Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near

 

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away by captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.  

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts filing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

 

- Luke 21:20-28 

 

Yesterday we read that, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, Jesus said, "These things which you see -- the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down."  So they asked Him, saying, "Teacher, but when will these things be?  And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?"  And He said:  "Take heed that you not be deceived.  For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.'  Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and rumors of commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately."  Then He said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.  And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.  But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.  You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name's sake.  But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.  Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer; for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.  You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  And you will be hated by all for My name's sake.  But not a hair of your head shall be lost.  By your patience possess your souls." 

 

 "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.  But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people.  And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away by captive into all nations.  And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled."  My study Bible comments that Christ's phrase when you see is an indication that many of the disciples would still be alive at the time of the Siege of Jerusalem, and the events that took place at that time.  This word translated as desolation is the same Greek word used in the Septuagint version of the prophecy of Daniel regarding the desolation of Jerusalem (for example, in Daniel 9:2).  In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, there is a specific reference in Jesus' discourse on end times to the "abomination of desolation," another phrase found in Daniel's prophecy (see Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; Daniel11:31, 12:11).  My study Bible says that this was fulfilled in AD 70, when the Roman general Titus entered the Most Holy Place and had a statue of himself erected in the temple before having the temple destroyed.  Jesus pronounces woe to those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in the context of the fierce destruction and desperate conditions of that time.  It is an acknowledgement of the pain a mother endures in seeing her children suffering, for these would find it difficult to flee in the haste required.  My study Bible quotes St. John Chrysostom:  "Mothers are held by the tie of feeling for their children, but cannot save them.  How can one escape the bonds of nature?  How can she who nurses ever overlook the one she has borne?"

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts filing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."  Again the narrative shifts to the fullness of the eschatology, the fullness of the time in which we live (and have done so since).  Christ's return will happen in a way that is unmistakable to all.  My study Bible comments that, while at His first coming, Christ came in humility and mortality, at His second coming, He will be revealed in power and great glory.

Jesus pronounces this intriguing statement on the time of His return:  "Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."   What is redemption in this sense? The word in Greek is ἀπολύτρωσις/apolytropsis, from the root "lytron" which means ransom.  The verbal form means to pay a ransom, to redeem in this sense.  In this sense, it is understood as paying a ransom to free a captive, such as a slave, to liberate through full payment and return to a rightful owner or place.  This hope for redemption fills the Old Testament Scriptures.  In one translation of Sirach (also called Wisdom of Sirach), we read Israel's prayer to God "that He would confirm his mercy with us, and deliver us at his time!" (Sirach 50:24)  But in the Septuagint Greek, the word for "deliver" is really the same one found in Christ's prophecy, which literally means to ransom.  My study Bible comments that this age-old Jewish hope is accomplished through the life, death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Ephesians 1:7-14 and Romans 8:22-23, St. Paul advocates the same.  Effectively, when we view this in the context Christ gives us of the fullness of the age, the end times, we understand His life, death, and Resurrection to be working itself through all of this time in which we live, and coming to fullness and fruition at the time of His return.   To understand "fullness" in this sense, we need to know the Greek word for "end" which is τέλος/telos.  Telos does not indicate "end" so much in terms of termination, but rather that something has proceeded to its fullest point, its final goal, and greatest expression.  In this sense, the "end times" fulfill Christ's mission and work, His life, death, and Resurrection -- for these have worked and have been working since they were done.  They continue to be "at work" in our time, throughout the age, and will come to total fruition in His return.  In this sense we are redeemed, for it is His life, death, and Resurrection which fully liberates all -- all of creation.  And so, we are redeemed through His efforts, fully liberated from the bonds of the "prince of this world" and the effects of evil.  We are reminded that in John's Gospel, Jesus says, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working" (John 5:17).  His mission is still working in this sense, and we participate in that work ("This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent" - John 6:29).  This working will not cease until its fullness, and that is the time of His return.  So, in our prayer and worship, let us consider how we "work" also in this redemption and liberation, how we are also laborers for the harvest.  Christ's emphasis in His prophecy of end times is on our own faithfulness, our alertness to the work He asks of us as good servants, ready to act according to His commandments.  Let us consider, then, how we are to be in this time, as the spiritual struggle for the Kingdom continues, our faithfulness and prayer and worship helping and participating in the work of redemption for the life of the world.  In today's reading, Jesus' discourse and prophesy warns first of desolation, but this is the beginning of a new age, the fullness of which has yet to be seen, and is ongoing in its struggle to unfold. But it ends with redemption, and that is the full story of our faith.