{"id":994,"date":"2018-01-30T14:22:21","date_gmt":"2018-01-30T13:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/?p=994"},"modified":"2018-01-30T14:26:39","modified_gmt":"2018-01-30T13:26:39","slug":"an-exposition-of-the-book-of-luke-11","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/buch.jehovah-shammah.de\/index.php\/2018\/01\/30\/an-exposition-of-the-book-of-luke-11\/","title":{"rendered":"An Exposition of the Book of Luke"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Exposition of The Gospel According to Luke
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(Installment 40)
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The Olivet Discourse\u2014Part IV<\/center><\/center><\/center>
An Outline of the Centuries Culminating in the Second Coming of Christ<\/center>Signs in the Heavens and Distress of the Nations on Earth<\/p>\n

IN DISCUSSING the last clause of verse 11, „and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven,“ I called attention above to the fact that these terrors and signs from heaven are to occur in the year 1954 plus X. In verses 12-19, as we have already seen, our Lord went back from 1954 plus X to His own day and time. Then in verses 20-24b, He left the Apostolic Age and took His stand at the siege and fall of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and described it vividly, concluding with the thought that Jerusalem would be trodden down by the Gentiles, which came to pass. Then He added the significant prediction, „and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.“ In this temporal clause Jesus left the events of A.D. 70 and traversed the entire Christian Dispensation, going forward to the year 1954 plus X, the year when the terrors and great signs from heaven will appear. Thus, in verses 25 and 26, Jesus took up the line of thought concerning the terrors and great signs from heaven and enlarged upon this theme. „And there shall be signs in sun and moon and stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world.“ This quotation is an enlargement upon the last clause of verse 11, which is dated in the year 1954 plus X.<\/p>\n

There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars. That is where they will appear first. They will be visible to men here upon earth and will have great significance as to the time. We are not told anything by our Lord as to the nature of these signs. People of earth will recognize them as portending direful events.<\/p>\n

At the same time, there will be upon the earth „distress of nations, in perplexity for the roaring of the sea and the billows; 26 men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world.“ There will be distress upon the earth among the nations. They will be in perplexity–not knowing what to do or how to meet the situation that will have arisen. That about which they will be in perplexity will be „the roaring of the sea and the billows.“ What is the meaning of this expression? There is but one logical meaning that these words can have in this connection, which is the literal significance.<\/i> Sea means the sea;<\/i> billows means billows.<\/i> In other words, there will be great tidal waves, monsoons, typhoons, of unprecedented magnitude, which will create for the nations of the world a problem with which they cannot cope. In connection with this prediction may I use my imagination a little?–within the bounds of reason, of course? We may be certain that there will arise great tidal waves which may–for the sake of vividness, may I add–dash over the entire peninsula of Florida. Or it might strike the British Isles and go rushing though them like a mad tornado, leaving nothing but death and destruction in its wake. Great monsoons may sweep over some of the Japanese Islands. But let us come closer to home. It is altogether possible that some mighty wave might strike Southern California and go rushing like a mighty flood over this southland of ours, resulting in the loss of life and property beyond computation. Shipping, in such cases as that, will be largely destroyed, or greatly crippled. What can the United States Government do if a tidal wave, hundreds of feet high, should strike Southern California, or New York City and vicinity, or the Pacific Northwest? Our Government, as well as the Canadian Government, would be as helpless as newborn babies in the presence of such a catastrophe. There is an intimation in Psalm 46:1-3 that such will be the case. The faithful remnant of Israel will say at that time;<\/p>\n

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1 God is our refuge and strength,
\nA very present help in trouble.
\n2 Therefore will we not fear, though the earth do change,
\nAnd though the mountains be shaken into the heart of the seas;
\n3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled,
\nThough the mountains tremble with the swelling thereof. (Psalms 46:1-3)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This is not a hypothetical case. We are in the habit of interpreting this by saying that the Jews will say, „Even though worst should come to the worst, and this should develop, we will not fear.“ The more probable meaning of this expression is that great changes and convulsions throughout nature will be taking place. Then the Jews will say, „Though these things are occurring, we believe in God who holds all nature in His own hands, and who will work redemption for His people and for all mankind.“<\/p>\n

I am aware of the fact that there are those who spiritualize these passages and in essence say, „Yes, it says this, but it means something else.“ Instead of saying that they „spiritualize“ these predictions, it would be more accurate to say that they „evaporate“ them and make their meaning go off into thin air. Is there any reason for our not taking these words at their primary, ordinary, usual, literal meaning? We are never to depart from such literal meaning unless there are indications in the context to show otherwise–to show a departure from the literal to a figurative, or symbolic, meaning. We shall look at this context in vain for such indications. We therefore do well to take our Lord’s words seriously and believe that He meant what He said and said what He meant!<\/p>\n

We may believe that there will be some connection between the signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and these unprecedented tidal waves here upon the earth.<\/p>\n

At that time many men will be fainting for fear and for expectation of greater and more disastrous events to take place than those that begin, and that are taking place in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath. Many men will literally be frightened to death and will expire when reports come over the radio and through the press that a mighty typhoon has struck, for instance, Japan; or that a tidal wave has struck New York City and has blotted it from the face of the globe.<\/p>\n

