Preacher: Rev. Jean Baptiste Kenol Rock, PhD
The thing that we love, we admire; when it is destroyed, we are worried—we are even sometimes terrified. This happened to the disciples when Jesus told them the Temple they admired was to be destroyed. Jesus instructed them to stand firm to win life in the end. Jesus intended to instruct the disciples and other followers, including us today, on preparing to be fully part of the new Creation.
This morning, we will discuss Jesus’ prophecies, Isaiah’s prophecies, and our main goal as believers. Jesus’ prophecies are based on the destruction of the Temple and the end of the age, and Isaiah’s prophecy is based on the New Heaven. We hope that all of us will find a message to continue growing spiritually all day.
Jesus told the disciples that the first prophecy would happen in one generation. Here is the scenario. While the disciples were leaving the Temple, they looked at it and admired it. At this moment, Jesus remarked, “The building that you are looking at, the building that you are admiring, will be destroyed.”
Imagine for a moment, you were in front of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, and Bishop Andy told you, “This Cathedral that you love and admire will be destroyed soon.” How would you feel? Worried? Terrified? You would feel such destruction, which may be similar to the world’s end. This is precisely how the disciples felt when Jesus said, “The time will come when not one stone will be left on one another; every one of them will be thrown down.”
When I reflect deeply on the text, I feel that the disciples had a misconception about the destruction of the second Temple. As a reminder, the first one was destroyed in 586 B.C. (before Christ) by Nebuchadnezzar, the King of Babylon. The second one was destroyed in 70 A.D. by Titus’ army during the Roman Empire, just 40 years after Jesus announced the prophecy.
How about the second prophecy of Jesus? How about the end of the age?
This prophecy is entirely different than the first one. There is a long, long period between the two. If Jesus mentioned a period for accomplishing the first prophecy, that was not the case for the end of the age. There is no specific time for this one.
What do we know about the end of the age? What must we know about the end of the age? What should we do about it?
First, we should be ready at all times. In other words, we must always keep our eyes open because this prophecy will happen without expectation.
Second, we should not listen to the people who spread their messages by appearing on television, creating websites, making videos, and claiming that the different catastrophes in our community, our country, and the world are signs of the end of the world. According to Jesus’ instruction, all of them are wrong. The end of the age will happen unexpectedly; there will be a surprise when it happens.
In the reading this morning, the prophet Isaiah told us a new creation, a new Heaven, a new Earth, or a New Jerusalem, will follow the end of the age. In this new Creation, there will be no cause for pain or destruction; there will be no fear, sad news, violence, crime, wars, or disasters. All things and all beings will be in harmony with one another. The wolf and the lamb will feed and live together. The leopard will lie down with the goat, and a child will lead them.
What struck me in the texts is that the people during this period misunderstood the new Creation, Heaven, Earth, or New Jerusalem. This new Creation, this new Heaven, this new Earth, or this New Jerusalem is not something in the clouds. Instead, it is a physical place where we will dwell with glorified physical bodies as followers and as believers. In other words, this new Creation will be a new, perfect place free from sin, evil, sickness, suffering, and death. In this place, God will be giving a fresh start. The former things will not be remembered; the former things will not even come to mind. This new Creation of God that Jesus promotes will be a place of joy, love, peace, and happiness. What is our primary goal? Our main goal is to be fully part of this place. What should we do to be in this place? To be in this place, we should connect to Jesus, who says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” To be fully part of this new Creation, Heaven, Earth, or Jerusalem, we need to connect to Jesus no matter what.
We often let the environment and news disturb our connection with Jesus.
In all situations, this is the question we need to ask: is this idea, this event going to help me stay in connection with Jesus? We have the ability to choose. If the idea or what is presented before us will not help our intimacy with Jesus, we need to reject it. The Spirit of God flows in us. The Spirit of God flows through us. The Spirit of God flows around us, so we have the power to reject bad news and stay connected with Jesus, no matter how difficult this time is.
Jesus started talking about how times would get rough for believers. He pointed out that believers would be severely persecuted for believing in God and following Jesus in the process. Believers are not to worry about what to say or do. Believers are to trust God. Jesus tells them to stand firm to win life in the end.
This message is for us this morning, in the midst of these rough times, these difficult times. God will give us words and wisdom to overcome all dilemmas and give us courage and determination to follow and trust Jesus. All we have to do is to stand firm to win life in the end.
Conclusion
The message this morning is all about prophecies. Prophecies from Jesus who wanted to take the opportunity to instruct the disciples by mentioning the destruction of the second Temple and the end of the age. The prophet Isaiah gave the prophecy, which mentioned the new Creation, the new Heaven, the new Earth, and the new Jerusalem.
Through those prophecies, we discover three points that can help us understand our journey and grow spiritually day by day.
- Stand firm in your choice to follow Jesus and to trust Jesus despite all catastrophes and disasters and all news about the end of the age or the end of the world.
- Keep the faith, and do not be worried before the time comes. In the difficult time, the prophet Isaiah said, “The arm of the Lord is not too short to save and His ear not too dull to hear” (Isaiah 59: 1).
- Connect to Jesus with the power of the Holy Spirit flowing in us, through us, and around us, guiding us to grow until we get into the new Creation, a place of joy, peace, love, and happiness.
The main point of this message is to be ready all the time. We will reach our primary goal, win life in the end, and be fully part of the New Jerusalem.
Even though you forget everything that I just told you, I am asking you to remember just two words: stand firm! Stand firm! Can you repeat that with me? Stand firm one more time, no matter what.
[1] Stand firm: message delivered by the Rev Jean Baptiste Kenol, Ph.D.
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