In Every Trial, the Lamb Is on the Throne

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[Luke 21:5-28]

In Every Trial, the Lamb Is on the Throne

There are signs along the way. “Next rest stop: 60 miles”. Some signs are more distressing than others. You drive, or ride, in the eager expectation of your vacation destination. Every mile marker can either remind you of how much further you have to go or assure you that you are indeed on the way, nearer to the goal after each sign or disruption you pass.

I.

The disturbances, signs, and trials that our Lord Jesus mentions in this morning’s Gospel [Luke 21:5-28] are no small matter. But they are reminders that He is on the way. On His way to us.

Our Lord’s words this morning are spoken during the last week of His earthly ministry – Holy Week – in Jerusalem, at the Temple, in the days leading up to His crucifixion, death, and resurrection.

The Temple in Jerusalem was a magnificent building; gloriously decorated by expensive offerings, commissioned by king Herod, built with large stones, some the size of a school bus. And while some people around Jesus were marveling at this building, Jesus said, “these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 

Whether it’s the stones of the Temple, or an impressive city skyline, or the beauty and awe of a mountain landscape – or nature and the cosmos itself – and all the best that man can do – everything which is, to man, immovable, awe inspiring, trustworthy in this world – in which man finds a sense of stability, like stone – Jesus says it will crumble.

 Not one stone left on another. Not one molecule left in place. “The heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire… the heavens will pass away with a roar – the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved – and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” [2 Peter 3:7-10]

Not even Jerusalem or that stone house, the Temple, which Jesus Himself referred to as the house of His Father [Luke 2:49], would last. From land, to sea, to sky, all things whatsoever in which man might put his trust will wear out like a garment. “We are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” [2 Peter 3:13]

But before that end, there will be trials and tribulation on the whole earth along the way: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” “Great earthquakes… famines and pestilences.” “Terrors and great signs from heaven.”

                And believers in Christ will carry their crosses and follow Jesus along the way: “[People] will lay their hands on you and persecute you…” “You will be brought before kings and governors…” “You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends…” “You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.”

                “Signs in sun and moon and stars…” “On the earth, distress of nations… “the roaring of the sea and the waves” – “people fainting with fear… of what is coming on the world” – “For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”

Yet, with these words, our Lord also spoke words of assurance and promise: “This will be your opportunity to bear witness.” “…I will give you a mouth and wisdom…” “Not a hair of your head will perish.” “By your endurance you will gain your lives…” There is a good destination at the end.

And then, “They will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory” – good news for all who know Him as the Lamb.

II.

With the sure hope of much more than a vacation destination ahead of us, be careful, Jesus says, “that you are not lead astray” and lead off course. Don’t let any false or sensational teaching – falsely taught in Christ’s name – cause the troubles along the way to disturb your faith in the Lamb of God.

“For many will come in My name, saying… ‘The time is at hand!’” “Do not go after them,” Jesus says. No author or radio host or ancient calendar can predict when the Last Day will be. “Concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only” [Matthew 24:36].

And, really, you should also avoid those who, though they might not try to put an exact date on it, talk and teach as if they can figure out the details of the end times and Christ’s return based on political events in the world.

Jesus said not to be troubled by these things: “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed… the end is not yet” [Mark 13:7; Mathew 24:6; Luke 21:9]. “Don’t be alarmed.” “Don’t go after them.” Jesus said don’t get stirred up over the details of the end times.

Likewise, the end of the world will not come by a natural disaster nor by a nuclear war. This world with its cycles and seasons will continue, upheld by God, all the way until Christ’s return [Genesis 8:22].

Finally, we should not allow ourselves to be led off course by that most persistent false teacher: the “cares and riches and pleasures of life” [Luke 8:14; 21:34] which make us forget that there is a Christian life for our Master to find us living out when He returns [Luke 12:35-48].

            Concerning cares and riches and pleasures of life, our thought should be this: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of people ought we to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” as we await the coming of our Lord. [2 Peter 3:11]

III.

When I am driving down the highway on the way to my destination, uncertainty about my location or the clunking and flopping sound of a flat tire cause me to love and trust all the more the map app on my phone and my car insurance company’s roadside assistance.

The various trials you and I face and will face – and the kind of trials which our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world face – drive us to trust all the more in our Savior.

And when we stumble along the way, we turn to the Lamb for forgiveness and help in doing better. As our years go on, our faith is strengthened through that trial with our own sin. We learn more and more that it really is all about His grace, His work of salvation, His choice to save us. That it all depends on – and that we can depend on – His steadfast love and power to save. It’s not about us. It’s all about something that the Lamb of God has decided to do for us.

IV.

The certainty that you will endure this world’s trials; the certainty of His coming; the certainty that “the Lord is your keeper” [Psalm 121] through all life’s troubles and through all your stumbles — your certainty, even as all the strongest stone temples of this world fall, is sure and certain always and only because Jesus is “the Lamb” who made “one perfect final offering” – the once-for-all offering of Himself on the cross.

“He entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of His own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” – “He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” [Hebrews 9:12,26] — “Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him” [Hebrews 9:28].

As we confess in the Apostles Creed, Jesus is coming again “to judge the living and the dead”. Because of the Lamb, you are the living. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” [John 5:24]

Therefore, “When these things begin to take place straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Let every trial along the road – from within or without – point your eyes to the truth that the Lamb is on the throne already, is soon to come again, and helps you along the way. Amen.