Monday 28 April 2014

Background

Jesus is depicted talking with his closest disciples: Peter,James, John and Andrew who were sitting near the temple inJerusalem. Jesus gives somewhat dire warnings about the futurewhich will leave no stones of the temple left standing (Mark13:2).

There are several interpretations of all this. The moststraightforward is that there will be a horrible event in Judea andthat at some unspecified time the temple, symbol of Jewishauthority, will be destroyed.

Others think Jesus is just using the apocalyptic language of histime symbolically to highlight the fact that Christian sufferingand Jerusalem's destruction, though seemingly the end of the world,are necessary to achieve what Jesus deems will be the final victoryof good over evil and that this generation refers to seeingJerusalem's destruction.

The ideas of Jesus' imminent return and the final messianictriumph coupled with that of it being delayed until an unknown datein the future, or perhaps until after death, have alwayscharacterised Christian thought through the ages. In everygeneration, including ours, there have always been those who saythe end is just around the corner, and those who say who knows whenit will happen so just live a good life or that being good peopleis what brings God's kingdom. Augustine said concerning thispassage that a person should be more concerned with their own "lastday", their death:

"When it tells us to watch for thelast day, every one should think of as concerning his own last day;lest haply when ye judge or think the last day of the world to befar distant, ye slumber with respect to your own last day ... Letno one then search out for the last Day, when it is to be; but letus watch all by our good lives, lest the last day of any one of usfind us unprepared, and such as any one shall depart hence on hislast day, such he be found in the last day of the world. Nothingwill then assist thee which thou shalt not have done here. His ownworks will succour, or his own works will overwhelm every one."

To Ponder

• Some people have a 'bucket list' of things to do before theydie. What would be on yours?

• In what ways do these descriptions of the end times affect theway you live your life?

• Give thanks for the people and things that bring beauty andenjoyment to your life.