Is it the end of the world if...?

 So... is it the end of the world?

(93) The Sermon on a Different Mount

We’re in the final week before Passover. Jesus and the disciples are staying in Bethany, probably with Martha, Mary and Lazarus. After an emotional scene in the Temple, with Jesus pronouncing seven “woes” on the ruling authorities, he sets off toward Bethany, following the footpath over the Mount of Olives. The view back over the city is spectacular. Read Matthew 24:1-3, Mark 13:1-4, Luke 21:5-7

1.       Why do the disciples want Jesus to “look” at the temple? Do we ever want God to “look” at something we think is wonderful?

2.       Why does Jesus say the temple will be destroyed? Does God ever seem to tell us things we don’t want to hear?

3.       Why do the disciples ask about “the end of the age”? Do we ever think we know what the worst thing will be? Does God ever tell us we’re wrong?

Jesus answers a much bigger question—how long will it take to reach “the end of the age”? Read Matthew 24:4-14, Mark 13:5-13, Luke 21:8-19

1.       Have there been people, through history or in recent history, who have claimed “I am the Christ”?

2.       Have there been wars through history? When Jesus says, “but do not be troubled…” does he mean don’t let war worry you, or don’t let war make you think it’s “the end of the age”?

3.       Does being told that famines, plagues, and earthquakes are “only the beginning” encourage you to think “the end of the age” is here and now, or could it still be a long way off?

4.       Were the disciples killed for his “name’s sake”? Is this message just for them or for all of us?

5.       Have Christians been killed for his “name’s sake”? Have Christians betrayed and hated each other? Is this a warning of the end of the world, or just a warning that life will be like this?

6.       How does Jesus give us words and wisdom?

7.       How does “love grow cold”? And what has “endure to the end” got to do with love? How do we “endure”?

8.       Read Luke 12:7, 21:18-19 Where has hair had importance in the Bible? How might this give us hope?

9.       How do you measure if the gospel has been preached to everyone, or is it not measurable?

Jesus has already called himself the “son of man.” He knows Daniel’s prophecies, so it’s logical that he’ll use the same imagery when he talks about end times. But, like Daniel, he uses the same image to prophecy the near future too. Read Matthew 24:15-28, Daniel 11:31, 12:1 (if you have time, read Daniel 11:31-12:1, and Mark 13:14-23, Luke 21:20-24)

1.       Read Mark 13:14, Luke 21:20-21 Luke only mentions troops, but Matthew and Mark assume their readers will understand something more. Most likely, Jesus’ abomination was the pagan emperor Titus, whose standard was worshiped in the ruins of the Jewish temple. Would readers have guessed this before it happened?

2.       Assuming the prophecy is also for the future, should we try to guess what the abomination is, or wait to find out?

3.       To survive, the people of Jerusalem had to flee—had to be refugees. How were Christians to maintain hope?

4.       Why might false prophets arise during disaster? Has the US seen any false prophets?

5.       In Matthew 24:28, which is important, the carcass or the eagles? How can we focus on what’s important when things are going wrong?

Are there “spectacular views” or great icons of civilization that we associate with our faith? Would it be the end of the world if they were threatened, or would it be a call to obey Luke 21:19?