This Generation

Read Mark 13:1-37, Matthew 24:1-25:46, Luke 21:8-36
 
Matthew 24:32-37 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, you can know his return is very near, right at the door. 34 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear. 36 However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 37 When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day.” 
 
MATTHEW 24 is known as Jesus’ Olivet Discourse – his communication – to the disciples regarding future events as he sits on the Mount of Olives just prior to his crucifixion. Jesus is a prophet. He teaches the truth and foretells God’s salvation plan for the world.
   But sometimes the prophetic words can be difficult, even impossible to fully understand. This happened with the Old Testament prophets and it occurs here with Jesus’ prophecy, “I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these things take place.” “These things” include judgment on Israel’s sins, destruction of the Temple, wars and rumors of wars, famines, earthquakes, persecution, the gospel’s global expansion, cosmic alterations and the Son of Man’s return in glory. In other words, these things encompass the entirety of God’s kingdom come, his will to be done on earth. How, then, do we see this as prophetic truth that these things would happen in this generation? As we understand “this generation” to be about 20 years, was Jesus in error? All people of Jesus’ day have passed away. Much kingdom work is to still be done.
   Let’s first remember prophets often spoke of the near future and far future at the same time. There was a “near” judgment event of great turmoil and cosmic disturbances in Jerusalem that many younger people (about the disciples’ age) would experience. In 70 AD, Rome completely destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple Mount. And Josephus’ history of the Jews records many cosmic disturbances as the Romans lay siege to the city.
   Second, prophets tell of the far – the eternal – future. This generation can also be Jesus’ definition of the entire generation of the New Covenant. This generation is the church generation proclaiming the gospel to the world. Persecution will happen throughout the church age. The church will not pass away before Jesus comes. Jesus’ prophecy was not to specify the time of his return. Instead, he foretells that each human generation will experience persecution, false teachers, signs in the heavens and signs on earth. The gospel will be preached and save souls until he returns in judgment and salvation. Jesus’ will is that all disciples - those standing before him that day and all of us since then – are aware of God’s ultimate salvation plan. He is constant. He will be with us always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
   The church is the fig tree. As the fig tree gains strength through the winter months to bloom at the right time, we must gain strength in God’s Word. Our role is to eat of God’s Brad of Life, so we are prepared to feed a hungry world as we withstand persecution. Jesus’ discourse goes from Olivet to the world, imploring all of his disciples in history to be urgent, to be strong and to be committed to the Good News. It is the only news that will save us from generation to generation unto eternal life.