The Shaking of the Powers of the Heavens<\/center><\/p>\n

„… For the powers of the heavens shall be shaken“ (vs. 26c). When will the powers of the heavens be shaken? Luke in his Gospel does not give our Lord’s instruction on this point, but Matthew does. „29 But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken 30 and then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory“ (Matt. 24:29,30). From this statement we learn that the great convulsions throughout the universe and the shaking of the powers of the heavens will occur immediately after the Tribulation has ceased. Then Jesus will come in power and glory and those people who survive upon the earth until that time will mourn because of Him. Then shall they „see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.“ We may be sure, therefore, that the signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and the distress of nations upon the earth because of the roaring of the seas and the billows will culminate with the shaking of the powers of the heavens and the appearance of the Son of man when He comes in glory and great power. We cannot avoid this conclusion if we take our Lord’s words seriously and accept His statements as being true.<\/p>\n

The Second Coming of Christ<\/center><\/p>\n

Luke records what our Lord said in regard to His second coming–His visible, bodily return to this earth at the end of the Tribulation: „27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.“ Luke’s account here is exactly in line with that of Matthew–the shaking of the powers of the heavens and the coming of the Son of man at the end of the Tribulation. Different ones of the old prophets foretold this coming of Christ at the end of the Tribulation. For instance, examine carefully in its context Isaiah 30:27-33; Isaiah 63:1-6; also Isaiah 66:15-17. Habakkuk, chapter 3, gives a most vivid and detailed description of the second coming of Christ and of some of the physical changes that will take place upon the earth when He does return.<\/p>\n

The Rapture of the Church<\/center><\/p>\n

The rapture of the church saints occurs before the Tribulation: „But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh“ (Luke 21:28). What is embraced in the term, „these things“? Obviously it refers to the things which the Lord had just mentioned, namely, the things that are found in verses 25, 26, and 27: the signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, the distress of nations because of the roaring of the seas and the billows, the shaking of the powers of the heavens, and the visible, bodily return of our Lord. All of these are-included in „these things.“<\/p>\n

But note particularly the statement, „But when these things begin to come to pass.“ The word begin<\/i> indicates a process and a development.<\/i> Jesus did not say, „When these things occur;<\/i> but, „When they begin<\/i> to come to pass.“ They begin to come to pass and they run their course, culminating with His visible, bodily, second coming. The question now before us is this: When do these visible signs begin to come to pass?<\/i> The passage in Luke does not give us the information. There is however, a statement by Joel that will give us the desired enlightenment: 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; 29 and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of Jehovah shall be delivered; for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those that escape, as Jehovah hath said, and among the remnant those whom Jehovah doth call“ (Joel 2:28-32).<\/p>\n

In this quotation we are told that it shall come to pass afterward<\/i> that God will pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. The pouring out of God’s Spirit upon all flesh occurs „afterward.“ After what? The context must decide that question. If the reader will examine carefully Joel 2:21-27, he will see that the prophet was talking about the great Millennial Age, when the curse is lifted from the earth and Jehovah is reigning in the midst of Israel. At that time there will be an abundance of rain, and food for both man and animals. The Lord will at that time send the former rain in just measure and the latter rain likewise. Rain means rain, and nothing else–the early rains coming in the fall, and the latter rains in the spring. The earth will at that time yield its increase. There will never be any more droughts or crop failures. At that time Israel, said Jehovah, „… shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am Jehovah your God, and there is none else; and my people shall never be put to shame“ (Joel 2:27). Jehovah will be here upon earth, reigning in Mount Zion. (Read carefully Isaiah 33:17-24, especially verses 20 and 21; Zephaniah 3:14-17.) Thus it is apparent from the evidence that Joel 2:21-27 is talking about the introduction of the millennial reign of our Lord here upon the earth, with the curse lifted and with joy, peace, and happiness being the order of the day. Israel will have repented of her rejection of the Messiah, will have confessed and repudiated the national sin of rejecting Him, and will have plead for Him to return. When Israel does that, Messiah will return and establish His reign of righteousness. When Israel has thus repudiated the national sin and pleaded for Messiah to return, and He has done this and is in the midst of Israel, then, and not till then, will God pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. When does God pour out His Spirit upon a person? „And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey him“ (Acts 5:32). God gives His Holy Spirit and sends the Spirit in the hearts of those who obey Him–as we see from this verse. When Israel accepts the Messiah, and He comes back and is in the midst of the Chosen People, God pours out His Spirit upon all the rest of mankind. Since He does not pour out His Spirit upon people until they obey Him, we may conclude that, after the conversion of Israel, the rest of the people of the world will turn to God and will accept Christ and become obedient to Him. Then He will pour out His Spirit upon them. From other passages of Scripture we learn that Israel, being converted, will lead all nations to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Thus, converted Israel, as we see in Psalm 67, will pray that God may enable them to disseminate the gospel to all nations and lead them to accept Him:<\/span><\/p>\n

