Last week we began look at Jesus’ teaching on preparing for the end of the world. When it comes to preparing for the end of the world, Jesus gives us a preview of what is to come; what the end will be like. In Luke 21:20-28, Jesus explains that the destruction of Jerusalem is a preview to the final day of Judgement. It’s a window into what awaits all those who reject Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Jesus prepares us for the end of the world by calling us to see (vs. 20-27) and then to straighten up (v. 28).

When it comes to Judgement Day, Jesus’ coming, the end of the world, you don’t have to be a Mr. Potato Head: a jumble of thoughts, ideas, podcasts, reels, charts, websites, teachers to prepare you. All of that will just rattle your insides and is useless on the day of trouble. What you need to see is Jesus. He is the one who rescues us from the coming wrath. If our future is secure, then we can settle down about the present. Are you looking to Jesus? Are you settled in him?

Going to church, voting conservative, being nice, giving to the Good Friday Appeal doesn’t make you a Christian. Unfortunately, we’re very taken by appearances. If we look the real deal, we must be the real deal. We’re like spiritual magpies: assuming whatever is bright, shiny and sparkly has substance. So, what is true religion? We see in Luke 20:39-21:4 that true religion recognizes Jesus as Lord, spots a fake and trusts wholeheartedly.

Jesus, in our passage, is confronted by questions from life-after-death skeptics. Answers, however, are never hard to come by for Jesus. Jesus boils down the discussion on life after death to answering the question: what’s your age? He doesn’t mean how many birthdays you’ve celebrated, but if you belong to the era/epoch/life/world characterized by death or the one characterized by resurrection.

Taxes were no less combative in Jesus’ day as they are in ours. The Jews were under Roman occupation. Every dollar taken lined the purse of their conquerors. Paying tribute raised the question of loyalty, allegiance and authority. Why do we pay taxes? Do we owe our government anything? Jesus answers these questions in Luke 20:19-26.

When it comes to falling, what goes for our bodies also goes for our souls. There are trips, stumbles and falls that we can take that have not just temporal, but eternal consequences. We might start making a mental list of things that would make us trip: sin, circumstances, suffering. Yet, Jesus says that the number one tripping hazard for our souls is himself! Jesus explains what he means in Luke 20 by giving a parable (vs. 9-16a), hearing a protest (v. 16b) and driving home the point (vs. 17-18).

The ‘who gives you the right’ question is humanity’s biggest problem with Jesus. Our sense of freedom is attached to our autonomy – our self-rule. Jesus comes along and he says things, does things that upset our deep-seated belief that we are the masters of our fate and captains of our soul. Jesus presumes to have the right to not only speak into your life, but rule it. Like the religious leaders in our passage did, we come demanding of Jesus, “Just what gives you the right?” The cleansing (19:45-46), conspiracy (19:47-48) and confrontation (20:1-8) of this passage leaves us with a challenge to our leadership – who has the right to rule my life.

Don’t we all yearn for peace? The Biblical concept of peace – shalom – means far more than just being at peace in yourself. It’s not just about being ‘zen.’ It’s the sense that what was once broken is now restored; what was at war is now reconciled; what was in pieces is now whole; what was estranged is now home; what was chaos is now at rest. It’s this peace that God offers to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. As we see Jesus’ triumphal approach to Jerusalem, we see what peace looks like and how to receive it.

Throughout Luke, Jesus has been giving us one test of allegiance after another. Are we for him or against him? Do we listen to him or ignore him? Do we grumble that he receives sinners or do we receive him with joy? The parable of the minas is another allegiance test: you invest where your loyalties lie.

Jesus tells us why he came: to seek and save. Thus, there’s salvation, hope, assurance for you in Jesus if you’re lost. You don’t have to wonder if anyone is looking for you because in these ten verses of sycamore trees and dinner parties that the Son of Man indeed came to seek and save the lost. 

Jesus has warned us throughout Luke 18 that we often don’t see ourselves clearly; we lack a self-awareness of who we are and our position before God. So, Luke ends this chapter with a seeing lesson from a blind man. We’re shown what the disciples can’t see and what the blind man can see.

Jesus comes with refreshing, life-saving and life-giving honesty about entry into God’s kingdom. He gives straight answers to life’s biggest questions. What must we do? Who can be saved? Is it worth it? Jesus cuts to the chase with these questions through his exchange with a rich ruler and his disciples.

It seems our default setting is that children should be seen and not heard. They’re blessed to be with us, but they don’t really belong. They’re present, but not really part of us. Worship on Sunday – especially the preaching – we see as an adult activity. Children shouldn't be expected to sit through a service, or comprehend what’s said and done, or even anticipate receiving something by being present. If that’s your understanding of a child’s status in God’s kingdom, what Jesus says and does in Luke 18 will unsettle you; it may be challenging and uncomfortable. In this little episode, Jesus teaches us that children are important because they belong in God’s kingdom and they illustrate God’s kingdom.

In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector Jesus teaches us that we are justified before God through faith in Christ, not by our works.

As followers of Jesus, we know the tension of living between the now and the not yet. Our ‘now’ is that we’ve been saved by Jesus and our future is secure in him – but we’re not living in the future, yet. The great inauguration of God’s kingdom has come in the person and work of Jesus, but we’re waiting the consummation at his return. So, how do you live in the middle? Jesus explains that by looking back and looking forward we find clarity for living in the present.

There was a little prayer that my Grandpa prayed for every meal: “Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful for Christ’s sake, Amen.” It’s a simple prayer, but profound. What does it mean to be truly thankful? Why should even the gift of food cause me to be truly thankful – truly thankful because of Christ? In healing of the ten lepers, we see that gratitude flows from returning to and rejoicing in God’s salvation in Jesus.

Jesus’ teaching is refreshing and realistic; it's true to life. He tells us what to expect. In this little section, Jesus explains what life in his kingdom will be like - particularly kingdom life with other people. Jesus explains that kingdom life is dealing with sin, living by faith and serving with humility.

There is life after death. This life only makes sense if there is an afterlife. Not only does life make sense, it has a purpose, it counts for something – what you do with your life matters! So, what happens after death? Or more personally, what will happen to you when you die?  This is the question that Jesus answers in this parable of a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus.

It seems all too human to dismiss what’s important when we believe it doesn’t apply to us. It’s true when it comes to Jesus’ teaching. We have a tendency to listen to sermons with other people’s ears; read our Bibles with other people’s eyes. Haven’t you ever thought, “She should really listen to this” or “I should send this to him because he really needs to wake up to this.” All the while, we don’t listen or see ourselves. Instead, Jesus challenges us not to excuse ourselves from his teaching and remain indifferent. What does Jesus say matters? What matters is what God sees and what Jesus says.

Jesus explains that our transaction history is a mirror of our hearts. How we spend our money paints a number picture of what makes us tick. Jesus prompts us through the parable of the dishonest manager to examine what our spending says about our investments, our character and our master.