September 19, 2025; Luke 21

Daily Dose of Hope

September 19, 2025

Scripture - Luke 21

Prayer: Holy God, We rejoice and give praise for the ways you care for us.  We rejoice and give praise for how you continue to forgive us and give us second and third chances.  Help us seek lives characterized by your holiness.  Help us seek pure hearts.  Lord, in these next few moments of silence, hear our prayers and help us bring together all our scattered thoughts and focus on you...It’s in your name we pray, Amen.

Welcome back to the Daily Dose of Hope, the devotional and podcast that complements the daily Bible reading plan from New Hope Church in Brandon, Florida.  We are currently doing a deep dive into the Gospels and Acts.  Today, we are deep diving into Luke 21. 

Jesus’ time on earth is coming to a conclusion.  We are getting very close to Passion week.  And we can see Jesus’ language and discussion getting more pressing.  There is an urgency to what he has to say. 

At the end of chapter 20, Jesus speaks of how the Pharisees and scribes (and really the whole religious system) are devouring widows’ houses. They require much of the poor but they give little to help them.  This leads into the beginning of chapter 21, in which Jesus points out the sacrificial offering of the widow.  He speaks of how so many of the people who are part of the religious system give gifts out of their wealth; but the widow gives all she has despite her desperate poverty.  He recognizes her faithful obedience and holds her up as an example.  Just FYI, this probably really angered the Pharisees.

We go from the Temple offering to the prophecy of the destruction of the Temple and the end times.  One of the disciples comments on the grandeur of the Temple.  Jesus then tells them that the whole Temple will eventually be destroyed.  Every stone will be turned. 

Keep in mind that for the Jews, this is where God’s presence resided.  This is a holy place.  But the Pharisees and the current system have allowed the Temple to be corrupted.  They have disobeyed God’s ways.  And Jesus predicts that it will be destroyed. 

What we know is that the Temple was destroyed by Rome just 37 years later.  This would be an ugly season in Jerusalem’s history, with lots of persecution and oppression.  Is this what Jesus is referring to in nation rising against nation, famines, earthquakes, and so forth?  Scholars don’t all agree but I think it’s safe to say yes and no.  Yes, the Roman armies destroying Jerusalem in AD 70 was pretty horrific.  Much of the population was starved and/or eventually massacred.

But there is more to this.  This is more than just a “in the near future” scenario. It’s also likely that Jesus is referring to the end of times and when he will return to judge all people.  If you recall, in the Matthew version of this text, we actually have images of Jesus returning on the clouds with the loud trumpet call; this echoes prophecy in Daniel. 

And up until this point, Jesus has alluded to this.  He never tells people to be scared or worried, just to be ready and be watchful.  As believers, we have nothing to fear.  We belong to Jesus.  Just be ready.  But there is still an urgency to this – how seriously do we take this?  Are we busy doing God’s business, which includes leading people to Jesus?  Is sharing the story of Jesus a regular part of who we are as believers?  If not, why?  Do you believe that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead?  These are serious questions that every single one of us has to reckon with. 

One other thing to mention: At this point, the disciples still don’t understand that God’s presence now dwells in the person of Jesus Christ.  From their perspective, the Temple still holds the presence of God.  But the Good News of Jesus is that God’s presence is no longer in a building but in Jesus.  God is Jesus and Jesus is God.

If that isn’t enough to blow your mind, consider that the presence of God is now also in the person of the Holy Spirit.  Where does the Holy Spirit dwell?  Well, in us as believers!  So that means that the presence of God is in Jesus’ church, his people. 

Blessings,

Pastor Vicki