Key Thought

"When will this be?" That's a question that's been asked for ages, isn't it! But Jesus didn't really answer that question in the way they would have liked! In fact, there isn't much about this whole deal they do like! The two scenes recounted here take place in front of the Temple as they were leaving it, and overlooking the Temple from the mount of Olives. The Temple was the powerful reminder to all Jews of God's abiding presence among his people. They wanted to focus on the beauty of this Temple. But Jesus wants them to focus on the permanence of the real Temple, himself! If they were to find God from now on, they must look to him! No one else was going to be able to save them! In fact, Jesus' message to us is still the same: No building, no place can save you. Only I can save. "But when is that going to be, Jesus?" We want to know the time, too. But Jesus doesn't give us the answer. Instead, he challenges us to be faithful and despite the tumult of the times, look to him and not be mislead by all the false teachers and false prophets!

Today's Prayer

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Holy Father, I find it so easy to trust in myself and in the things around me, especially my religious things. Help me Father to look to Jesus and rely upon him as my only source of hope and future. Come Lord Jesus with power! In your name, Son of God, I pray. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus left the temple area and was walking away. But his followers came to him to show him the temple's buildings. Jesus asked the followers, "Are you looking at these buildings? I tell you the truth. They will be destroyed. Every stone will be thrown down to the ground. Not one stone will be left on another." Later, Jesus was sitting at a place on the Mount of Olives. The followers came to be alone with Jesus. They said, "Tell us when these things will happen. And what will happen to show us that it is time for you to come again and time for the world to end?" Jesus answered: "Be careful! Don't let any person fool you. Many people will come and use my name. They will say, 'I am the Christ. ' And they will fool many people. You will hear about wars that are being fought. And you will hear stories about other wars beginning. But don't be afraid. These things must happen before the end comes. Nations will fight against other nations. Kingdoms will fight against other kingdoms. There will be times when there is no food for people to eat. And there will be earthquakes in different places. These things are like the first pains when something new is born. "Then people will treat you badly. People will give you {to the rulers} to be persecuted (hurt) and killed. All people will hate you. All these things will happen to you because you believe in me. At that time, many believers will lose their faith. They will turn against each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will come. They will cause many people to believe wrong things. There will be more and more evil in the world. So most believers will stop showing love. But the person that continues strong to the end will be saved. The Good News about {God's} kingdom will be told in the whole world. It will be told to every nation. Then the end will come.

— Matthew 24:1-14 (ERV)

Easy-to-Read Version copyright © 2001 by World Bible Translation Center. All rights reserved.