The Signs of the Meal that is Holy

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 22:19-20).

Jesus… “earnestly desired to eat this Passover” (Luke 22:15) with His disciples. The letter to the Hebrews reminds us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). That means Jesus earnestly desires to meet with His disciples and share this meal with them in every age. Theologians and scholars have tried to understand the promise of the Lord’s presence at His table. I believe He gives some revelation into this mystery in the words He shared with His disciples around that first table. He told them He would not share this Passover meal again until its purpose was completely fulfilled… “I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (Luke 22:16). Jesus made the special bread and third cup of the Passover meal visible signs of sacred things that He was about to fulfill. In so doing He fulfilled the deep, prophetic meaning of this holy meal so that He could set His table and invite us to a sacred communion with Him through faith in the signs of the meal that is holy.

The sign of the bread. During the Passover meal Jesus took the Afikomen, the middle one of the three pieces of matzah that stood for the priest or mediator between God and the people. It was wrapped as he would be wrapped in linen for burial and hidden somewhere in the house as he would be buried. It was found and brought back to the meal as he would be resurrected. Jesus took this bread, gave thanks for it, and distributed it to the disciples, as a sign of redemption for all who will receive it in faith. In this, Christ was showing the disciples that this middle piece of matzah was the sign of His spotless body given for the redemption of His people. As the matzah is striped and pierced, His body would be striped and pierced, and by those wounds we are healed… “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Christ made this middle piece of matzah, the Afikomen, a sign of His bodily sacrifice and it has become our communion bread.

The sign of the cup. The third cup of wine was taken after the meal. It was the Cup of Redemption from slavery into freedom. It reminded the Jews of the covenant confirmed by the shed blood of a spotless, innocent Lamb that secured their redemption from Egypt… “The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:13). Jesus intentionally took this third cup, gave thanks for it, and gave it to His disciples. He identified this cup as a sign of a new covenant sealed with His blood as the Lamb of God… “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Christ made this cup a sign of His saving blood, and it is our communion cup.

The sign of communion. It’s no wonder we have come to call this meal holy communion. It is sometimes called the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist, a word of Greek origin meaning thanksgiving. You see, Christ instituted a meal to invite us to withdraw from this temporal world and enter into intimate fellowship with Him. The Spirit inspired John to echo Christ’s invitation to commune with Him over a meal… “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). The key to experiencing the presence of the Lord at His holy table is faith in the one who gave us these signs of His broken body and poured out blood. The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to confirm this truth… “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:27-28). When we come to the Lord’s table recognizing our deep need of a Savior and discerning and believing the signs of His broken body and His shed blood, He promises us a sweet communion with Him.

As we grow up into Christ, we experience communion with Him when we faithfully discern…

The Signs of the Meal that is Holy.

The Cup of Holiness

And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.  And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes” (Luke 22:14-18).

The ancient Jewish commentary, the Midrash, records that the Passover meal or Seder celebrated in Jesus’ day included four different cups, each with a special meaning. Christ intentionally highlighted two of the cups and the Holy Spirit inspired the gospel writers and the Apostle Paul to record His words about these cups for us. Luke notes that after Jesus expressed how earnestly He desired to share this Passover with His disciples, He took the first cup, called the Cup of Sanctification that symbolized God’s taking out the children of Israel from among the Egyptians, gave thanks for it, and instructed His disciples to share it among themselves. He added a curious prophecy, that He will not drink from this particular cup again… “until the kingdom of God comes”. There is precious truth revealed in Jesus’ words about this first cup of the Passover meal that some have called the cup of holiness.

Jesus passionately purchased holiness for us at the cross. There is a reminder here of the great price of our freedom from sin. Jesus saw through the first cup of the Passover meal all the way to the cross, and He earnestly desired to fulfill His mission to pay for sin there. Sitting here in the midst of His disciples He was compelled and encouraged toward Calvary by love for them and He was driven by the beautiful vision of seeing them set free from the bondage of sin… “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). In just a little while He would be alone and overwhelmed by the impending agony of the cross, He would need the encouragement of angels… “’Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:42-44). Perhaps Jesus desires our holiness even more than we do. May Christ’s passion compel us to pursue the holiness He earnestly desires for us!

