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Appearance Over Content?
by Larry Broding
Gospel: Luke 21:5-19
How important are appearances to other? How important are appearances to you?
In the 1960's, a critic of popular culture proclaimed, "The medium is the
message." In many ways, his prediction has come true. Many television outlets
emphasize style over content. Media marketing reveals the masses prefer to watch
attractive people who report the news with flashy computer graphics. Appearances
are as important as content. In some cases, appearances confuse content. (When
was the last time you saw a local news program blow a small issue out of
proportion?)
Why are we fooled by appearances? Why are we lulled into complacency by the calm
before the storm? (Remember September 10th?) Why are we tempted to give up when
the world finally comes crashing down around our ears? Focused upon the end of
the world, Jesus addressed these questions in Luke's gospel.
Popular Translation
5 In the Temple, some of Jesus' followers exclaimed, "Look how this building is
decorated with beautiful stones and people's decorations!"
6 "Everything you see here will soon be gone!" Jesus replied. "A day will come
when a stone won't set upon another stone in the Temple. Every stone will tumble
down!"
7 "Teacher! When will this happen? And, how will we know it's about to happen?"
they asked.
8 "Watch out so you're not fooled," Jesus told them. "Many will suddenly show up
and exclaim 'I'm the one you're looking for!' and 'The time for God to come is
near!' Don't follow them. 9 When you hear of wars and revolutions, don't be
afraid. These things need to come first, but the end will not happen right
away."
10 "Nations will fight each other," Jesus continued. 11 "There will be large
earthquakes. People will be sick and starve in many places. There will be great
and terrible things from heaven.
12 "But before all this happens, people will chase you, arrest you, put you in
jail, and drag you before judges and kings, just because you follow me. 13 This
will be the time to tell everyone about me.
14 "Don't make up your minds now how you will defend yourselves. 15 I will give
you the words and the wisdom you will need. Your lying enemies will not be able
to stand up and speak against you."
16 "Your parents, family, and friends will betray you. And some of you will be
put to death. 17 Everyone will seem to hate you because you follow me. 18 But
you will be safe with me. 19 If you endure these times, you will gain eternal
life."
When people commented on the glory of the Temple, Jesus prophesied doom to shake
them from their spiritual slumber. Then he assured his followers of divine help
in the time of trial.
Literal Translation
5 When some said about the Temple that it was adorned with beautiful stones and
votive offerings, HE said, 6 "(Concerning) these (sights) that you see, days
will come in which stone upon stone will not left upon another, (stones) which
will be thrown down (from its place)."
7 They asked HIM, saying, "Teacher, when will these things be? What sign (will
be) when these things are about to happen? 8 HE said, "Watch so you might not be
misled! For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am (the one)' and 'The right
time is near.' Do not follow them! 9 When you hear of war and civil unrest, do
not be afraid. For these things need to happen first, but the end (will) not
(happen) immediately." 10 Then HE said to them, "(They) will rise up, nation
against nation, kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be large earthquakes in
various places, (as well as) famines and plagues. 12 Before all these (things
happen), they will get their hands on you and will persecute (you), turning
(you) over to synagogues and prisons, bringing (you) before kings and (Roman)
rulers on account of my name. 13 It will go for (as an opportunity) for (your)
testimony. 14 So, set (clearly) in your minds not to prepare beforehand (how) to
defend (yourselves). 15 For I will give you a mouth and a wisdom which all those
lying against you will not be able to stand against or to speak against. 16 You
will even be turned over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends. They will
put you to death. 17 You will be hated by all on account of my name. 18 A hair
on your head will not be destroyed. 19 By your endurance you will gain your
lives."
21:5 " . . . Temple that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive
offerings." The "beautiful" stones are the fine stone out of which the building
was built. The "votive offerings" are decoration placed on the Temple. The
disciples were awed with the Temple itself, not additions made to the building.
21:12 The main verbs of this sentence ("they will get their hands on you (i.e.,
arrest you)" and "persecute you") has two results: 1) turn over people to
synagogues and public prisons and 2) put them on trial before kings and Roman
officials. This verse leads up to 21:13, the opportunity to witness.
21:16 "(The authorities) will put you to death." The subject of the sentence is
actually "they" which could refer to the trial authorities in 21:12b or to the
family-friends in 21:16a. One or the other (or both!) could put the believers to
death. In some cultures at the time, a patriarch had the power of life and death
(especially over family members who disgraced the family).
21:18-19 The proverb in 21:18 seemed to contradict 21:16b; some would be
martyred for the faith. The verse can be taken spiritually (the martyrs will
enjoy heaven). Or, the verse can refer to the survival of the community itself.
21:19 echoed the sense of 21:18. It can refer to the afterlife of the individual
or the survival of the community.
Throughout time, people have taken spiritual comfort in sacred times, sacred
places, and sacred events. In the time of Jesus, the Temple was THE spiritual
center for Jews. It was the only place of sacrificial worship for a people that
lived throughout the known world. It's priestly institution had a central place
in the Torah, the Jewish Law. The Temple represented the core of Judaism that
had lasted for centuries.
