The Olivet Discourse

00:00:00 Speaker 1: I have told you these things that in me you may have peace. In the world. You have trouble, but cheer up. I have overcome the world. John sixteen thirty three. Heavenly Father, we come before you with grateful hearts, thanking you for the assurance found in your word. You remind us that although we will face trials and sorrows in this world, we can take heart because he has overcome the world. Thank you, Jesus for your victory and the peace that comes from knowing you. The world can be harsh and overwhelming, but we are comforted by your strength and presence. Help us remember that in you we find our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Change our hearts, Lord to trust more fully in your promises. Fill us with your peace that surpasses all understanding, and grant us the courage to face each day with faith, knowing that you have already won the ultimate victory. Empower us to be vessels of your peace and love in our daily lives. And may we reflect your strength and hope to those around us, bringing glory to your name. And it's in Jesus mighty name that we pray. Amen, Thank you for praying with me Today. You're listening to the Jesus Podcast Stories inspired by the Gospel to entertain, enlighten, and encourage. Be sure to follow this podcast on whatever platform you're listening to. Peter, Andrew, James, and John leaned in intently. They hung on every word of Jesus, paying no mind to the late hour. If Jesus was willing to talk, they were more than willing to listen. 00:02:27 Speaker 2: Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven. Then all the people of the earth will see the Sun of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, and his angels will go before him with the sound of great trumpets. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift your heads, because your redemption draws near. 00:02:54 Speaker 1: The disciples breathed slowly and heavily, their breath rising high into the frigid night skies. They could hardly believe the words they heard. They had not been prepared for such a vivid answer when they first came to Jesus to ask questions about the end times. But what they heard now made them see Jesus in a whole new light. 00:03:23 Speaker 3: Are you in pain after walking running or even just standing. It's not your feet, it's your shoes. This summer switched to Gediphi shoes with patentive Verso shock technology, which aligns your body, provides superior shock absorption and trampoline like energy return. Gediphi offers souls and styles for any activity, plus two free orthotics. Whether you're an athlete, a busy parent, or always on the go, Giphi shoes deliver the comfort and versatility your fee crave. 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It's a conversation Jesus had with his disciples about the future, a con sation that balances the wisdom needed for today with the hope we have for tomorrow. 00:05:07 Speaker 2: I have another lesson for you to learn. Look down there, do you see that fig tree? As soon as its twigs get tender and leaves come out, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see all that I have foretold unfold, you know that the end is near, right at the door. Truly, I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have come to pass. 00:05:38 Speaker 1: He gestured to the skies above and the ground below. 00:05:42 Speaker 2: Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 00:05:47 Speaker 4: So when exactly will all this happen? 00:05:51 Speaker 2: That's not for you to know. It's not even for me to know. Only my father has the answer to that question. 00:05:58 Speaker 4: So nobody will know, and we're just supposed to wait indefinitely. 00:06:03 Speaker 2: When God told Noah to build the ark life went on as normal. You can imagine that required a lot of faith on Noah's behalf, But eventually the floods came and Noah and his family were saved. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Life will go on as usual until the day of the Lord has come. But you must diligently keep watch. If the owner of a house knew the thief was coming in the night, he would keep watch and protect his house from being broken into. In the same way, you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. 00:06:43 Speaker 4: What should we do while we wait for the day? 00:06:46 Speaker 2: Ask yourself this, who is the faithful and wise servant on the Master is put in charge of caring for all other servants in the house. Would it not be good for that servant if his master finds him doing just that when he returns, Truly, I tell you that the Master will honor his faithfulness and put him in charge of all his possessions. 00:07:09 Speaker 1: The disciples nodded along, understanding jesus charge to be faithful and doing all that Jesus had instructed them to do. 00:07:18 Speaker 2: But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, my master is staying away a long time, and then he begins to beat his fellow servants and eat and drink with the drunkards. Well, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him, and when he's least aware. Surely the master will cut him down to pieces and put him in his rightful place with the hypocrites, where he will weep in his own agony. 00:07:49 Speaker 1: Jesus was striking fear and awe into the fore men, all at the same time. 00:07:55 Speaker 2: I cannot express to you the importance of being prepared. Allow me to give you another illustration. At the time when all of this is to take place, the kingdom of Heaven would be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Of the ten, five of them were foolish and five were wise. For the foolish ones took their lamps into the night, but did not take any extra oil with them. The wise ones, however, took their lamps as well as jars of oil with them. 00:08:28 Speaker 1: Jesus leaned over to John and whispered, I. 00:08:33 Speaker 4: Wish we'd brought some lamps with us. I hate walking in the dark. 00:08:37 Speaker 1: John promptly pressed his finger to his lips and shushed his brother. He pointed back to Jesus once again. John didn't seem in the mood for jokes. 