Jesus purposefully prescribed holiness for us every day. Diligent disciples are to grow in the holiness Jesus purchased for us at Calvary… “For this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).  He promised the grace of the Holy Spirit to help complete the work of sanctification in us… “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). In His instruction that the disciples share the one cup of holiness together, Jesus’ exhorts disciples in every age to help one another to grow in holiness as we travel together through this unholy world toward the kingdom of God… “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2). May Christ’s prescription for holiness compel us to grow in holiness together with other disciples in a good local church!

Jesus prophetically promised holiness for us in heaven. Jesus promised that He will drink the Cup of Sanctification with us in eternity. What a precious promise! Because of the new covenant that this supper with His disciples illustrated and that Christ would soon seal with His own blood, we will soon be set free from the grip of sin and temptation forever… “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever” (Amen. Jude 1:24-25). May Christ’s promise of eternal holiness compel us to resist and live above sin’s meager temptation today!

As we grow up into Christ, we grow in the holiness He purchased, prescribed, and promised us in…

The Cup of Holiness.

The Heart that is Consecrated

Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover (Luke 22:7-13).

Jesus was attentive to and in control of every detail in the preparation of the Passover meal, including the selection, security, and set up of the precious upper room. After all, this was the meal that highlighted the power of the blood of the Lamb of God… “You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1 Peter 1:18-19). Christ was soon to fulfill Passover’s deepest meaning by completing the true destiny of the Lamb of God… “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Jesus chose and consecrated an ordinary room that would be transformed into a sacred place. Today we see that just as Jesus carefully set apart this upper room for His holy purpose, He also procures, protects, and propels the heart that is consecrated.

The consecrated heart is procured by Christ. The reason for the Old testament sacrificial lamb was to provide blood that would identify and deliver God’s children, the Israelites, from the deadly consequence of Egypt’s sin… “For the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you” (Exodus 12:23). Just as the Lord responded to the faith of the children of Israel, Jesus Christ, our Passover lamb sees the receptive heart’s faith, provides atonement for our sin, redeems us from spiritual death, and consecrates us to His service… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

The consecrated heart is protected by Christ. Jesus made sure that Judas, who had already conspired with the religious leaders to betray Jesus, could not act before this important Passover meal. By concealing his name and identifying the owner of the upper room only as… a man carrying a jar of water, Jesus protected the revelation of His fulfillment of this feast from the intrusion of His enemies. In the same way, Jesus guards the heart that is consecrated to Him… “While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:12). True disciples are comforted by the truth that the blood of Christ protects and keeps our heart holy as we journey through this hostile world toward our glorious home in heaven… “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

The consecrated heart is propelled by Christ. The blood of the Passover lamb freed the Israelite family to pack up and leave the familiar world and culture of the Egyptians. They were instructed to prepare for a journey toward a new land of promise by removing all leaven from their homes. In the same way, the blood of Christ our Passover lamb cleanses our heart from sin and propels us into a set apart life of sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and service as we grow in holiness and approach our eternal home in heaven… “Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 1:24).

As we grow up into Christ, He is always gracefully working in us to nurture and grow…

The Heart that is Consecrated.

The Vice that can Betray Us

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd” (Luke 22:3-6).

This simple description of the plot to betray Jesus has always provoked curiosity in my heart. Why did Satan have such easy access to the heart of one of the twelve like Judas? Why were the chief priests and officers so quick to abandon their plan to wait until after the Passover? Why was the Son of God betrayed for such a small bounty? Jesus was indeed the target of some very determined and unscrupulous characters. In every age, true disciples are also the targets of enemies that are determined to betray us. They sometimes come at us from among professing believers, church leaders, pastors, and teachers. Unwitting slaves to deception and vice, they do not preach Christ, but they are driven to elevate themselves and their ministries. They betray many by serving up an unholy and heretical false gospel. They are deceived themselves and It’s not always easy to discern and flee from such subtle enemies, but the Holy Spirit urges and helps us to be sensitive to the evil spirits that oppose Christ… “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world” (1 John 4:1). A close, Spirit-led examination of the three characters that conspired to betray Christ will help us recognize and resist the vice that can betray us.

