rejoice
because your King
is coming or will
you tremble because
judgment is coming?
Your response is not
insignificant but it
has eternal
implications.
Your response to
Jesus affects your
eternal state before
God so please let me
ask you how will
you react at
Jesus' return.
In verses 29 to
31 Jesus tells
them a story so
that people can
understand everything
he has been saying
in this chapter.
He says just as the
leaves of a tree
indicate that summer
is coming, that
summer is just
around the corner,
all of these events
in verses 8 to
28 are signs of
the return of the
King.
And in verses 32
and 33 Jesus
says these signs
will take place
almost imminently
but the return of
Jesus will come
one day.
There will be a
time of waiting.
These signs will
start as soon as
Jesus departs and
they will continue
until he returns.
That's what Jesus
means when he says
that surely this
generation will not
pass away until
these things happen.
Jesus says this
world will pass
away.
It will be
destroyed but the
words of God,
the words of God's
Son will not pass
away nor will they
lose their power or
their meaning but
they will last
forever.
God's word is
everlasting.
The promises that
Jesus is making in
this passage from
this morning, they
will not pass away.
the promises that
he will be with
his disciples, the
promise that he
will protect his
disciples, they are
everlasting and just
as true today as
they were then.
And in light of all
of this, in verses
34 and 35, Jesus
reminds his disciples
to look up and have
their focus on him.
In light of all of
these events and signs
of the coming
kingdom of God,
they need to be
careful.
They need to pay
attention.
Watch and pray,
Jesus says, because
the king's return will
come suddenly.
And these signs are
already happening.
Watch and pray that
you will be found in
faith and able to
stand at the coming
of the king.
Jesus is saying,
don't get caught up in
the things of this
world but have your
gaze fixed on me.
They are to remain
faithful until he
returns.
And each day, people
gather to hear Jesus
speak in the temple.
People come day after
day to listen to Jesus
but the question is,
does it seep into their
hearts?
Or are they listening
but not understanding?
Are we looking up?
Are we eagerly
expecting the return
of our glorious
king?
Which reaction will we
have when King Jesus
returns?
Will you have the
first reaction of
people in verse 26
who listen to Jesus
every day in the
temple but who never
came to believe in him?
Or will you be like
those in verse 28 who
are waiting and who
are rejoicing when
the king returns?
This is an important
question.
Without Jesus, there
is no hope for today
and there is no hope
for the future.
Your response to
Jesus is the most
important thing in the
world.
If you've never thought
about it in these
terms, please this
morning, think about
it.
Consider Jesus, the
king.
Do not leave without
thinking about your
state before God
this morning.
How will you
respond?
Turn to Jesus, find
true hope and
lasting confidence
which can only be
found in him.
As Christians, we
have a certain hope
and a certain future
with Jesus.
As the well-known
evangelist Billy Graham
says when he expresses
his hope in Jesus, he
says this,
Someday you will hear
or read that Billy
Graham is dead.
Don't you believe a
word of it?
I shall be more
alive than I am now.
I will just have
changed my address.
I will have gone into
the presence of God.
This is the confidence
that Christians have in
the returning king.
Do you share that same
confidence that your soul
is at rest with God?
If you can say that
with Billy Graham,
are you shaping your
life around the king's
return?
Is your life built on
anticipation that Jesus
is coming back?
Are we living the life
that Jesus is asking us
to and calling us to in
this passage?
As we draw to a close
this morning, let me
encourage us all to heed
the departing words of
the returning king.
Let us watch out for the
things that would seek to
distract us from God.
Let us keep our gaze fixed
on him.
Let us stand firm in the
knowledge that all the
attacks that we face are
not on us, but they are on
Jesus.
They are because of who
we serve.
And let us see them as an
opportunity to bear witness
to him, the king who
promises to be with us.
And let us look up.
Let us keep our eyes fixed
on our returning king.
And let us have confidence
that we will be with him
forever.
Let us pray together.
Heavenly Father, we thank
you that you have not left
us to our own devices, but
that you have promised to be
with us in all of the
difficulties of our lives.
We ask, Lord, that you'd be
with us this week as we put
into practice what your word
has been challenging us on.
Help us watch out.
Help us stand firm.
And help us look up.
In all of this, remembering
that we are living for your
glory as we eagerly await the
day of your triumphal entry.
We pray all of this in the
holy, powerful, and precious
name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Amen.