Day 21 of the Luke Advent Challenge - Luke, Chapter 21

Note: Find the full series on our Facebook page.

With the way this chapter ends, I confess that I read ahead a little bit. Here is what I'm trying to figure out...

Jesus comes into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday in Luke 19 to great acclaim from the crowds, and then he disrupts the ritual sacrificial system of the Jerusalem Temple. After that, we get some really difficult teachings, and the prediction of the temple's destruction, BUT Jesus still does not appear to lose popular support.

Temple as seen from the Mount of Olives

"Every day he was teaching in the temple (pictured from the Mount of Olives), and at night he would go out and spend the night on the Mount of Olives (pictured from the Temple Mount), as it was called. And all the people would get up early in the morning to listen to him in the temple." - Luke 21:37-38

Mount of Olives as seen from the Temple

This is right before the Last Supper, Jesus' arrest, and his trial. How do we get from the wide public support Jesus enjoyed to Luke 23 where Pilate has the priests, leaders, and "the people" (vs. 13) all calling for Jesus' death? What has changed?

I'm not sure. And yet, I have also seen (and perhaps been a part of) public opinion changing quickly and violently. Usually, I have seen these swings come from one (or a combination) of three factors.

- Change is too slow.

- The change delivered is not what the people expected.

- The change is not 100% effective, painless, and easy.

How do you see one--or more--of these perceived failures by Jesus playing out in our story? How have you seen them play out in your life, work, and communities?

Personally, the one that I've seen as the primary driver of frustration in others and myself is the 3rd situation...

"The change is not 100% effective, painless, and easy."

What is our personal and societal interest and tolerance for individual and collective sacrifice? What are we willing to do or give up for the sake of another?

When was the last time that you sacrificed something for another? Was it worth it? Was it effective? How do you know?

How do we maintain our commitment to our faith over 2000 years since Jesus ascended to heaven? How do we not lose heart when so little seems to change around us and tyrants still oppress and dominate? In this age of instant gratification, click-to-buy, and door-dash deliveries, how do we practice endurance and commitment to the slow work of God?

I wonder if one way is to read, tell, and share stories? If we are hoping for the Romans to be overthrown and wealth to be shared equitably, we may be tempted to take matters into our own hands. However, if we look for lives being changed, perhaps we avoid losing hope in patience, sacrifice, and work? Two of my best friends have struggled for and achieved sobriety in the last few years. It has not been easy nor painless, but they have endured. It is one of the clearest visions I've had of resurrection, and it gives me hope for our beautiful and broken world.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Jim