Satan was compelled by conceit. He was a determined disputant of Christ. He desperately wanted to discredit Jesus as the Christ, the Savior and Redeemer. He attacked every claim of Christ who declared… “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). We recognize Satan’s spirit operating in those who preach and teach that there are many ways to heaven, there is no ultimate truth, all truth is relative, there is no life after death, or reincarnation. Subtler but just as deceitful is the message that we can be saved by believing in Christ and doing some good or religious works. Earnest disciples must be diligent to discern such deception by seeking out and holding firmly to the truth revealed by the Holy Spirit inspired scriptures… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). To recognize and resist the subtle disputations of Satan, wherever they may be found, we must know and abide in the truth of God’s Word… “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32).

Judas was controlled by craving. He was a deceptive disciple of Christ. Growing disciples learn to trust the perfect provision of God… “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). We become content with the Lord’s blessings… “Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13). In Christ, we overcome the spirit of greed that conquered Judas and also controls the hearts of many false religious leaders… “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

The religious leaders were captivated by covetousness. They were dedicated defamers of Christ. They coveted His position and influence among the people. True religious leaders are servant leaders after the example of Christ… “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). We should seek and follow humble leaders who embrace and imitate Christ, the Good Shepherd, above building and maintaining big churches and ministries… “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:11).

As we grow up into Christ, we learn to discern and depart from leaders who are dominated by…

The Vice that Can Betray Us.

The Fear that can Bind Us

Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover.  And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people (Luke 22:1-2).

The fear of people results in a life captivated and enslaved by the opinions and actions of others. It results in a kind of blinding, immobilizing insecurity. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were responsible for seeking and teaching the spiritual truths that are revealed in God’s Word, but here, as one of the most meaningful and prophetic Old Testament feasts approached they were blind to its impending fulfillment in Christ because they feared the people. There are still many false religious leaders in our midst today. False people-fearing preachers and teachers vie for our adulation and affections because they want to fill their pews and build their churches and ministries. There is precious, liberating truth here for serious disciples in every generation about discerning and avoiding the fear that can bind us.

False leaders dread the people more than God. People-fearing, insecure chief priests and scribes gained their personal worth from the affirmation of the people they were called to serve. Pastors and teachers can be particularly vulnerable to this weakness if we lose our personal fellowship and intimacy with Jesus Christ. Evidence of a healthy, growing walk with Jesus is a leader that imitates Christ’s servant leadership… “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28). Evidence of the fear of man is a gospel that is more concerned about winning acceptance than about prompting repentance in sinful hearts. 

False leaders dismiss the plan of God. The Feast of Unleavened Bread was a seven-day reminder to remove all leaven from the home in anticipation of a hasty exodus from Egypt. In the Old Testament, the Spirit identifies leaven with sin by banning it from altar-burnt offerings… “No grain offering that you bring to the LORD shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey as a food offering to the LORD” (Leviticus 2:11).  In the New Testament, the Spirit reaffirms the connection between leaven and sin… “Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:8). The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us of the impossibility of removing all tiny crumbs of leavened products from our home and all traces of sin from our heart on our own. Fear of man can make us blind to this first step toward salvation, admitting the truth about our helpless, sinful condition and seeking the grace and mercy of God. Evidence of the fear of man is a gospel that does not include confession and repentance.

False leaders distort the purpose of God. By compelling Luke to note that the Feast of Unleavened Bread… is called the Passover, the Spirit emphasized the purpose of the feast was to raise awareness of the need for a sacrificial lamb to protect the home against the terrible deathly consequence of sin… “Go and select lambs for yourselves according to your clans, and kill the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and touch the lintel and the two doorposts with the blood that is in the basin… the LORD will pass through to strike the Egyptians, and when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you” (Exodus 12:21-23).  The Spirit inspired John to reveal Christ as the Lamb of God that delivers us from sin’s deadly consequence… “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The blind religious leaders believed they could put him to death, but that act belonged to God’s plan of redemption, as later revealed through the apostle Paul’s inspired letter… “Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Corinthians 5:7). Fearing people more than God can still make us blind to the important truth that faith in Christ is sufficient to cleanse us from all sin. Evidence of the fear of man is a gospel that adds any self-righteous works to the all-sufficient grace of Jesus Christ.

As we grow up into Christ, we learn to recognize and avoid leaders enslaved by…

The Fear that Can Bind Us.

The Discipline that Keeps Us Holy

“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.” And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him (Luke 21:34-38).

Jesus continued preparing His disciples for life in the last days. We’ve learned that the last days began with His ascension and will end with His return… “And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:10-11). Our lord gave much revelation about the conditions and signs of the last days, promising that with increasing intensity the unbelieving world would become more perplexed while we, His disciples should become more prepared for His return. He also gave us a set of spiritual exercises to keep us set apart for kingdom building work through to the end of these last days and today we are challenged to engage wholeheartedly in the discipline that keeps us holy.