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„1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us,
\nAnd<\/i> cause his face to shine upon us;
\n2 That thy way may be known upon earth,
\nThy salvation among all nations.“<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Joel 2:28-32, therefore, assumes that converted Israel will lead the rest of humanity to a saving knowledge of Christ. Then God will pour out His Spirit upon them. Thus we see in the first statement of verse 28 a converted world. (Let us remember, again, that the punctuation of our Bibles is the work of men. They punctuated the sentences as they thought they should be. Sometimes they were right; at other times, in my judgment, they were wrong. I believe that a period should be placed after the word flesh („upon all flesh.“) This is a definite prediction of the Gentiles‘ being converted by Israel in the beginning of the Millennium.<\/span><\/p>\n

A new sentence begins with the conjunction „and“ in the statement, „and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy.“ The conjunction in the Hebrew translated „and“ also has a disjunctive idea as expressed by the word „but.“ In hundreds of cases this word is rendered by our disjunctive conjunction „but.“ In my judgment it should be rendered „but“ on this occasion. My reason for this opinion is that, beginning with this word „and,“ we have a thought that is thrown over in contrast with the conversion of the world by Israel after Christ has come to earth.<\/p>\n

Following the suggestion just made, I will begin another paragraph with this sentence and read it as follows: „But your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; 29 and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit. 30 And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh“ (Joel 2:28b-31).<\/p>\n

Here is the pouring out of God’s Spirit upon certain sons and daughters of Israel (Gentiles are not included in this prediction). When will this be fulfilled? Certainly not after the conversion of the world through converted Israel; because when Israel acknowledges the national sin, pleads for the Messiah to return, and accepts Him, God fills the people of Israel with His Spirit then and there and, in the power of the Spirit of God, they lead the rest of the world to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Hence, the pouring out of God’s Spirit, mentioned in this passage, upon certain ones in Israel cannot occur in the Millennium. It must take place before<\/i> the Millennium. Moreover, when the Millennium begins, there will be no more visions granted. This is seen in Daniel 9:24: „Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish transgression, and to make an end of sins … and to seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.“ There will be no vision and prophecy after the Millennium begins. Hence, the pouring out of God’s Spirit upon certain Jews and Jewesses and the granting of visions and dreams to certain ones cannot be fulfilled in the Millennium, but must come to pass before then. But when will it be?<\/p>\n

In connection with this revival that is foretold as occurring in Israel there will be signs and wonders in the physical, material earth, for in Joel 2:30,31 the prophet declared: „And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.“ From this we see that this revival and the signs in the heavens and upon earth and the great blackout will occur „before the great and terrible day of Jehovah cometh.“ What is this great and terrible day of Jehovah? It is the Tribulation Period, seven years during which God is pouring out His wrath upon the world, purging it of all sinners and preparing it for the great reign of our Lord. Zephaniah describes the great and terrible day of Jehovah in the following words:<\/p>\n

„The great day of Jehovah is near, it is near and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of Jehovah; the mighty man crieth there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements. And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against Jehovah; and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of Jehovah’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he will make an end, yea, a terrible end, of all them that dwell in the land. (Zephaniah 1:14-18)<\/p>\n

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An Exposition of The Gospel According to Luke
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(Installment 41)
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The Olivet Discourse Part\u2014V
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\nAn Outline of the Centuries Culminating in the Second Coming of Christ<\/center><\/center><\/center><\/center>The First Blackout<\/p>\n

Before this great and terrible day of Jehovah comes, God will pour out His Spirit upon certain ones in Israel. In connection with that event He will show these signs in the physical heavens and on the earth. Among the signs will be the blacking out of the sun–not the blotting out of it, but a temporary blackout of it. As to how long before the Tribulation these signs will begin to occur, the Scriptures are silent. But they are scheduled to occur before the Tribulation. The situation in the material, physical universe will clear up; the blackout will pass away, only to be brought back again in the first part of the Tribulation. Then, again, the situation will clear up, and come in a different form just a little later, before the middle of the Tribulation. Then it clears the third time and recurs with a total blackout in the middle of the second half of the Tribulation. Once again, the blackout clears up, only to return with many signs and wonders at the very end of the Tribulation, after the Tribulation of those days. The sun will be darkened, the moon will not give her light. Then Jesus will come!<\/p>\n

Our Lord, in Luke 21, in the section of the Olivet Discourse which we are studying, foretold signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity for the roaring of the seas and the billows. Then He told us that these signs will culminate with the shaking of the powers of the heavens at the end of the Tribulation. Then „shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory,“ physically and bodily. But, He said, when these signs and these distressing conditions „begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh.“ We have seen from Joel that these signs in the heavens and on the earth begin before the Tribulation starts. Since they start before the Tribulation begins, those who are alive at that time, and who know what the Scriptures teach, are to look up and lift up their heads because their redemption draws nigh. In view of these facts we know that our redemption–the redemption of the faithful children of God–draws near when these signs throughout the heavens and the distress of nations upon the earth begin to come to pass. Note the word begin<\/i>. The Lord did not say, after these signs shall have occurred for days, or weeks, or months; but, when they begin to come to pass. It is then that His people are to lift up their heads and look up, because their redemption draws near.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Redemption<\/span><\/center><\/p>\n