00:08:49 Speaker 2: It's all right, John, I know I'm sharing some heavy things. I can't blame James for trying to lighten the mood. But as I was saying, just like in this parable, the bridegroom was a long time coming. So all of these virgins became drowsy and fell asleep waiting. But at midnight, one of the servants cried out that the bridegroom had arrived and beckoned the virgins to come meet him. So all the virgins woke up and trim their lamps. The foolish ones realized they were running out of oil and asked the wise ones to give them some more, But in their sensibility, the wise ones said no, knowing there may not be enough oil for all of them. Would it not have been right for them to share? Aren't you always telling us to give to those who need your heart as kind as always? Andrew? But you must understand the significance of the bridegroom's return. The time of preparation was while they were waiting. But once he arrives, it is time to enter into the wedding banquet before the door is shut. And sure enough, the foolish virgins went out to buy oil and found themselves locked out when they returned. Couldn't they just not a good guess? Again? But remember they had known the bridegroom was coming, and yet they did not do as they should have. So when they cried out, Lord Lord opened the door for us. The bridegroom responded, Truly, I tell you, I don't know you, So you all must be like the wise ones, keeping watch for the son of Man's return, because you do not know the day or the hour. 00:10:26 Speaker 1: John sat up straight. He stroked his beard, as though the motion would help him think more clearly. 00:10:33 Speaker 5: So the point is not to fall into sin while we wait for your return. 00:10:40 Speaker 2: In part, yes, James, but that is not all. There is always work to be done in my absence. It reminds me of a man going on a journey who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. Each man was given what the master knew they had the ability to steward. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag. Then he went on his journey. So the man who had received five bags of gold went right away and put his money to work, and it worked. The investment gained five more bags. The one with two bags did the same, and he gained two more bags of gold. And yet the man who would received one bag went off in fear and dug a hole in the ground where he hid the master's money. 00:11:31 Speaker 5: That doesn't seem so bad. None of them lost the master's money, right, yes, But remember the charge they had been given and how the master would respond once he returned. Surely he would go to settle their accounts. 00:11:45 Speaker 2: So it would happen that the man who received five bags of gold would bring the other five he had earned in. Seeing that the servant was trustworthy, the master would commend him and give him charge over even more things, thus sharing an his master's happiness. And so it would be with the one who had been given two bags of gold and brought back two more. But then the man who had received one bag would come back to the master and have to admit he did nothing with the master's money, even though he knew his master was a hard man, a man who harvested where he did not sow, and gathered where he had not sown seed. 00:12:22 Speaker 4: What I would do the last servant? 00:12:24 Speaker 2: Well, in his anger, the master would tell the man, you, wicked, lazy servant. So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered, then you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so when I returned, I would have received it back with interest. 00:12:43 Speaker 4: So the servant lost everything. 00:12:46 Speaker 2: Yes, but not only that. The master took the one bag of gold from him and gave it to the one who had ten bags. 00:12:54 Speaker 4: Why would he do that? 00:12:55 Speaker 2: Well, the one with ten bags had proven himself that he was faithful. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they do have will be taken from them, and the worthless servant will be sent outside into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 00:13:17 Speaker 1: Crickets chirped in the darkness. A gentle wind rustled the olive trees, pointed leaves like the fanning of a stack of parchment. The backdrop of the soothing sounds of the night were a stark contrast to jesus parables. The stars spread across the expanse of the sky as the moon illuminated the huddled men, Its silvery light rippled along the brook that trickled not far from the mountain's base. Peter wrestled with attention. Jesus created between those who would be recognized for their faith by the Son of Men upon his return, and those who would be punished for their failure. 00:14:00 Speaker 2: He knew. He struggled with doubt. 00:14:03 Speaker 1: He thought back to the day when Jesus had given him his new name. The memory played in his mind. In an instant, Jesus had gone from calling him the Rock to rebuking him as Satan. Jesus looked intently at the troubled disciples. He leaned forward and placed his chin on his hands as he continued speaking. When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne, and all the nations of the earth will be gathered before him, And just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, he will separate the people from one another. He will then put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Peter looked up from his ponderings. He immediately wondered if he would be a sheep or a goat in Jesus analogy. 00:14:58 Speaker 2: Then the King will say to those on his right, Come you, who are blessed by my father. Take your inheritance. The kingdom prepared for you since the dawn of creation. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me. 00:15:31 Speaker 4: They did all that for a king. Surely that can be. 00:15:36 Speaker 1: Peter was determined to understand he would be the sheep. 00:15:42 Speaker 2: Just like Peter. Here the righteous will answer him, Lord, When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or naked and clothe you. When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? And the King will reply, truly, I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for. 00:16:12 Speaker 4: Me, and what of the goats. 