Maturing disciples must strengthen ourselves. A true disciple is always growing. Like healthy physical growth, healthy spiritual growth and vitality requires a proper diet. The right nourishment for growing disciples is the truth found in God’s Word… “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD” (Deuteronomy 8:3). Jesus acknowledged this truth (see Luke 4:4), and the Holy Spirit affirmed it through the letter to the Hebrews… “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food” (Hebrews 5:12). To stay strong in the faith, make sure you’re feeding your hungry spirit the faith building truth of God’s Word every day!

Diligent disciples must stay awake. A true disciple has increasing discernment. One primary characteristic of the last days will be a proliferation of false teachers… “Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1). In today’s text Jesus reveals a connection between strong spiritual discernment and prayer. He affirmed this relationship in a warning to His disciples… “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). To grow strong in the spirit, spend quality time with Jesus Christ in prayer every day.

Faithful disciples must stand up for Christ. A true disciple will provoke opposition. We are living according to a never-changing truth in an ever-changing world and as we are abiding and immersed in the truth of God’s word our increasingly holy lives will convict and stir up the rebellion and wickedness that enslaves the hearts of unbelievers… “If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19). The Spirit affirms this truth through Paul’s letter to Timothy… “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). Jesus knows how lonely we sometimes feel as family, friends, and others find it easier to abandon us than to hang out with us to get to know the Christ who has captured our hearts and lives within us. That’s why He promises us that we will never be alone if we live for Him… “Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). He also revealed that when we stand up for Him in this unrighteous world we will be blessed just as the prophets who stood up for God in every generation… “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matthew 5:11-12). Don’t miss the prophetic blessings of standing up for Jesus today!

As we grow up into Christ, we become more available and prepared disciples as we follow…

The Discipline that Keeps Us Holy.

The Signs of the Kingdom that is 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” (Luke 21:29-33).

Jesus preached and promised that things are gonna change. He proclaimed the arrival of a new order and He prophesied about the approach of the kingdom of God… “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15). His message had a twofold meaning. First, the kingdom of God comes near whenever the presence and power of God shows up through the faithful ministry of His true disciples… “Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you’” (Luke 10:9). Second, Jesus promised that the eternal kingdom of God would come one day with His return… “I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom” (Matthew 26:29). The Spirit affirms the supremacy and eternity of Christ’s kingdom… “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever’” (Revelation 11:15). Whether it’s in the ministry and witnessing of this day or of the very last days, Jesus wants us to be fully aware of the signs of the kingdom that is near.

When the kingdom of God approaches, there will be a discernable season. Jesus had just finished teaching that there will be terrible signs in the natural world that will perplex the unbeliever and encourage the believer (see v. 25-28, The Signs that Encourage Us). Let’s face it, life in this temporal and trying world is full of such signs every day. Bad things happen to both good and bad people… “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). The difference is that true believers live with an anticipation of Christ showing up, drawing near, and revealing His grace in the midst of our trials. We see every trial as a Christ-glorifying opportunity… “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7). And we are thankful for every trial because we know it will last only for a season, and our season to imitate Christ in glorifying God here on earth is a short one… “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do” (John 17:4).

When the kingdom of God approaches, there will be a desperate generation. Every generation has had and will have its own share of distress, perplexity, fear, and foreboding (see v. 25-26). Such circumstances and trials confront every individual here on earth with the brevity and fragility of life… “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1), the consequences of separation from God caused by sin… “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear” (Isaiah 59:2), and the need for a Savior to restore us to God… “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). What makes all the difference in eternity is the decision that can only be made here in this temporal world to trust in Christ… “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you. Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

When the kingdom of God approaches, there will be a definite confirmation. True disciples have peace when the world is perplexed because Jesus confirmed that in Him we shall overcome the world’s tribulation… “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

As we grow up into Christ, it is through our everyday witness and ministry that the world will see…

The Signs of the Kingdom that is Near.

The Signs that Encourage Us

“And 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” (Luke 21:25-28).