What is meant by the word „redemption“? In this context it can mean only one thing: Deliverance out of the terrible situation which will at that time be starting to develop. How will the Lord deliver His people at that time? This question is answered in I Thessalonians 1:9,10 which reads as follows: „For they themselves report concerning us what manner of entering in we had unto you; and how ye turned unto God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivereth us from the wrath to come.“ Jesus will descend from heaven „with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God.“ Then He will raise the dead in Christ and catch up the living saints out of the earth, whose bodies will be transformed and immortalized. Then they will meet the Lord in the air. The Lord will then return to glory. The saints will go along with Him. This is the redemption which is promised by our Saviour, in the words, „But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draweth nigh“ (21:28).<\/span><\/p>\n

But when are these signs to begin to come to pass? No one knows. We do not know the day nor the hour. But we do know that, when they begin to come to pass, our redemption draweth nigh! This is sufficient. So far as you and I, dear friends, know, they may begin to occur today; or within five minutes from now; or an hour; maybe next week, or next year. Since we do not know the day nor the hour, let us also be ready.<\/p>\n

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The Fig Tree<\/span><\/center><\/p>\n

At this juncture of His discourse our Lord spoke a parable: „Behold the fig tree, and all the trees: 30 when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh. 31 Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh. 32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away“ (Luke 21:29-33). In the parallel passage (Matt. 24:32-34) our Lord mentioned only the fig tree. „From the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh; 33 even so ye also, when ye see all these things, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors. 34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all these things be accomplished.“ Some have concluded that the fig tree is here used as being symbolic of the Jewish nation. It is true that, on certain occasions, the fig tree is a symbol of Israel. This fact cannot be disputed. But we are never to say that a thing is used symbolically or figuratively unless the facts of the context indicate a departure from the literal meaning. One will look in vain for such negative evidence here; therefore it is improper to interpret the fig tree of Matthew 24:32-34 as, in this instance, being symbolic of the Jewish nation. The fig tree simply means a fig tree. Jesus said that, whenever the fig tree’s buds become tender and it puts forth its leaves, the person observing that natural phenomena can know that summer is near. In a manner analogous to this, whenever a person sees all these things (vs. 33) [a world war, famines, pestilences, and great earthquakes in different places (Matt. 24:8)], he can know that Christ’s coming is near, even at the doors. The generation witnessing the sign of the end of the age can know that the rising generation of that period shall in no wise pass away until the whole prophetic program, culminating in the second coming of Christ, will occur. A generation is eighty years in length (Ps. 90:10).<\/span><\/p>\n

Christ, in speaking of the fig tree in the Luke passage, also mentioned „all the trees.“ The fact that He included all the trees shows that He was not using the fig tree as a symbol of the Jewish nation, but just simply used it in its natural meaning.<\/p>\n

According to Luke 21:31 Jesus said: „Even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh.“ And He added; „32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all things be accomplished.“<\/p>\n

Those Christians who know the truth spoken by our Lord, who are here upon earth, and see the signs beginning in the sun, moon, and stars, and the distress of nations upon the earth caused by the roaring of the sea and the billows–those seeing these things beginning to come to pass–can know of a certainty that the kingdom of God is soon to be established upon the earth. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the words of the Lord Jesus shall not pass away.<\/p>\n

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A Solemn Warning to All Believers<\/span><\/center><\/p>\n

In Luke 21:34-36 our Lord gives a most solemn warning to His disciples: „But take heed to yourselves, lest haply your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day come on you suddenly as a snare: 35 for so shall it come upon all them that dwell on the face of all the earth. 36 But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.“<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidently the Lord realized the necessity of throwing out the warning contained in this quotation for His people. It is an easy matter for Christians to let down in their spiritual life and to fall into the tempo of the times in which they live. In fact, it is indeed hard not to conform to the environment in which we are living. People naturally like to have their appetites satisfied. Jesus shows that it would be possible for even born-again people to contract the drink habit and to become drunkards. Moreover, the cares of life, that is, the daily responsibility of meeting the obligations of life, can be so very subtle and gripping that they tend to cause one to follow the Lord afar off–as fear caused Peter to follow Him afar off when He went to trial. If a person fails to heed the admonitions of the Lord Jesus Christ and falls into the tempo of his day and time, the day when these signs begin to come to pass–announcing the fact that our redemption draweth nigh–will slip upon him as a snare, just as it will come upon all those (the unsaved) who dwell upon the face of the earth. The people of God, the saved, are earnestly urged by the Lord to be on the lookout: „But watch ye at every season, making supplication, that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man“ (vs. 36). How can one prevail to „escape all these things that shall come to pass“? Evidently the things that are to come to pass are the trials and the distresses that are involved in the signs that will be in the heavens and the roaring of the sea and the billows here upon earth. These are the things about which He is talking, and which will occur upon the earth just before the rapture.<\/p>\n

