JOIN US AS WE CELEBRATE THE MOMENT GOD CAME NEAR TO US.

Warning Of The Days To Come

The following day, large crowds again gathered at the temple to listen intently to Jesus’s words, but the chief priests and the teachers of the law were still looking for a reason to arrest Jesus. They asked his opinion on paying taxes and about the resurrection, certain that his answers would anger either the crowd or the Romans. But Jesus gave them nothing to use against him.

In front of all the people, Jesus warned his disciples to beware of the chief priests and the teachers of the law, for they “love to be greeted in the marketplace, and have the most important seats in the synagogues.” Right as he finished saying “they devour widow’s houses,” Jesus looked over at a widow dropping all she had into the temple treasury—two copper coins. “This poor widow has put in more than all the others,” he said. Her willingness to sacrifice all she had to live on showed that her trust was in the Lord, not in possessions.

Yet, even Jesus’ own disciples were enamored with the temple’s massive buildings, beautiful stones, and all the sacrificial gifts to God. Jesus didn’t share their excitement. He fixed their eyes on something greater, reminding them that the things of this earth would topple, including the temple itself: “The time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

“Keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”

Jesus

That evening, as Jesus and his disciples journeyed back to the Mount of Olives where they were staying, the disciples grew eager to hear more about the future. “Tell us, when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”

Jesus delivered a series of warnings, cautioning them not to let their guards down, to “keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” He told them of the wars, famines, earthquakes, and persecution that were coming. But he also gave them hope. After all the darkness and destruction, a great new thing would happen: “The Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.”

For the disciples, their trusted friend and teacher was talking about terrifying times. Jesus wasn’t giving them the encouragement they probably expected, instead telling them to prepare for something they couldn’t even comprehend. But Jesus wasn’t going to leave his closest friends unprepared…

Meanwhile, the chief priests and the elders were meeting at the palace of the high priest, continuing to conspire against Jesus. The Passover was in days, so they decided to wait to avoid a riot among the people. But Jesus knew all that was about to come to pass. He told his disciples “the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified,” and he knew it would be one of them who would betray him—agreeing to a few coins in exchange for Jesus’ life.