5th Friday of Lent (April 11). BY YOUR ENDURANCE

Prepare to Listen.  The LORD has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
 
Prayerfully Read Luke 21:5-19
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, 6‘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.’  7They asked him, ‘Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’  8And 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.  9When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.’  10Then he said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.  12‘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.  13This will give you an opportunity to testify.  14So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.  16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.  17You will be hated by all because of my name.  18But not a hair of your head will perish.  19By your endurance you will gain your souls.
 
Prayerfully Wonder and Reflect
When Jesus warned that the temple would be destroyed, they asked: when and how will they know?  What do you think of Jesus’ answer?  How would you feel if you had asked this?
 
When the people bragged about the beauty of their temple, Jesus warned that it would soon be destroyed.  The temple was the symbol of God’s presence on earth and assured Jews that all would be well.  When Jesus warned of its destruction it shook their security to the core.  Imagine Jesus standing on the steps of the U. S. Capitol predicting its destruction.  We too would be shaken and demand a sign.

Jesus refused to give a sign, once again exhorting his followers, “Beware that you are not led astray.”  Many will convincingly try to lead us astray, so Jesus warned, “Do not go after them.”  It’s easy to be led astray today.  False teachers convincingly promote lies and conspiracy theories on multiple media sites.  Many Christians have been led astray, brainwashed by those who claim to have the truth, but don’t.  must do the hard work of discernment and reject their well-told, convincing lies.
 
We’ll know the liars because they promise a better, more affluent life.  Jesus warned we would suffer, be persecuted, betrayed, hated.  Life in him includes bad stuff, but Jesus promised to keep us safe.  This doesn’t mean some won’t suffer and die.  Many, throughout the ages, have already died for their faith.  But, says Jesus, “By your endurance [patience] you will gain your souls.”  It takes endurance to stand firm in the faith when suffering comes, rejecting the false teachers.
 
How can you ensure that you’re not being led astray today and will stand firm in Jesus despite times of trial?
 
Prayerfully Respond
Lord, train me to be patient, carefully discerning your truth and your truth-tellers so that I am not led astray.  Amen.
 
Live obediently.  By your endurance….