Should these things occur in my time, I would not like for a mighty tidal wave, hundreds of feet high, to come rolling over Los Angeles and to dash me with myriads of others into eternity. I do not want to go out of this life in any such manner. No normal people want to be taken out of the world under such conditions. If they do not wish to depart this life that way, Jesus said that they should make supplication that they prevail in prayer to escape all these things. God can providentially change the course of one’s life and cause him to go from the danger zone before such a calamity as the one supposed. If I pray earnestly that the Lord not let me go out that way, He could take me out of the world in some other way. He could take me by some peaceful means, and I could thus pass into the presence of the Lord. Or, He could cause me to leave the city and go somewhere on business and not be in the danger zone when the crash comes. When the signs in the heavens above should become apparent, I would see those things and could look up, knowing that the rapture is to take place at any second after that. Prayer indeed changes things. Prayer brings victory. If we will only pray–should these things come in our time–that we may prevail to escape, we have every reason to believe that God will answer our petition on that point, as well as on others.<\/p>\n

I am hoping that, if it be God’s will, Jesus may come in my own natural lifetime, and that I can engage in the work of the Lord up to the very moment of the rapture. At that time „the Lord himself shall descend from heaven, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; 17 then we that are alive, that are left, shall together with them be caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words“ (I Thess. 4:16-18).<\/p>\n

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An Exposition of The Gospel According to Luke
\n(Installment 42)<\/p>\n

Jesus Observes The Passover And Institutes The Lord’s Supper<\/p>\n

AS WE HAVE ALREADY seen, probably Jesus delivered the Olivet Discourse, which we have been studying during the past five months, on Tuesday evening as He sat on the Mount of Olives. So far as we know, Jesus never returned to the Temple for any other public activity. As to what He did on Wednesday and Thursday, we have no information. Hence, we must be silent in regard to this. Mark informs us, however, that two days after the deliverance of the Olivet Discourse, the Feast of the Passover and of unleavened bread drew near. The question arises, Does this put the Passover on Thursday of Passion Week? It would seem to do this. If so, that would put the arrest of the Lord Jesus on Thursday evening and the crucifixion on Friday, which position seems to be correct.<\/p>\n

The Feast of the Passover and of Unleavened Bread<\/p>\n

The Gospel Records show that the leaders of the Jews–the chief priests, scribes, and elders–were planning Christ’s destruction. They were seeking an opportunity that they might take Him by craft or subtlety and put Him to death. But they were afraid to do this, because they feared that there would be a popular uprising among the populace. It is hard to conceive of men, in the position of the leaders of Israel, stooping to such depths. But sometimes Satan influences even good men to do evil, wicked things. Let us, in this connection, remember that Christ was delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, as the Apostle Peter, by inspiration, stated on Pentecost (Acts 2:23). God had determined that Christ should suffer and die for the redemption of the world. Whenever there is a dirty job to be performed, God selects those who themselves qualify for such a work. Men, by their failures, shortcomings, and sins, qualify for doing evil things that are necessary to be performed.<\/p>\n

The passover lamb was slain on the fourteenth day of the first month of the Jewish religious year, which comes around our Easter. One should study Exodus, chapters 12 and 13, in order to get the historical background of the Passover. Asaph, in Psalm 81:1-7 refers to the institution of the Passover. The passover lamb was typical of the Son of God. „For our passover also hath been sacrificed even Christ,“ so stated the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians, chapter 5. The blood of the paseover lamb was sprinkled upon the doorposts and lintels by the Hebrews the night when Israel left Egypt. The death angel passed over the land and slew the first-born in every house where there was no blood. There was power in that blood, which was typical of the blood of Christ. One must screen himself behind the blood of Christ, who is our passover, if he is to escape eternal punishment, banishment from the presence of God and the glory of His might forever.<\/p>\n

The Passover was followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was a feast to symbolize the purity of life that those who are cleansed and protected by the blood of Christ should live. Leaven is always a symbol of something evil. The Israelites had to search diligently to see that there was no leaven of any kind in their homes. This little ceremony, a very significant one indeed, was to indicate that all malice and evil of every type must be eliminated from the life of the redeemed soul in order to be well pleasing to the Lord.<\/p>\n

The Anointing of Jesus by Mary<\/p>\n

Matthew (26:6-13) and Mark (14:8-9) and John (12:3-8) tell us of the anointing of the Lord Jesus by Mary, when He was in the house of Simon the leper at Bethany. Luke, whose record we are studying in this series, omits this incident, which is indeed a very important one. In the eyes of Mary there was nothing too dear to be used for her Lord. When she anointed Him with this precious nard, Judas immediately objected, saying that it could have been sold for a great sum and the money given for the poor. He was not really interested in the poor. He was interested in getting more money, for it was he who was the treasurer of the group, and constantly stole from the treasury that which was deposited. It is very easy for some people to become quite pious all of a sudden, and critical of others. Those practicing such tactics are not deceiving anyone but themselves.<\/p>\n

When this objection was raised, Jesus said nothing should be done to the woman; for she was doing this in preparation for His burial: „She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying. 9 And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her“ (Mark 14:8,9). Nothing is too good for our Lord, who did everything for us to redeem us and to purchase us unto God.<\/p>\n

Satan Enters Judas<\/p>\n

In Luke 22:3-6 we have an account of Satan’s having entered Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. He was an adversary from the very beginning. The Lord Jesus knew that He had to be betrayed. He therefore was led to select as one of His disciples a man qualified to commit such a dastardly crime as to betray Him.<\/p>\n

We are told that Satan entered into Judas. John, in speaking of this, said that the devil „having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him …“ (John 13:2). Satan is always on the job. He is busy all the time, seeking every opportunity to take advantage of those who do not know of his existence and of his wiles.<\/p>\n

