April 11. 2025-Meditation Luke 21:20–28 The Day of Destruction, the Day of Redemption

 Luke 21:20–28

The Day of Destruction, the Day of Redemption

Today’s passage is Jesus’ prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem. In verse 20, He says:

“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near.”

About 70 years after Jesus’ ministry—around AD 70—Jerusalem was in fact destroyed by Rome. Jesus prophesied this event, and through it, He also foretells the “last days,” the “end times,” that will come upon the earth.

Jesus foretold an event that would happen 70 years later, and it was historically fulfilled. What does this mean? It means that every word Jesus spoke in the Scriptures will surely come to pass. At the time, the Jews hoped that through Jesus, their nation would be restored and a new kingdom would be established. However, they only focused on what they wanted to see happen, and paid no attention to what Jesus actually said.

If Jesus performed miracles with divine authority, they should have also recognized that His words carried prophetic power and divine authority as well.

Even today, what do we hope to see happen through Jesus? We expect impossible situations in our lives to become possible, incurable diseases to be healed, or problems that seem unsolvable to be resolved. We hope for such things, believing that Jesus, being God, can do them. But what we must not forget is that the words of Jesus—the Son of God—are prophetic words that will certainly be fulfilled.

Through the ministry of the first coming of Jesus, we now await His second coming. As we wait, we must live our lives of faith with a clear understanding of how to live in these last days.

The sign of Jerusalem’s downfall was that it would be surrounded by armies. Then what are the signs of the “last days” for us living today? In the passage we meditated on yesterday, Jesus spoke about the signs of the end: the rise of antichrists, deception, various natural disasters, persecution, and suffering. When we witness these things, we must remember that the end is near. This does not only mean that Jesus’ return is near—it also means that the end of our own lives is approaching.

In reality, with each day that passes, we draw closer to the end. We do not know when the end of our life will come. We do not know when the end of the world will come with the return of Jesus. But what is certain is that with each day we live, that day draws nearer. Therefore, each day must be a time of preparation and readiness for that moment.

So, as Jesus foretells the destruction of Jerusalem, what does He tell people to do in preparation? He says, “Flee.” He urges them to escape the devastation and destruction that will come by the hands of armies.

What does it mean for us to prepare for the last days? It also means to “flee.” It means to flee from the judgment of Jesus Christ. But how can we flee from judgment? Can we hide in the mountains and escape it? The judgment of the last day cannot be avoided simply by hiding. To escape this judgment, we must live now—alert and in faith.

In John 3:17–18, it says:

“17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

The only way to avoid judgment and receive salvation is to believe in Jesus Christ. But true belief means living a life that fully obeys what Jesus has spoken.

Let us prepare for the last days. Instead of trying to figure out the exact date and time of the end, let us live every day faithfully—wide awake and ready in faith—knowing that the day is drawing near. May our faith not be just theoretical or conceptual, but real and lived out properly. Let us live a life of true belief and genuine faith.