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- Luke Chapter 21 (part 2)
Good morning! ☀️
"When disciples followed a rabbi, they followed him closely so they would never be out of his sight, never be someplace where they couldn’t hear him speak. They followed him so closely that his sandals often kicked up dust."
May you be covered in His dust.
If this is your first time getting Covered in His Dust, WELCOME!
Read Chapter 21 before reading my notes. They’ll make more sense.
Access previous notes on Luke by signing into your account. Click 'Read Online' at the top right of this post and scroll down to find them waiting for you.
What a week!
Reading about Jesus in His final week on earth at the same time it was happening two thousand years ago was humbling.
I’m ready to tackle another confusing chapter of Luke.
You may need to read my notes a few times today. Walk slowly. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions.
Before we get started, I want to introduce you to a teaching by Jesus called the Olivet Discourse.
If you Google the Olivet Discourse, it refers to a teaching Jesus gave to His disciples just outside Jerusalem. It’s recorded in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The discourse is named after the Mount of Olives, where the lesson took place.
Matthew 24-25
Mark 13
Luke 21:5-36
Jesus addresses His disciples' questions about the future, specifically regarding the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, signs of the end times, and His second coming. The discourse contains prophetic teachings and warnings about tribulation, persecution, and the need for readiness and vigilance among believers.
Ok. Let’s go.
It was the last week of Jesus' life, and some of His followers were talking about how beautiful the Temple was.
The "noble stones" they were talking about were most likely the impressive features of ‘Herod's Temple.’
It was called 'Herod's Temple’ because Herod launched a massive renovation project on the Temple Mount. The Second Temple was known for its magnificent architecture and elaborate carvings, which included massive stones. Herod spared no expense in transforming it into an architectural masterpiece.
When my wife and I visited Jerusalem, there was an obvious difference between Herod’s work and previous constructions.
Jesus’ followers were proud of the Temple—it was beautiful! So when Jesus said it would fall, anyone listening would have been shocked.
“As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Jesus is prophesying the complete destruction of the temple, with not even one stone left standing upon another. This prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple during the First Jewish-Roman War.
This is a well-documented history.
Flavius Josephus, a Jewish historian who lived in the 1st century AD, wrote a detailed account of the Jewish-Roman War, including the events leading up to and following the destruction of the Second Temple, in his works "The Wars of the Jews" and "Jewish Antiquities."
And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
Remember, the Olivet Discourse was a teaching Jesus gave His disciples on the Mount of Olives, just outside Jerusalem.
And in Mark and Matthew’s account, that’s true.
And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?”
'As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”
Except Luke doesn’t record Jesus talking to His disciples on the Mount of Olives. Jesus is at the Temple, talking about the Widow’s offering and some of His followers are admiring the ‘noble stones.’
From the Mount of Olives, you could have seen the Temple, but you couldn’t have seen the Widow dropping the two coins into the offering.
And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,
So what?
Hang with me. I believe everything we read in scripture matters, so… details matter.
We need to be careful in putting parallel stories together because it has the potential to cause confusion.
In Mark and Matthew’s accounts, Jesus isn’t at the Temple, and a small group of His disciples “ask him privately.”
That’s the Olivet Discourse.
Jesus had thousands of followers throughout His 3-year ministry.
Jesus sent out seventy disciples ahead of Him to proclaim the Kingdom of God.
Jesus had the Twelve Apostles, whom He chose to be His closest companions and followers.
In Mark and Matthew’s accounts, we see that Jesus also had an inner circle. Peter, James, and John came to Him privately to ask Him about the destruction of Jerusalem.
Peter, James, and John were also present and witnessed Jesus' transformation and conversation with Moses and Elijah.
Before Jesus' arrest, Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.
When Jesus went to heal Jairus' daughter, He brought Peter, James, and John with Him into the house. They were there when Jesus raised the girl from the dead.
For now, just be aware that these were two different occasions with very similar explanations. I don’t believe Luke’s account is part of the Olivet Discourse because it didn’t take place on the Mount of Olives.
This actually happens quite a bit in the Bible. I love that!