Satan is constantly transforming himself into an angel of light and is always making suggestions to people, who little realize the source of the thoughts which come into their minds. „And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. 15 It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works“ (II Cor. 11:14,15).<\/p>\n

When Satan put it into the heart of Judas to betray the Lord, he went out immediately and made a bargain with the chief priests and the captains to deliver Jesus to them–a contract to betray the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. That he would do this was foretold by Zechariah when the latter impersonated the Messiah in the temple precincts before the rulers of the Jews and the worshipers present (Zech. 11:1-14). After Judas made the bargain to betray the Lord Jesus, he sought every opportunity of delivering Christ over to the authorities, at a time when the multitude was absent. But he had great difficulty in finding the opportune time.<\/p>\n

Preparation for the Feast of the Passover<\/p>\n

Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell us about Christ’s sending two of His disciples to go to a certain place where they were to make ready the Passover, that they might eat it. Matthew and Mark simply say that two of the disciples were sent. Luke, however, tells us that those two disciples were Peter and John. According to our Lord’s instructions, the two Apostles were to go into the city and, as they were entering, they would see a man carrying a pitcher of water. They were to follow him and were to tell the master of the house: „The Teacher saith unto thee, „Where is the guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? 12 And he will show you a large upper room furnished: there make ready“ (vss. 11,12). Peter and John obeyed the Lord’s instructions and found the place, „as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.“<\/p>\n

Observance of the Passover Supper<\/p>\n

Our Lord’s observance of the Passover Supper is so very important that I wish to quote the full statement of Luke, which is found in Luke 22:14-18, and which reads as follows: „And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the apostles with him. And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: for I say unto you, I shall not eat it, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: for I say unto you, I shall not drink from henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come.“ The reader should note carefully that Jesus was talking about the Passover Supper, for which everything had been prepared by Peter and John. At the right time He sat down and, before beginning, He said that it was with desire that He had desired to eat that Passover with them before He suffered. For, He assured them, He would never partake of it again until it would be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. By this language He implied that, when it was fulfilled in the kingdom of God, He will again partake of the Passover. There is no escaping the plain teaching of this statement. After having made the assertion that He would not again eat the Passover until He eats of it in the kingdom of God, then Jesus re-emphasized the same thought in verse 18 by saying: „I shall not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine [the cup used in connection with the Passover Supper] until the kingdom of God shall come.“ In view of these two plain statements, we may be certain that our Lord will, when the kingdom of God comes in its fullness and power, observe the Passover. In fact, we have assurances back in the Old Testament that at least some of the ritualism of the Old Testament ceremonial system will be re-inaugurated and will be observed during the millennial reign of our Lord. For instance, in Zechariah, chapter 14, we see that the Feast of the Tabernacles, the last feast of the Jewish religious year, will be observed by all peoples on the earth. According to Ezekiel there will be a re-inauguration of many of the sacrifices that were in vogue during the Mosaic economy. Why will these Old Testament sacrifices, which look forward to the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and which were discontinued after Christ nailed them to the cross and took them out of the way, be re-inaugurated in the Millennium? Of course, that point has not been made very clear in the Scriptures, but I believe that we are safe in saying that those things will have a retrospective function, just as they had a prospective one before the cross. It will be necessary for the people to have their minds called, in a graphic manner, throughout the Millennium, to the fact that their redemption was purchased with a price, yea, even with the precious blood of the Son of God. Thus those sacrifices and institutions will have the same function that they did before the cross of Christ, pointing people back to the Lamb of God whose blood takes away the sin of the world.<\/p>\n

Jesus Rebukes the Disciples for Jealousy<\/p>\n

In Luke 22:24-30 we are told that the disciples had a contention among themselves as to who should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The cropping out of this jealousy had appeared something like six months before this time–when the disciples were returning to Galilee after an absence of six months in four different retirements. One judges from Luke’s statement that this controversy was revived, even at the time of the observing of the Passover. On the former occasion when the disciples had disputed as to rank among them, Jesus took a little child and set it in the midst of the crowd and taught them that they would have to become as little children, or they could in no wise enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt., chap. 18)<\/p>\n

On this occasion He taught the same lesson of humility, but did so by an example of His taking the place of a servant. This is seen in the incident of His arising during the Passover Supper and girding Himself with a towel and washing the disciples‘ feet (John 13:1-20).<\/p>\n

It is clear from what John records regarding our Lord’s washing the disciples‘ feet that He was teaching them the lesson of humility, and that they should not strive to push themselves forward in the eyes of men, but should take the position of servant of all. The Apostles nowhere observed footwashing as an ordinance. But they did practice and teach humility, therefore we conclude that Jesus was teaching the lesson of humility by His washing the disciples‘ feet.<\/p>\n

Jesus Points Out the One Who Should Betray Him<\/p>\n

After Jesus sat down, having washed the disciples‘ feet, He called attention to the fact that one of those who were with Him at the table would betray Him. All asked, „Is it I?“ When Judas asked if it were he, then the Lord told him that he was the one. Judas put his hand with the Lord’s in the dish, and Jesus made a sop and gave it to him and told him that what he was to do, he should do quickly–that is, he should go out and execute his plan of delivering Jesus to the Pharisees, as he had agreed with them to do.<\/p>\n