00:16:14 Speaker 2: Then the King will turn to the ones on his left and say, depart from me, you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink. I was a stranger and you did not invite me in. I needed clothes and you didn't clothe me. I was sick, I was in prison, and you did not look after me. Of course, they will also answer in the defense, saying, Lord, when when did we see you hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or eating clothes, or sick or in prison and did not help you. 00:16:54 Speaker 1: Jesus could tell the brothers were growing tired, but restraining to give Jesus every ounce of their attention. 00:17:01 Speaker 2: And if you've been following along, you could probably guess that the King will say, truly, I tell you, whatever you did not do for the least of these, you did not do for me. And one's judgment has been given. The unrighteous will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous will go to eternal life. 00:17:26 Speaker 1: The air went still, the silence felt deafening. Jesus had just unpacked a revelation. They would not soon forget. Their meager days as wanderers seemed trivial in light of it. All. The humble Rabbi that taught them of self sacrifice and humility would one day return on a cloud with fire and a host of angels. Who is Jesus, they thought of themselves. Would they fully understand? They studied his face in the moonlight. He looked exactly as he always had, a man just like them. His hands were stained with dirt and covered with the calluses of an honest working man. His robes had patches and stitching from years of wear and tear. His sandals had worn thin from walking from city to city. Every second with Jesus revealed his humanity, but his words to night revealed he was much more than that. Their imaginations ran wild as they pictured the scenes Jesus described of the end times, and was almost too hard to take in. Jesus rose to his feet with a groan. He smiled at the disciples and patted them on their backs. The chill at the air, and the wind rustled the leaves above. Something was happening. It is time for us to go pray. 00:19:13 Speaker 4: Imagine being one of the disciples standing with Jesus as he gazes at the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. The temple was a marvel of architecture and a symbol of the Jewish faith. It was huge, covered in gold, and made of stones so large that even modern cranes would struggle to lift them. The disciples, like tourists in awe of a famous landmark, pointed out the grandeur of the temple, expecting Jesus to share in their admiration. But Jesus, always full of surprises, responded with a prediction that must have shocked them. Not one stone will be left upon another that shall not be thrown down Mark chapter thirteen, verse two. This was a bold statement. The idea that such a solid, magnificent structure could be completely destroyed was un thinkable. Yet Jesus wasn't just giving an architectural critique. He was speaking prophetically about the future, and his words would be fulfilled within a generation when the Romans destroyed the temple in a d seventy. Understandably, the disciples had questions as they sat with Jesus on the Mount of Olives, overlooking the temple. They asked, when will these things be and what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? Mark chapter thirteen, verse four. They were curious, as we often are, about what the future holds. They wanted to know the timeline, the signs, the details. Jesus's response is known as the Olivet Discourse, and it's a blend of warnings, predictions, and assurances. It's important to remember that while Jesus did give his disciples insight into future events, his focus was always on how they should live in the present. One of the first things Jesus told his disciples was take heed that no one deceives you Mark chapter thirteen, verse five. He warned them about false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, and famines, but he also reassured them, saying, do not be troubled, for such things must happen, but the end is not yet Mark chapter thirteen, verse seven. Jesus was clear life in this world would be marked by challenges, but these challenges weren't signs that the end was near. They were simply part of living in a broken world. The message is just as relevant for us to day. Don't let fear take the wheel. Jesus wanted his disciples and us to be wise, discerning, and steadfast. But Jesus didn't just talk about the difficulties. He also gave his disciples and us reason for hope. He spoke about his return, a time when the sun will be darkened and the Son of Man will come in the clouds with great power and glory. Mark Chapter thirteen, verse twenty six. This isn't meant to be a scene from a disaster movie. It's a promise of retemption, of God's setting everything right. It's easy to look at the world and feel overwhelmed by the darkness, but Jesus reminds us that the story doesn't end with darkness. The light is coming. The Son of Man will return, and his return will be the climax of history, not the catastrophe. So what should we do with this knowledge? But Jesus gave us the answer in verses thirty two through thirty seven. Watch and pray. We're called to live in a state of readiness, not in a panicked frenzy, but in hopeful anticipation. We're called to live in a state of readiness, not in a panicked frenzy, but in hopeful anticipation. Jesus used the parable of the fig tree to illustrate this. Just as we can tell summer is near when the fig trees leaves appear, we should live with the awareness that Jesus's return is near. But remember, being watchful doesn't mean we drop everything to stare at the sky. It means living faithfully, doing the work Jesus has given us to do, and keeping our hearts set on his promises. It's about balancing the present wisdom of living wisely and responsibly with the future assurance that our hope is secure. In christ Church, the all of that discourse is a reminder that while we may not know every detail of what's to come, we know enough. We know that Jesus is coming back, We know that He's given us work to do in the meantime, and we know that no matter what happens, we don't face the future with fear, but with hope. Let's live with that hope. Let's live with that hope. Let's be watchful and wise, ready to meet our Lord whenever he returns, and eager to share the good news of his coming with a world that desperately needs to hear it as we go out to day. Let's carry this balance of present wisdom and future assurance living in the light of his promises.