We are in the beginning stages of the worst epidemic any of us has ever seen. We are worshipping from home today to try to slow the spread of this deadly disease. It seems only appropriate that I read a passage dealing with pestilence, peril, and other problems. And so I will. Listen to the words of Jesus in Luke 21.

Luke 21    ⁵ And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, ⁶ “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” ⁷ And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸ And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” ¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. ¹² But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.

Holy Father, I am acutely aware of how much fear and turmoil are in the hearts of people In America and around the world today. I beg that you would help me, not to say soothing, calming, soft words, but rather strong words that will put steel in the bones and ballast in the bellies of your people this Lords Day. Send your Holy Spirit to strengthen the feeble soul and quiet the troubled mind and lift the downcast heart. Help us not to hide from the difficulty, but instead to rise before it and above it by the power of your Holy Spirit. Speak to us now. Your servants are listening.

ONE Jesus is coming back, but that’s not what this passage is about

• verses 5, 6, & 7 tell us very clearly that these words are about the social upheaval that was going to lead to the final destruction of Herod’s temple in Jerusalem, where Jesus and his disciples were standing when they had this conversation
• that cataclysm happened in 8070, just about exactly 40 years after Jesus spoke these words
• nothing in this passage is directly and specifically about this epidemic in 2020
• don’t let the crackpots and waka doodles get you all upset
• Jesus will come back when he comes back, and no one knows the day or the hour
• the questions that matter are 1st Are you ready to see him and 2nd are you happy to see him?
• Because if this world has such a hold on your heart that you would not be happy to see him, then you’re not ready to see him, and you’ve got a very serious problem

TWO Christians must face all the same troubles as the rest of the world, and more

• earthquakes, heartbreaks, diseases, wars all afflict everyone on this earth
• what Christians have to face In addition to all the rest is persecution
• This passage makes much of the confusion tribulation and persecution that the 1^st-century Christians were going to have to face
• and believers have been facing those three challenges ever since
• and triumphing over them [[ ]] winning

THREE Jesus seemed most concerned about our testimony in the face of trial

• do you hear what Jesus says?

. ¹³ This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish.

• Yes your Lord cares about your fears and your pain endure discouragement
• As the Father cared when he saw his Son beaten and betrayed and abandoned and crucified But sent his son into anguish anyway because he had bigger plans for both Jesus and us
• so the Son cares when he sees you hurt are afraid or sick are broken hearted, but he sends you into it anyway because he has bigger plans for you
• trust him that what he has in mind for you is glory and joy
• Did you hear it? He says in verse 16 that some of his followers will die. Then he says in verse 18 that’s not a hair of his followers heads will perish
• what do you do with this?
• All I can do with it is conclude that Jesus sees things very very differently from the way I see them
• and if that’s true, then it’s not up to Jesus to come around to my way of thinking [[ ]]
• What Jesus cares about most is how we will bear witness for him in the midst of the fear and the pain
• sharing the good news of the soul healing that Jesus does for all come to him is the most important thing we can do in these shaky days

FOUR Jesus is first, before everybody else

• Jesus makes it very clear to his disciples here that some of them are going to lose some in their families
• He says this because he wants to remind his disciples then and now that he is to be our highest treasure and that loving him far above everything and everyone else on earth is actually very very good for us
• we’re all praying that our leaders and the scientists and the doctors will find a way to treat this sickness and that none of us will have to lose anyone we love
• but Jesus asks us today as he asked them long ago, who do you love?
• If you and I can settle in our hearts today that Jesus is first, then we will be prepared to face anything that comes in the weeks and months ahead
• does Jesus have first place in your heart?
• I have asked you this question over and over again throughout these 20 years that I have been the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dundalk
• never has the question then so white hot with intensity and relevance as today
• does Jesus have first place in your heart?

conclusion

1. I don’t know if I even know Jesus

• Come to him now

2. Yes Jesus has first place in my heart

• Strengthen and pray for your brothers and sisters

3. I know Jesus should have first place in my heart, but I’m just not the Christian i should be

• Lord I believe help me in my unbelief

• what does it take to … ?
• turn from your sin and yourself to God and his glory
• trusting in Christ’s sacrifice for your sins to make you right with God
• shelter yourself in the shadow of his cross
• bathe yourself in the blood that he shed there for you
• robe yourself in his righteousness
• hide yourself in his holiness
• rest yourself on his redemption
• renew yourself in his resurrection
• lose yourself in his lordship
• find yourself in his friendship

He will become for you wisdom from God, and righteousness, and holiness, and salvation.