Jesus Warns Disciples Against Dangers Confronting Them
\nand Their Deserting Him<\/p>\n

In Luke 22:31-33 Jesus revealed to the Apostles that Satan had already gone into the presence of God and had requested that he might sift all the Apostles as one would sift wheat. But Jesus, knowing this, had prayed that their faith might not fail and urged them, once they had turned again to God, to strengthen their brethren. Praise God, Satan cannot do anything unless he first gets permission from the Almighty, as we see in the case of Job, chapters 1 and 2. Peter, with the rest of the Apostles, assured the Lord that they under no conditions would forsake Him, but Jesus pointed out that Peter would deny Him three times before the cock would crow. It never pays anyone to be overly confident of himself. One may boast in the Lord, but never in his own strength and ability.<\/p>\n

In Luke 22:35-38 Jesus gave special instructions to the Apostles to be prepared for the ordeal of Gethsemane, that is, the arrest.<\/p>\n

After the Departure of Judas, Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper<\/p>\n

When all the records are taken together, it becomes quite evident that, after Jesus gave Judas the sop, the latter went out. Then Jesus instituted what is usually known as the Lord’s Supper. Luke’s record of this appears in Luke 22:19,20, which reads as follows: „And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you.“ It is to be noted that, after Jesus had finished the Passover Supper, then He took bread and afterwards the cup, and used them as symbols of His body and blood, of which they were to partake in memory of His giving up His life for them.<\/p>\n

The Lord instituted this Supper on Thursday evening before He was crucified on Friday. The early Church, as we see in Acts, chapter 2, observed the Lord’s Supper every day. Then later, as we see in Acts 20:7, the church at Troas met on the first day of the week to break bread and to worship the Lord. In I Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul shows that people must approach the observance of the Lord’s Supper with reverence and awe, and that their motives must be pure. Every time they partake of it, they are to do it in memory of Him.<\/p>\n

Did Jesus Partake of the Passover Supper Before the Usual Time?<\/p>\n

Some people have looked at certain passages in John’s Gospel (13:1, 13:29, 18:28, 19:14, and 19:31) and have concluded that Jesus partook of the Passover ahead of time. But when all of these passages are properly studied in the light of their context, it becomes quite evident that He really took of the Passover, and that He did it at the regular time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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An Exposition of The Gospel According to Luke
\n(Installment 43)<\/p>\n

The Last Supper, The Quiet Talk, And the Prayer<\/p>\n

IN OUR STUDY thus far we have seen that our Lord observed the Passover Supper at the regular time, Thursday evening of Passion Week. During the Supper, Jesus arose, girded Himself with a towel, took a basin of water, and washed the disciples‘ feet. This He did in order to teach the disciples wherein lay the greatness of a disciple. This was done in order to answer the contention and the strife that had existed among the disciples concerning who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. During the Supper Jesus foretold that one of the Twelve would betray Him and indicated that the traitor was the one who would dip his hand in the dish with Him, and to whom He (Jesus) would give the sop. At the proper time, having given Judas the sop, Jesus told him that what he intended to do to do quickly. At this point Judas left the house and went on his way to betray Jesus to His enemies.<\/p>\n

The Institution of the Lord’s Supper<\/p>\n

As we have already seen in a preceding study, the record of the observance of the Passover Supper is found in Luke 22:14-18. After that was over, and Judas had left the room, Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Herewith is the record of the same: „19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and gave to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. 20 And the cup in like manner after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, even that which is poured out for you“ (Luke 22:19,20). Parallel accounts of the institution of the Lord’s Supper are found in Matthew 26:26-29, Mark 14:22-25, and I Corinthians 11:23-26. The Supper is the memorial of His death, burial, and resurrection until He returns. It should be observed by all the redeemed. As already noted, the early Church in Jerusalem partook, at the very beginning, daily of the Lord’s Supper. Later, as Christianity moved out among the Gentiles, the apostolic churches partook of it on the first day of the week (Acts 20:7): „And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.“ Observing the Supper is simply an empty form unless one is motivated by love and does what he does in the spirit of love and worship.<\/p>\n

Jesus‘ Farewell Talk With the Disciples<\/p>\n

In John 13:31-38 the Lord foretold His departure from the disciples. As He told the Jews that He would go and they would seek for Him but would be unable to find Him, thus our Lord repeated the same thought to the disciples. Peter, as usual, spoke up immediately and asked why it was that he could not go with Him at the time; for, said he, „I will lay down my life for thee.“ The reason that he could not go then was that the new and the living way, the approach to God, had not been opened up at that time. By Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection the new and living way was opened up. He made it possible that those who die in the Lord might go immediately upon death into the presence of God in heaven. Jesus revealed to Peter that that very night he would betray Him. In answer to his query concerning the place to which Jesus would go shortly, our Lord gave us the most comforting prediction to be found in the Word of God, as is recorded in John 14:1-4. Christ has gone to prepare a place for us. Since He has gone to prepare this place for us, He is coming again to receive us to Himself in order that where He is, there we may be also.<\/p>\n

