Luke 17: 20 - 37

Luke 17: 20 - 37

Knowing in advance may not be an advantage. On His way to Jerusalem the Pharisees asked Jesus about when the kingdom of God was to come. The question happened in the context of the political expectation concerning the kingdom by Jesus's followers, as well as by the other Jews. This question may not have been hostile. Perhaps these Pharisees were positively disposed toward Jesus. Maybe they saw Him as a political ruler they could support. Maybe they were ready for a revolution. There was a teaching that the Messiah would initiate his kingdom at the Passover. "Hey Jesus will the Revolution start at this Passover? Do we need to call up the troops?" May have been what they were thinking.

If you don't know what you are looking for you will never find it. Jesus said to the Pharisees that the kingdom’s coming would not be marked by observable phenomenon. Rather, He says that the Kingdom is in your midst. That might mean that the kingdom is a “heart reality” and is a change that will come to the inner man. It may also mean that the kingdom is in their midst and the person of Jesus Christ. Where Jesus is there is the kingdom. It is not a political entity either way.

Jesus then addresses the disciples, this includes us, with a mysterious statement about the kingdom and the end of time. The conversation has been about the coming Kingdom and now Jesus turns to talk about the end time. There's a common theme in this text and four sub-themes. First, Jesus warns about false teachers in verses 22-23. Next Jesus talks about the suddenness and unpredictability of His coming in the midst of daily living. This is in verses 23-30. Third comes what appears to be a reference or a comparison of His coming to the Siege of Jerusalem in AD 70. Finally there is a selectiveness about that moment in which one is taken and the other left. It is not hard to imagine the disciples after this teaching. They are scratching their heads and asking each other “Did you understand that?” It was both at that moment and today very mysterious. If you meet someone who has the end times all figured out, runaway they are either insane, or a deceiver and they are certainly wrong.

So what is the point of this passage? What is the certain and clear take away for us? It is the one major theme that it is within our power to remain faithful. In the midst of misguided and false teachers, in the functions of daily living, in the political upheaval and national crisis, and in the close company of those who are not committed to Christ we can and must remain faithful.

If for our good Jesus has given us every advantage that we need and He has and at the same time has not given us advance knowledge about when He is coming, we can conclude that such knowledge is not an advantage. After all this the disciples asked one question they were told not to ask, “When?” Jesus uses a maxim in verse 37 to say “When the situation is right it will happen and when it happens you will know that the situation is right.”

“Lord, help me to be faithful until, regardless of my situation. AMEN”