However, many people have confused sacred times, places, and events with a
relationship with God himself. They define faith by these times, places, and
events. To many Jews traveling with Jesus, the lavishly rebuilt and adorned
Temple was a sure sign God was with his people. But, as Jesus pointed out,
appearances were deceiving. [21:5-6] "What is here today," Jesus seemed to say,
"won't be her tomorrow." With the destruction of the Temple by the Romans in 70
A.D., the prophecy of Jesus came true.
With his comment, the ears of Jesus' followers perked up. For centuries, Jews
had awaited the coming of Judgment Day, when God would save his people and his
wrath would fall on those who persecuted Israel. Prophets great and small had
included a corrupt Temple priesthood with those who oppressed the people. With
the fall of the Temple, God's kingdom would finally come. Now Jesus maybe would
speak on the end. "Is this the end?" they seemed to say. Then, his followers
asked him for details. "What sign would precede the end?" [21:7]
Jesus began with the last question first. The sign his followers sought might be
a cosmic or world-changing political event. Or, it could be a person. Many have
preached in the name of Jesus ("come in my name") only to line their own pockets
with contributions or to flatter their own egos. Many charismatic leaders have
been proclaimed "the Christ" ("I am he" or "The time is right.") only to fall.
[21:8a] (A second great Jewish revolt against Rome in 130's A.D. was led by a
charismatic leader proclaimed the Messiah by the chief priest in a liberated
Jerusalem. In the end, the Romans recaptured the city and killed the leader in a
desert cave that overlooked the Dead Sea.)
As many people have sought comfort in religious institutions, others have sought
comfort in the prophets that doom the institutions. Those zealous for the doom
prophets did not heed the wisdom of Jesus to watch and wait. In the face of
righteous mob or the burning issue, Jesus taught patience. [21:8b]
Prophets of doom point to historical calamities (wars and revolts) and cosmic
disasters (great earthquakes, famines, pestilence and "signs in heaven" like
solar eclipses and comets) as signs of the end. Jesus taught that wars and
revolts would at first shake the great "Pax Romana" (the forced peace in the
Roman Empire) and undermine social order; but this would not be the end. [21:9]
Upset in the social order would be followed by cosmic disaster. [21:10-11]
But before the signs marking the end (indeed, as a sign that marked the end),
Christians would be persecuted in general (i.e., throughout the known world).
For their belief in Jesus' name, Christians would be arrested and tried in
court. This test of faith was also an opportunity to witness to the court
officials and to the public at large. A general persecution would be a massive
evangelization campaign. [21:12-13]
How do Christians prepare for coming problems? They don't, according to Jesus.
The Lord himself will provide the eloquence and the wisdom in speech that cannot
be contradicted or overcome. [21:14-15] The only response one can make to coming
troubles is trust in the Lord.
Christian faith divided families and friends as well as nations. Indeed, if the
verses were read backwards, the first sign of the Lord's coming would be the
stress in families and social circles, then within nations, and finally in the
natural order. But, Jesus began from the universal to the personal to make a
point; even personal distress was a sign of the Kingdom. Such personal
persecution could even lead to death at the hands of family and friends. Such
was the hatred of the Christian faith; such was the power of Christian witness.
[21:16-17] This thought leads to a distressing insight. If we do not have some
problems in our lives because of our Christian faith, are we effectively
witnessing to others?
The costs were high but the faith would continue. Not only would the individual
martyr see the Lord in heaven, but the Church would flourish in persecution.
[21:18-19] Persecution was a key reason the Church grew at a tremendous rate.
People desired the calm trust of the Christian, the great love of the follower
even in the face of death.
Catechism Theme: The Second Coming
675 Before Christ's second coming the Church must pass through a final trial
that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies
her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the "mystery of iniquity" in the form of a
religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the
price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the
Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God
and of his Messiah come in the flesh.
The second trial before the end of time is like the sin of Adam. People try to
play God; they put their trust in others rather than their creator. As the
Church teaches, we should beware of the easy solution, the charismatic leader
who has the answers, or the means to manipulate that we cannot control. There
are no short cuts to salvation. Our opposition to the easy way, our witness to
the power of God, will lead to persecution. But our trust in God will engender
faith in others.
Have you ever been impressed by the unwavering Christian witness in another? Who
was it? Why were you impressed? Did he or she face hardship? How did they endure
the hardship?
How impressed are we with appearances? After all, media, Hollywood, and much of
computer software are built on appearance. Sometimes, we Americans are swayed
and even hood-winked by appearances. There was calm before the storm. Then,
there was a panic with a world that failed us. Are we lulled by calm? Are we
surprised by panic?
The challenge Jesus put before us is clear vision. Can we see beyond the crises
of life and nation? Can our faith help us to withstand the challenges of these
uncertain times? With God's help, we can.
Pray this week for the strength to see clearly. Look at the world at large, or
at your world. Try to see beyond the troubles and look for God's will. Trust
your prayer will be answered.
Copyright 1999 -2007 Larry Broding
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