This promise of His coming again developed into one of the quiet talks of our Lord, found in John, chapters 14-16. This is one of the most sacred and holy portions–if I may thus speak–to be found in the Scriptures. Since the Lord was leaving, He said that He would not leave the disciples orphans, but that He would go to the Father. Then He and the Father would send the Holy Spirit to be their Comforter and to guide them into all truth.<\/p>\n

This quiet talk, found in John, chapter 14, was doubtless spoken in the house where Jesus observed the Passover and instituted the Lord’s Supper.<\/p>\n

When He finished the discussion of the sending of the Holy Spirit, He said, „Arise, let us go hence“ (John 14:31).<\/p>\n

As Jesus left this place and was going to the Garden of Gethsemane, He continued His quiet talk with the disciples, the record of which is found in John, chapters 15 and 16. Somewhere near the Garden of Gethsemane, our Lord prayed that matchless petition which is properly called „The Lord’s Prayer,“ and which is found in John, chapter 17. This chapter has been called „the holiest of the holy“ of all Scripture. Here we see God the Son pouring out His soul in the shadow of the cross to God the Father and God’s response to this ineffable prayer.<\/p>\n

That this prayer was prayed somewhere near the Garden of Gethsemane is clear from John 18:1: „When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Kidron, where was a garden, into which he entered, himself and his disciples.“<\/p>\n

Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane<\/p>\n

Having thus gathered together in a general way the various incidents which occurred at this time of our Lord’s ministry, as reflected in the Four Gospels, we are now ready to return to Luke’s account of the life of our Lord. In Luke 22:39-46 we have an account of Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.<\/p>\n

In verse 39 we are told that Jesus came out of the house where He had observed the Passover „and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.“ This is what is referred to by John in 14:31, which informs us that Jesus said, „Arise, let us go hence,“ and the statement in John 18:1, which, as already stated, says that after the prayer Jesus and the disciples crossed over the brook Kidron into the Garden of Gethsemane.<\/p>\n

We are told that Jesus was in the habit of resorting to the Garden of Gethsemane for prayer. Judas knew this.<\/p>\n

From Isaiah, chapter 50, we see the innermost life of our Lord as foretold in this prediction. Jesus would arise before day and go to some quiet, secluded spot and pour out His soul to God. Thus we see Him in the evening’s, during Passion Week, going out there to that quiet place of Gethsemane, where He held communion and fellowship with God His Father. Prayer figured largely in the life of our Lord. Prayer changes things; prayer brings victory.<\/p>\n

Upon entering the Garden, Jesus said to His disciples: „Pray that ye enter not into temptation“ (vs. 40). Thus prayer and its efficacy were impressed upon their minds. The impression, however, was not as lasting as it should have been. Jesus then departed from the disciples about the distance of the casting of a stone and knelt down and prayed saying: „Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.“ The heart and soul attitude of our Lord was reflected in these words. He was walking by faith, fully surrendered to do the will of God. What we see on wall mottoes, „The will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else,“ was certainly true of the Lord Jesus Christ in the highest and the greatest sense possible. Naturally, He, being holy, spotless and pure, shrank from any contact with sin or Satan, or any evil. From the standpoint of His divine-human nature, He prayed that, if it could be possible for God to let the cup of suffering, death, and contact with Satan and sin be removed from Him, it might be thus. But He showed His absolute surrender to God in saying, „… nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.“<\/p>\n

When Jesus thus prayed, an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened Him. This incident reminds us of the fact that, when He was tempted by the devil during a period of forty days and nights, angels came and ministered unto Him. The angels have a very important part to play in the life of the people of God. They are ministering spirits sent forth to do service for the sake of them which shall inherit salvation.<\/p>\n

Jesus was dead in earnest in His praying. The burden that was resting upon Him was, humanly speaking, all but unbearable. It was affecting His physical being and causing blood, actual blood, to ooze forth from His veins. Thus we are told that He prayed in agony, „and his sweat became as it were great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.“ The mind has, indeed, a tremendous effect upon the body.<\/p>\n

When Jesus arose from His prayer, He returned to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow. They were overwhelmed with the thought of the rapidly occurring events of that Passion Week. Being exhausted, humanly speaking, they fell asleep for sorrow. When Jesus came to them, He asked: „Why sleep ye? rise and pray, that ye enter not into temptation.“ Satan is on hand all the time, or some of his emissaries are, to lead us into temptation. Jesus urged the disciples to rise and pray that they enter not into temptation. The same exhortation is for us today. Satan has to get permission from God to subject any of the Lord’s children to temptation. He had to get permission to test Job. Jesus said to the disciples that He had made supplication for them (22:31-34). No temptation can overtake any of God’s children except that which is common to man. „13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able: but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it“ (I Cor. 10:13). God will with every temptation make a way of escape, that we may be able to endure it, regardless of how severe it may be.<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

weiter<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Exposition of The Gospel According to Luke (Installment 40) The Olivet Discourse\u2014Part IVAn Outline of the Centuries Culminating in the Second Coming of ChristSigns in the Heavens and Distress of the Nations on Earth IN DISCUSSING the last clause of verse 11, „and there shall be terrors and great signs from heaven,“ I called … <\/p>\n

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