Breaking the Word

  He taught them a lesson. "Consider the fig tree and all the other trees.  When their buds burst open, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near;  in the same way, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.  Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Lk 21:29-33)

Jesus makes use of parables and stories to communicate lessons about the kingdom of God. This time he picks up a fig tree to learn a lesson. Whatever happens in nature and in history are not mere happenings but they are lessons for life and particularly about the kingdom of God.

Destructions, desolations, wars, signs in the sky are all lessons about the kingdom. One important lesson is that the kingdom of God is at hand. This is an answer, probably, to those who say the arrival of the kingdom will take years and generations.

He affirms to his followers that the arrival of the kingdom is imminent. He assures his disciples that whatever he says will happen. Whatever he said about Jerusalem, war etc, did take place in history. But the arrival of the kingdom of God is happening.  

"When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, know that its desolation is at hand. Then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. Let those within the city escape from it, and let those in the countryside not enter the city, for these days are the time of punishment when all the scriptures are fulfilled. Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days, for a terrible calamity will come upon the earth and a wrathful judgment upon this people. They will fall by the edge of the sword and be taken as captives to all the Gentiles; and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand." (Lk 21:20-28)

Desolation is at hand. What should one do at this time? It is of no use to flee to the mountains. It is of no use to run away from the city or to run into the city. Hiding places in the city or the open space in the country side are not going to help the individual who is trying to escape. These are the days of punishment and the days of fulfilment of scriptures. Pregnant women and mothers with children are under grave situation. They are the terrible days.

Natural calamities and signs from the sky will also perplex the people. But they will not be able to do anything about them. The end is seen from all directions: from the city, from the countryside from the seas from the sky etc. They are the days of the gentiles. Religion and religious values do not give any significance to the situation.

But the follower of Jesus is consoled because the redemption is at hand. For the follower it is not the day of destruction or desolation but rather they are the days of the coming of the Lord. They should wait with expectation.