One of my favorite signature quotes is keep lookin’ up! I try to end most emails and letters with this admonition for two reasons. First, as an encouragement to pray about the topic of our communication, expecting a great and wonderful reply and revelation from heaven… “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known” (Jeremiah 33:3). Second, as an encouragement to see through and beyond the immediate circumstance and toward the eternal consequences and purposes behind it… “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). In today’s text, Jesus offers a glimpse of the signs that will precede His return. He includes a description of two different reactions to these signs. In truth, our reaction to the many signs of the Spirit of Christ’s daily intervention in our world and in our lives, identifies us as children of the world or children of God. You see, the very same signs of Christ’s coming that perplex the world are the signs that encourage us.

The signs plague heaven and earth. They are manifested throughout the natural world with such prevalence and profusion that no one can miss them. But what’s different about these signs are their origin. They are natural manifestations of a great conflagration among the “powers of the heavens” … “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). When your world is shaken up, look up and pray up, because Jesus is coming into your life to defeat the enemies that are gathering against you and your victory is very near!

The signs produce fear and foreboding in the hearts of the wicked. The signs of the Lord’s approach are severe because they are meant to shake the hearts and minds of unbelievers. The Lord’s protection and peace that covers us during the shakeup of the world around us are very perplexing to the unbeliever and can create opportunities for us testify about the hope we have in Christ… “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:13-15). When your world is shaken up, look around to see where Jesus is coming to touch and transform the hearts of the lost through your testimony!

The signs prompt elation and exaltation in the hearts of the righteous. The signs of the Lord’s approach signal the replacement of the natural world that is enslaved by sin’s terrible consequences with a new heavens and earth… “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13). When your world is shaken up, look above and beyond your natural circumstances to Jesus who is coming to transform and prepare you for eternal righteousness and glory!

As we grow up into Christ, our anticipation of His coming is increased by…

The Signs that Encourage Us.

The Desolation that Compels Us

“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. 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. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled” (Luke 21:20-24).

Jesus directed His discourse to the first big event of the last days, the desolation of Jerusalem. To correctly discern the precious truth our Teacher shares here, we must remember that the last days are those days between the ascension of Christ and His return. He wants His disciples in every age to be living every day as if it is the last day here on earth before His return. He also wants us to remember that the days after His visit and ministry on earth would be very different from the days that went before. The last days would begin with the siege and destruction Of Jerusalem, the city at the heart of God’s great plan of reconciliation with mankind… “At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the LORD, and all nations shall gather to it, to the presence of the LORD in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart” (Jeremiah 3:17). Jerusalem is also the city close to the heart of Jesus… “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 1,3:34). Let’s remember that Christ is becoming enthroned in our hearts and in these last days, He wants us to be responsive to the desolation that compels us.

The desolation of Jerusalem would scatter Christ’s disciples. Jesus wanted His disciples to leave the comfort and familiarity of Jerusalem to carry the gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth… “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8). The first days after the birth of the church were filled with blessing as the church grew by the thousands, but the first phase of God’s plan for the church to reach the world would not last for long. Persecution, then the siege and destruction of Jerusalem propelled the disciples with the message of the gospel out into the Gentile world… “Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). God sometimes shakes and brings desolation to our world in order to compel us to carry His gospel to others.

The desolation of Jerusalem would not last forever. Jesus promised that… “Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled”. What did He mean by “the times of the Gentiles”? The Spirit inspired Paul to give an answer… “A partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in” (Romans 11:25). Jerusalem’s desolation will end when the gospel has reached the whole world… “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14). The Gentile domination of Israel until the return of Christ should compel true disciples in every age to share His gospel and make disciples of all nations… “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

The desolation of Jerusalem would fulfill God’s vengeance. God is jealous over Jerusalem… “So the angel who talked with me said to me, ‘Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am exceedingly jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion” (Zechariah 1:14). The Spirit inspired Paul to reflect the Lord’s jealousy for the heart of the true disciple, because He gave His life in exchange for our heart… “For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:2). His divine jealousy moves God to bring about the desolation of the fruit of our adulterous behavior and compels us rise above the world’s temptations and to grow in holiness.

As we grow up into Christ, we are moved to make disciples of the nations in word and deed by…

The Desolation that Compels Us.

The Way of Endurance

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. But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. This will be your opportunity to bear witness. Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives” (Luke 21:10-19).