I sometimes travel to the United States and speak at different churches. I tell similar stories. If someone had written about them, they would look the same and have a similar message, but they would most likely have been tailored to each unique audience.
Some interpret texts like this as contradictions, but when you realize they were on different occasions, there are no discrepancies.
I think, as Christians, we often read right past those details and seeming contradictions.
Why do we do that?
We have faith in the Word, so there must be a good explanation.
Maybe we’re just reading to check it off our list. We’re in a hurry.
I think sometimes we don’t pursue discrepancies because we don’t want to face the possibility of scripture being inaccurate. That’s scary.
I want to encourage you to pursue everything that seems contradictory to you. We should take our faith seriously!
I’ve been doing it for months now, and I’m telling you that the truth has been revealed every, single, time.
And
It’s
Strengthened
My
Faith
If you believe God’s Word is infallible, take the time to investigate it.
Contrary to what other faiths proclaim, the Bible has not been corrupted. You have nothing to fear.
The Bible has been passed down through ancient manuscripts dating back to within a few centuries of the original writings. These manuscripts provide consistent evidence for the reliability of the Bible's text.
Expert scholars use rigorous methods to translate the Bible accurately. They compare multiple ancient manuscripts and consult linguistic resources to ensure fidelity to the original languages.
Throughout history, the Bible has been extensively quoted by early Christian writers and other ancient sources. These quotations confirm the Bible's transmission and preservation over time.
Archaeological discoveries consistently support the historical accuracy of the Bible. Inscriptions, artifacts, and sites align with biblical accounts, providing external validation.
Ongoing scholarly research and scrutiny maintain the integrity of the Bible's translation. Scholars continually refine translations and incorporate new discoveries to enhance accuracy.
Back to Luke’s account.
And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?”
Jesus’ response may sound like He’s talking about the end times. But He’s not.
Verses 10-24 are all in response to their question, “When will the destruction of the Temple take place?”
Jesus is saying, “You’re going to see a lot of things happen between now and the destruction of the temple.”
Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
These are not signs of the end times.
This is life on earth.
“Do not be led astray.”
At this time Jewish people were ruled by the Romans.
Approximately 35 years after Jesus was crucified, the Jewish people revolted against Roman authority. This rebellion sparked a four-year war.
The Roman army moved into Judea and Palestine, pushing rebels from the countryside into Jerusalem.
“But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.
History books tell us that the Romans surrounded Jerusalem in a five-month siege. The Romans gradually tightened their grip on the city, cutting off its food and water supplies and launching attacks on its defenses.
Eventually, in the late summer or early fall of 70 AD, they captured the city, destroying it. The walls and the temple were torn down, and thousands were killed.
Jerusalem was burned to the ground.
One of the only remnants of the Temple was the Western wall, which was part of the Temple Mount's retaining wall.
The current Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall, is the section of retaining wall between ‘F’ and ‘G’.
Photo I took of the Western Wall in 2022
What Jesus said would happen, happened!
“When you hear about wars, do not fear.”
“Expect false teachers, do not be led astray.”
“When you see armies surrounding the city… get… out.”
“If you’re in the country, don’t go into the city or you will die.”
How bad was it?
'Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. '
"Alas" is a term used to express sorrow, regret, or pity. It can be interpreted as a synonym for "woe.”
Josephus estimated that more than 1 million Jews died just during the siege of Jerusalem. Many died during the war because of hunger, sickness, and fighting.
That’s it for today. We covered a lot, but Chapter 21 has more to cover. Look for the conclusion on Monday morning.
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As we finish up the Gospel of Luke, I’m already looking forward to the Book of Acts. I’m not gonna lie; I’m intimidated. I can’t wait to see what the Holy Spirit reveals!
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I love you,
George
Uncovering Scripture
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George Sisneros serves as a full-time missionary in Guatemala. He is the founder of Ordinary Missionaries and the El Rosario Christian Academy for Boys.
He’s been married to his wife, Vonda, for 25 years. He’s a father to nine children, five adopted.
George and his family will be expanding to Cuba in 2024.