2.1 Key themes⤒🔗

• Jesus Christ wants us to be ready for the day when he is coming again.
• We must stay spiritually awake, to watch for the day when Jesus comes; and to watch our own hearts.
• Worry is like a sleeping pill that makes us spiritually asleep.
• A person that is spiritually asleep will:
  - not pray;
  - not do the task that God gave him; and
  - not be ready when Jesus comes again.

2.2 Luke 21:20-36←⤒🔗

^21:20 'But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.

^21:21 Then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains. Those who are inside the city must depart. Those who are out in the country must not enter it,

^21:22 because these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.

^21:23 Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! For there will be great distress on the earth and wrath against this people.

^21:24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led away as captives among all nations. Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

^21:25 'And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth nations will be in distress, anxious over the roaring of the sea and the surging waves.

^21:26 People will be fainting from fear and from the expectation of what is coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

^21:27 Then they will see the Son of Man arriving in a cloud with power and great glory.

^21:28 But when these things begin to happen, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.'

^21:29 Then he told them a parable: 'Look at the fig tree and all the other trees.

^21:30 When they sprout leaves, you see for yourselves and know that summer is now near.

^21:31 So also you, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

 ^21:32 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.

^21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

^21:34 'But be on your guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day close down upon you suddenly like a trap.

^21:35 For it will overtake all who live on the face of the whole earth.

^21:36 But stay alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.'

© NET Bible

2.3 The two disasters in Luke 21←⤒🔗

In our passage, Jesus is telling his disciples about two disasters that are coming. The first disaster is the fall of the city of Jerusalem. Remember: Jerusalem was the most important city for the Jews. The temple of God was there. But Jesus says to his disciples that Jerusalem will be “surrounded by armies” (verse 20). The people will be killed and taken away as prisoners (verse 24). It will be a terrible time!

This is exactly what happened, about 35 years later. The city of Jerusalem was taken by its enemies, the Romans. Thousands of Jews died. Just as Jesus said, all of this happened in the time when the disciples were still alive (verse 32).

But Jesus also tells his disciples about a greater disaster that will happen when the times are fulfilled (verse 24). The sun, moon, and stars will be shaken! The sea will roar and shake. All the nations will fall down in fear (verses 25-26). And then the people will see Jesus coming in a cloud, with great power and glory (verse 27).

2.4 Jesus is coming soon←⤒🔗

Today we also see many disasters around us — even in our own countries. We see things like poverty, war, crime, diseases, droughts, and floods. We see how more and more people forget about God. How do you feel when you see these things? Do you feel that God has forgotten us? Do you feel that things today are out of control?

Jesus teaches us how to look at these disasters. Yes, they are very painful. But they are also signs that the kingdom of God is near (verse 31). Jesus Christ is coming soon. On that day, we do not have to be afraid like the other people. We belong to Jesus! On that day, Jesus tells us, “Stand up and lift up your heads,” because you will receive the kingdom of God (verse 28).

2.5 The challenge is to stay awake←⤒🔗

The challenge for us is to stay spiritually awake. That is what Jesus means when he says, “Be always on the watch” (verse 36). We are like security guards who must watch the world, while the world is sleeping. We must see what God is doing in the world. We must be ready for the day when Jesus comes again. We must be people of prayer (verse 36).

We must not only watch the world. We must first of all watch our own hearts. Jesus says, “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down” (verse 34). In the Bible, the word “heart” stands for who you are on the inside. It is your thoughts, your emotions, and your wishes. Your heart controls your life. That is why you must watch your heart very carefully. You must always ask yourself, “What is going on in my heart?”

2.6 Spiritual sleeping pills←⤒🔗

If a security guard takes a sleeping pill, then he will not stay awake. He will not be able to do his job. In the same way, there are “spiritual sleeping pills” that can make us spiritually asleep. In verse 34, Jesus tells us about three spiritual sleeping pills: dissipation, drunkenness, and the anxieties of life. Dissipation means you waste your time and your money, doing only what you want. Drunkenness will also make you forget about Jesus Christ and his return. But there is a third thing that is just as dangerous: the anxieties of life!

To have anxieties means to worry. Jesus says we must be careful of “the anxieties of life.” That means: we should not worry about the things of this life. When we only think about the things of this life, then we forget about the new life that is coming. Then we are spiritually asleep. Then the day when Jesus comes again will surprise us “unexpectedly like a trap” (verse 34).

Someone who is spiritually asleep does not pray. He does not do the task that God gave him to do. That is why he will not be ready on the day when Jesus comes again.

Pray that God will help you to be ready for the day when Jesus comes (verse 36). Pray for his kingdom to come. When you pray like this every day, then your heart will stay in the right place. You will stop worrying about the things of this life. You will be ready for the new life that is coming!