The Wailing Wall, Jerusalem,
Painting by Gustav Bauernfeind (1848–1904),
Painted in 1887,
Oil on canvas
© Christie’s, London, 20 March 1992, lot 22

Text within this block will maintain its original spacing when published

By your endurance you will gain your souls.

You can save your life if you are willing to endure.

Then, you can be part of something that transcends any vision of grandeur, a new world with new heavens.

As some were admiring the grandeur of one of the wonders of the world, the Temple of YHWH in Jerusalem, Jesus drops the microphone, declaring that it will be destroyed.

There are two visions of the world:

1. The one that is and we can see.

2. The one that God sees and is creating.

We re God’s people and we can share God’s vision and mission for a new world.

Nothing is permanent, it seems, except trouble. Yet, Jesus uses that occasion to teach us a lesson in endurance.

Luke 21:5-19

(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)

When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”

They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray, for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.

“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified, for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes and in various places famines and plagues, and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.

“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance, for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and siblings, by relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls.

What happens when your world falls apart?

What happens when your religion falls apart?

It’s not the end of the world, we glibly say.

Jesus spoke it in the 30s

Luke wrote and applied it after 70 AD, 35-40 years later

The people who read it were living it.

The word is “ENDURE.”

We will have an opportunity to testify

Don’t be preoccupied with what is going on around you, what is happening to you, or how you will perform. Focus on what God is doing and on how you can remain faithful during these days.

Great difficulties will come. Patiently endure them. Your lives will be saved. Even if you die, your life and the lives on God’s people will go on.

God has a vision for the world he is crating while this world seems to be going from bad to worse.

Isaiah 65:17-25

(New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

New heavens and a new earth

For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating,
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime,
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat,
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.

This messages centers on the theme of enduring faith during times of crisis, using biblical references to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the subsequent challenges faced by early Christians.

We looked at how the collapse of religious and societal structures can feel like the end of the world for individuals, emphasizing that such moments are opportunities for testimony and witness rather than despair.

Jesus’ predictions about persecution, the fall of the temple, and the endurance required of believers, highlight the truth that patient endurance leads to spiritual gain even amidst suffering and loss.

The passages from Luke and Isaiah, focus on God’s ongoing creation of a new world and the hope embedded in divine promises.

Let us focus on bearing witness, trusting in God’s provision of wisdom, and working toward God’s vision for a renewed world, despite divisions and hardships.

Let us pray for encouragement, unity, and peace with the enduring faith and hope that are essential in times of upheaval.

This is what my Notetaker heard, paraphrased from me and then, paraphrased by me:

The Fragility of Religious and Personal Foundations

Moments of personal or religious crisis can feel like the end of the world, especially when foundational structures—such as religious institutions or deeply held beliefs—collapse.

There is a parallel between the historical destruction of the Jewish temple, a central symbol of faith and identity, and the times in our own lives when the things we rely on most are shaken or lost.

These experiences are deeply destabilizing and can leave individuals feeling unmoored, highlighting the universal and recurring nature of such crises throughout history. The loss of these anchors is not unique to one group or era, but is a challenge faced by all generations, reminding us of the vulnerability inherent in our most cherished foundations.

Jesus’ Prophecy and Its Historical Context

Jesus’ prediction of the temple’s destruction was both a warning and a preparation for his followers, who would soon face persecution and upheaval. Luke, writing after these events had begun to unfold, addresses a community already living through the loss and turmoil Jesus described.

The insight is that these words were meant to help believers endure hardship, and that the tension between early Christians and Jews, as well as the broader context of Roman oppression, shaped the experience of faith communities. Such crises are not confined to the past but are experienced by every generation, making Jesus’ message continually relevant.

Endurance and Testimony Amidst Crisis

A central theme is that times of crisis present unique opportunities for testimony and witness.

Let us shift our focus away from external conflicts and personal vindication, and instead consider how we can bear witness to our faith in the midst of adversity.

Jesus’ admonishes us to trust that God will provide the necessary words and wisdom in difficult moments, rather than relying on pre-prepared defenses.

Enduring hardship with patience becomes a powerful form of testimony, ensuring that nothing of lasting value is lost, and that the faith community continues to survive and bear witness through both individual and collective endurance.

Historical and Contemporary Persecution

Historical figures like William Tyndale are examples for us. Persecution for faith has been a recurring reality throughout history and continues in the present day. Not only Christians but also Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs have suffered for their beliefs Persecution is a shared human experience.

By understanding this broader context, we can frame their own suffering as part of a larger narrative, and see even tragedy as an opportunity for purposeful endurance and testimony.

The Promise of New Creation and God’s Vision

Drawing from Isaiah and Revelation, we behold God’s promise to create a new heaven and new earth, where suffering, injustice, and premature death will end, and a world of joy, peace, and justice will be established.

This vision is not only a future hope but also an ongoing reality, as God’s creative work continues both in and beyond time. Believers are called to rejoice in and work toward this vision, enduring present hardships with the assurance that God’s purposes will ultimately prevail.

The hope of new creation is meant for all people, and glimpses of this new world can be realized through faithful living and witness, even in the midst of adversity.

Living Faithfully in a Divided World

In contemporary society, particularly in America, people hold different perceptions of reality and truth. Despite these differences, there is a shared longing for the kind of world envisioned by Isaiah—a world marked by peace, justice, and blessing for all.

Believers are called to live faithfully, bear witness, and work toward this vision not just for themselves but for everyone, including the marginalized and those in power.

The ultimate message is one of hope, endurance, and the assurance that God’s purposes will prevail, leading to gain and new beginnings for those who endure.