Jesus continued His description of the tumult and conflict that would occupy the world between His ascension and His return. Indeed, the world has been consumed by political and religious conflict, increasing natural disasters, and heartbreaking human suffering since Jesus returned to His Father. Whether these increasingly terrible conditions are stirred up by our relentless adversary Satan, or by our ever-pursuing Father to gain the attention of selfish and distracted humanity (note: great signs from heaven), Jesus wants His disciples in every age until He returns, to know the way of endurance.

We endure because our persecution is a witnessing opportunity. The proclamation of the gospel and growth of the church will always provoke resistance and conflict… “Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division” (Luke 12:51). Jesus promised that our dedication to living as His disciples and sharing His gospel will instigate opposition… “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you… If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you… But all these things they will do to you on account of my name” (John 15:18-21). The Spirit also affirms this inescapable truth… “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12). As we grow in the faith, our reaction to persecution should increasingly mirror that of our Lord, who offered the gospel of forgiveness to those who persecuted Him… “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Jesus wants us to turn persecution into promise by bearing witness to His saving grace when we are provoked because of Him.

We endure because our Helper strengthens us. The same Holy Spirit that empowered Jesus to see into the hearts of angry Pharisees and religious leaders… “Immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, ‘Why do you question these things in your hearts?’” (Mark 2:8) will show us what’s in the hearts of our persecutors if we listen… “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God” (1 Corinthians 2:10). Jesus promised the Spirit will show us how to respond to persecutors because the Spirit knows exactly what’s provoking their hearts and His anointed words can melt the hardest heart.

We endure because our endurance is leading us to real life. Jesus’ words sound contradictory… “some of you they will put to death” yet… “not a hair of your head will perish”. The resolution of this seeming contradiction is found in His closing words… “By your endurance you will gain your lives”. The Spirit inspired Paul to teach that this earthly life is temporary and our perishable body will be exchanged for an imperishable one… “For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53). In Christ, all who endure this trying and temporal life will transition to eternal life… “For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52), but we do not die… “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. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26). Jesus wants us to look past today’s trials and stay focused on the promise of real life.

As we grow up into Christ, in an increasingly hostile and turbulent world, by His grace we learn…

The Way of Endurance.

The Signs of the Beginning of the End

And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “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.” And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once” (Luke 21:5-9).

Jesus had just contrasted the sacrificial giving of the poor widow with the noisy, prideful giving of the wealthy. Some in the crowd got his message, but others were so preoccupied with the natural wealth and splendor of Herod’s Temple that they missed the precious truth Jesus had just spoken… “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). Natural ears cannot hear spiritual truth, and minds that are consumed with only natural thoughts cannot understand spiritual truth… “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14). What a shame. These carnally captive people heard the words of Jesus but missed His message that revealed important truth about the days to come. Here Jesus revealed that the countdown to His return would begin almost immediately after His ascension with the destruction of this splendid temple. The days of our anticipation and preparation for His return would be filled with false Christs and increasing conflict. We are reminded today that true disciples in every age are to avoid the distractions of the flesh and the natural world and listen carefully to the Holy Spirit in order to discern the signs of the beginning of the end.

The end began with the removal of the temple. Jesus had revealed that Herod’s temple was to be replaced with a new, intimate, personal place of worship… “The hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father… But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:21-23). Jesus has established His new temple in the hearts of His true disciples… “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). As we anticipate His return we are to worship and glorify God with every breath!

The end began with the revelation of false Christ’s. This prophecy was fulfilled very early in the history of the Church, with the doctrine of the papacy that teaches that the pope is the vicar of Christ. The vicar is the representative of a higher-ranking official, with all of the same authority and power that that official has. The Spirit confirms through the pen of the apostle John that from the earliest days of the pope to the return Jesus, there will be false Christ’s… “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour” (1 John 2:18). The same Spirit moved John to reveal how we may discern and resist false Christs… “This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son” (1 John 2:22). As we advance toward Christ’s return, our intimate fellowship with Him and immersion in His Word help us to know the true Christ and to discern and resist increasing numbers of false Christs.

The end began with the rise of war. Jesus taught that His incarnation would disrupt the natural order of fallen creation and that confronting sinful hearts with gospel truth would increase conflict among fallen people… “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34). As we approach Christ’s return, increasing conflict and war compels true disciples to share His gospel because it offers true and lasting peace to a broken and tumultuous world.

As we grow up into Christ, and we long for His return we are increasingly aware of…

The Signs of the Beginning of the End.