June 13 2025

Friday June 13

Luke 21:34-38 – In the Daytime Jesus was Teaching

34 "But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man." 37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Today, we're going to finish up Luke chapter 21. This is the chapter that has Jesus' Mount Olivet discourse, His prophetic message of the end times that He gives to His disciples. We believe that most of what He's speaking of here takes place in the tribulation period for the people of Israel, the Jewish nation. As we finish the chapter, He gives some admonitions and has a wonderful closing to this chapter, showing how Jesus continues at the temple to teach.

Jesus, as He told about the things that will be happening in the tribulation period, mentioned that there will be false messiahs, false prophets and teachers, but don’t be deceived. There will be wars and commotions, but don’t be terrified or fearful.  There will be great persecution but don’t be worried, this will be your opportunity to give a great witness and testimony of His love, grace, and salvation. And, He will give you the words to speak.

Isn't it interesting that even right now, as we went to bed last night, we heard news that Israel is attacking Iran and bombing their nuclear capabilities? So, there are wars, as Jesus said there would be. We believe all these things intensify just before the tribulation period begins.

The message, even though it's to the Jewish people in the tribulation period, is a message for us today. Listen, the time is drawing near, and we're not to be caught up with carousing, drunkenness, and the cares of this life. The cares of this life are legitimate things that we would do, like making a living, working, taking care of our food, housing, children, and so forth. But Jesus said, as it was in the days of Noah, as it was in the days of Lot. life will be going on as usual for most people ignoring the Gospel message and the warnings of coming judgment.  But, my friend, the time of the end is drawing near, and that Day should not catch us unaware. We have so many warnings.

So, what do we do? Do we fear, worry, or be terrified? No, we look up, we listen for the trumpet, and we believe with all our hearts that Jesus will take care of us. We do what Ephesians 5:16 says: "Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." The world's a mess, there's anarchy in our streets, there's violence, chaos, corruption, wickedness, and evil everywhere; and it's not getting any better. We need to remember that the Bible tells us it's not going to get better. It's going to get worse before the end comes. Instead of throwing up our hands, quitting, and throwing in the towel, saying, "Well, what can we do”? So, we are to redeem the time. That means we buy up the opportunities.

We live in a broken world; people are more empty than ever before. Several generations are terribly biblically illiterate and have no clue what the Bible says or who God is. But that means there's an empty void in their lives, and they know something is missing. That's our opportunity to tell them there's only one answer to their need, and that's Jesus Christ. It doesn't matter what religion they are—Hindus, Muslims, Christians, religious as can be—it doesn't matter. What we all need is Jesus Christ.

Jesus continued to teach in the temple, and at night, He'd go stay on the Mount of Olives. He'd come back in the morning, and this is Passion Week. Jesus is getting ready to go to the cross, but what is He doing? He's teaching the people. That's what we're supposed to be doing until the end comes—telling people about the wonderful Word of God and the message of the gospel that there's hope in Jesus Christ. So, let's make sure we're doing that.

As we finish this chapter, I couldn’t help but think about what Paul wrote in Romans 13:11-14; “And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”

God bless!