Luke 21:25-36 [Jesus said:] “There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
In World War II, the US Navy was studying all the planes that were coming back from battle, and they diagrammed where all the damage was taking place. They thought that those were the parts of the plane that needed to be reinforced; I mean, they were being shot. A man named Abraham Wald disagreed. Instead of reinforcing the shot areas, he argued they should reinforce the areas that weren’t shot. Why? The planes that made it home weren’t shot there. They could be shot in the diagrammed places and survive. It was the other parts in that they couldn’t. Wald told them they were focusing on the wrong thing, and he was right.
As we near the end of the Church Year, the focus shifts to the end times. Unfortunately, with the end times, we can fall prey to focusing on the wrong things, the wrong events, and the wrong emphases, even if we might mean well. As Jesus tells us about the end, He tells us what we should truly focus on, that is, redemption, the revelation, and the Redeemer.
Jesus begins by describing the events leading to His return, and it is quite graphic, and violent! Jesus describes everything falling apart. Creation is becoming unglued. Everything is tearing at the seams. The laws of nature and physics are being violated and broken. God’s beautiful and orderly creation is becoming chaotic as He withdraws His providential care, and hand. There are signs of this in sun, moon, and stars.
There are signs of the earth falling apart, too. Jesus specifically mentions the roaring of the sea and waves. They are out of control and disturbed. There are raging storms and crashing tidal waves. Think of the destruction we saw in the south with Hurricane Ian that ruined everything in its path; however, that will seem minor to this!
And Jesus says there are signs of people falling apart. When we get anxious, we can sometimes feel it in our chest. Our chest tightens, our breathing becomes faster, and our heads feel rushed. Jesus says it will be so bad that people will be fainting with fear and dread about what is going on. When everything begins to fall apart, and come undone, what do we focus on? The sky? The sea? Stressed people? (No, the Savior and His salvation).
Jesus says, “And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads….” Jesus says be excited! Straighten up and raise your head because something marvelous is coming! Don’t bow your head in fear, dread, or worry, but lift it up in joy, and expectation.
On Tuesday, as I was jotting a sermon idea, a man I know said, “Can I sit with you for a few minutes.” “Sure,” I said. “I have a few.” With tears welling up in his eyes, he said, “I lost my coffee buddy last week. He died of a sudden heart attack. He was my best friend for 40 years, and we have done coffee every Tuesday for the last 15 to 20 years.” “I’m sorry,” I said. And knowing about some of his personal life, I said, “And isn’t this the week your wife went into the hospital with covid, too?” He said, “Yeah, it is. She then died 35 days later.” Wanting to change the subject, he said, “What are you preaching on?” “The end times,” I said. With a smile, he said, “Won’t that be great when Jesus comes back? We’ll have new bodies, and see them again.”
“Won’t that be great?” That’s the focus! It’s not on creation falling apart, but the redemption that is to be revealed. Jesus says, “…your redemption is drawing near.” That is what Jesus calls us to focus on. Redemption is the picture of release, freedom, and deliverance! Jesus’ coming is a release from pain, fear, worry, suffering, evil, and violence. It is a release from sin and its power, death’s hold, and life in a broken and sinful world. It is the end of goodbyes. Jesus has conquered all these things through His death and resurrection. We enjoy the redemption He has won, now, but will experience His redemption in all its fullness when He returns. Instead of focusing on the destruction around us, He invites us to focus on the redemption coming upon us. We have nothing to fear though the earth gives way. His coming is a good thing!
The next thing He invites us to focus on is His revelation, His Word. When these things happen in Minnesota, you know that spring is here, and that summer is around the corner. What are they? When you see flocks of Canadian Geese fly overhead. When the state bird, the mosquito, comes out of hibernation. When dandelions sprout, and the apple trees flower. When the Boys’ Hockey Tournament goes on, and the Twins get ready to open a new season. When sandals and shorts return in full swing, never to go back in the closet. When the snow is almost gone, and the only blizzards left are those at Dairy Queen (which reopens). When you see these things coming, you know spring in Minnesota is here, and summer around the corner! We can interpret these signs. And we can interpret these others, too.
Jesus says that when you see signs in sun, moon, and stars; when the nations are distressed and confused; when the seas and waves roar and rage; when people are fainting with fear, we will know the Kingdom of God is near. We are already brought into His Kingdom through our baptism, where we are made His redeemed children, but it will be in its fullness when He returns. Just as we know spring is coming, we will know when He is close to coming.
In times of trouble, it is natural to look towards things that are certain, enduring, and unchanging. When all this is going on, it is a temptation to focus on the things that will last, the constants in life. That can be the sun overhead, the twinkling stars, the grass underneath our feet, or the lake’s fixed bounds. It can be the money in our account, our health, or the technology we are blessed with. It can be the people God has given us, the relationships we have, or the love people show us. We often gravitate towards the things that are certain when everything is uncertain. We go to the things that will be here tomorrow. While these things are good, and can be enduring, Jesus points us to the one thing that will truly last. He points us to the one thing that outlasts it all. “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
When everything falls apart, Jesus leads us to the one thing that won’t: His Word. His word that created everything is enduring and eternal. His promises are unending, and cannot be broken. Listen to what His enduring word says: “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).” “When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him (Ps 91:15).” “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die (John 11:25-26).” “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).” These will last. These are forever. These endure. Jesus invites us to focus on His abiding Word, and not on the things that won’t last, as good as they might be.
The last thing He directs us to is Him. Jesus begins the last section by saying, “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation….” The word dissipation is only used here in the entire New Testament. It literally means “a drinking bout,” but generally refers to the distractions of daily life. So things like House or Senate counts, Fantasy Football, our home’s chore list, coordinating family schedules, Thanksgiving or Christmas preparations. He continues, “with drunkenness,” a common temptation to distract us from the distractions of life. And, “cares of this life,” which literally means, “bodily worries.” Those are questions like, “How will I make ends meet? Who will take care of me? How will I get that done? How will I make the time?” These are important questions that need answers, right? These are questions we need to answer for ourselves, and even for others. The temptation for all of these things is that they can distract us from Jesus. When we try to answer these questions and distractions ourselves, no wonder we can get consumed by them, and assaulted by worry. Jesus warns that worldly worries, when allowed to morph into excessive worry, can eventually overwhelm our faith and trust in Him. He doesn’t want that! And, again, He invites us to focus elsewhere.
“But stay awake at all times [in other words, always be ready!], praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” However, there can be a danger with this if we aren’t focused correctly. We can wonder, “Am I ready for His return? Am I praying enough? Will I be able to stand before Him?” Again, these are valid questions, but the focus isn’t. Can you hear the danger? The danger is that we can focus on ourselves, and on what we have done. Are we ready enough? Are we strong enough? Are we praying enough? Will we be able to stand? We can focus inward, rather than outward. Outward? The thrust of this verse points us to Jesus.
He is the One Who makes us ready through Word and Sacrament. His Spirit is at work in us, strengthening our faith, enlivening us, and preserving us in the one true faith. He is the One Who makes it possible for us to stand before Him, as He clothes us in His righteousness, and takes our sin. In the face of daily distractions, drunkenness, and bodily worries, Jesus directs us to Him. He says that He will provide in His way and time. He will strengthen and preserve. He will clothe, both in body, and in soul. He will make us ready, and does. We are invited to look to Him in the midst of it all.
Abraham Wald was on to something. Focusing on the right things is important. It’s a life-or-death matter. As Jesus tells us about the end times, He invites to focus on our coming redemption, His revelation, and He, the Redeemer.