Breaking the Word

"Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name. It will lead to your giving testimony. Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist or refute. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but not a hair on your head will be destroyed. By your perseverance you will secure your lives.  (Lk 21; 12-19)

 

 

Jesus is talking about a time when he would not be present with his disciples. The disciples would be alone to face these oppositions (Jesus would not be with them physically). The disciples would be marked out as his followers (for the sake of my name). It is a time of persecution; it is a time of interrogation in the synagogues and it is a time of imprisonment.

 

Families will become the place of hatred and division. (Families are supposed to be the place of union and relationship). Christians would be blamed for everything. Christians would be the ones whom everybody loved to hate. If ever they needed patience, they would need it then.

 

Jesus promises to give them what they would expect from him at the time of waiting: wisdom and words to speak. This promise of Jesus was fulfilled at the time of persecution (between the time of resurrection and the fall of the Temple – AD 70). But the words of encouragement of Jesus are given to the disciples.

 

 

While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, he said, "All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down." Then they asked him, "Teacher, when will this happen? And what sign will there be when all these things are about to happen?" He answered, "See that you not be deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and 'The time has come.' Do not follow them! When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for such things must happen first, but it will not immediately be the end." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.  (Lk 21:5-11)

 

 

Temple was the permanant sign of God’s presence in the world. It was the dwelling place of God on this earth. Jews spoke proudly of this place and they did everything to keep the place as the best place on this earth. They spent all their wealth on it. There was only one such place on this earth and this was the reason that every Jew visited this place every year.

 

Jesus spoke of destruction of this place in particular and the end of the world in genenral. When he spoke of the destruction of the temple he did mean that it would happen in the present times that is in the near future. A Jew could not accept the fact that the dwelling place of God could meet with destruction.

 

From here Jesus makes the people reflect upon the destruction of the whole of creation that is the end of the world. The whole of creation will face the end but when this would happen is not known to anyone. Jesus gives the signs that would preceed the destruction. The signs are the fights among men (nation against nation) natural calamities etc. These are only signs and not the end. He said to them: do not believe those who come and say that it happening here (I am he etc) or there or now or then etc. No one knows the hour except the father.