Today's Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 24 verses 1 through 14:
As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. 2 Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 4 Jesus answered them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah!’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not alarmed; for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places: 8 all this is but the beginning of the birth pangs.
9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world, as a testimony to all the nations; and then the end will come.
Today's Lesson is Jesus' most prophetic denunciation of Jerusalem, its leaders, and foreboding of its grim and violent future.
We read these words on a morning like this, when there is such an obvious division in country, and the specter of violence and lawlessness threatens our own nation, and it is tempting to be overwhelmed with fear.
But that is not the point of the what Jesus was saying. He did not speak to terrify them with fear of what was to come. He spoke to remind them that when -- not if -- it came, they were not to be surprised, or to lose heart, or despair of life.
The force of the sermon is in these words:
"And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."
This is a jeremiad, for sure -- a prophetic warning. But it's purpose is not destruction -- a true jeremiad never is. It's purpose is salvation. For Jesus wishes his hearers to know bad things will happen, but they are not to lose themselves to fear, or anger, or utter despair. They are to remain faithful. They are to remain true to the things He has taught them. They are to hold onto love -- love of the world and even love of the enemy. And in doing so, they will save their own souls.
There is an old Frederick Buechner quote I am thinking of this morning: "Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don't be afraid."
Friends, here is the world we are living in this morning. Beautiful and terrible things have happened, and will continue to happen. Do not be afraid. Do not despair of life. And do not give up on love.
"For the one who endures to the end shall be saved;" and perhaps we'll save a few others along with us.
And maybe even many . . .
NOTE: We are reading the whole Bible through this year. Tomorrow's Lesson will come from Matthew chapter 25.
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