Last Saturday morning at 5:29, residents of Blair were suddenly awakened to an emergency alert issued by the National Weather Service. If anyone was still enjoying their final stages of sleep, the shrill alarm jolted them back into consciousness. The pelting of rain mixed with hail upon the house and howling winds cutting through the trees was no dream. A severe thunderstorm and its effects were visible and real. 

Continuing to read in our salvation story, we come to the conclusion of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, his most extensive end times teaching. Having previously described a time of Great Tribulation as foreshadowed by the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, Jesus now reveals that one day he will come back and establish God’s kingdom here upon the earth. His return is no metaphor, nor his kingdom an allegory. It will be as visible and real as any Nebraska storm. 

Therefore, we are warned to watch, not so much the cataclysmic signs, but our own lives. We watch ourselves so that we might be ready to one day stand before our Commander and King. 

Float fishing is an angling technique that utilizes a float, also called a bobber. Float fishing requires that you watch your bobber, which provides visual feedback on the activity of the fish. You can see if the bobber is bobbing, moving side to side, or going under the water, all of which indicate a fish is interested in your bait. 

Perhaps you’ve been float fishing with a young child. There is initial excitement at going out to the water’s edge, baiting the hook, casting, and securing the line. But then it quickly becomes a game of patience. Rather than watching for a potential bite, ready to set the hook and reel in a fish, it doesn’t take long for little Johnny to get distracted, picking at his mosquito bites, stripping seed heads off the grass, following the flight path of a butterfly, or bickering with his little sister. 

Continuing in our salvation story, we read the second part of Jesus’ Olivet Discourse, his most extensive end times teaching. Jesus says, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies.” Our author, Luke, stresses the visible, physical realities that point to what will most certainly take place. From the Great Tribulation to Jesus’ return, finally and fully establishing his kingdom here upon the earth, Jesus’ disciples must watch and always be ready. 

On the evening of October 30, 1938 Orson Welles and his Mercury Theatre on the Air performed a radio adaptation of War of the Worlds. They converted the 40-year-old novel into fake news bulletins describing a Martian invasion of New Jersey. Many listeners were frightened, mistaking those dramatized bulletins for the real thing. Police precincts, newspapers, and radio stations received a deluge of calls from concerned citizens. Some folks even fled their homes. This mass hysteria led the FCC to investigate the broadcast and CBS agreed to take steps to avoid future confusion.

Though nearly a century removed from that historic radio broadcast, doomsday phobias are real. Some fear environmental disaster. Others fear plague. You might fear a hostile takeover by AI, Armageddon or an extraterrestrial invasion. 

As we continue reading in our salvation story, Jesus begins his most extensive teaching about the end times, called the Olivet Discourse. Jesus reveals to his disciples that Jerusalem and the temple will one day be destroyed. Naturally, this was a cause for great concern, especially in light of their optimistic Messianic expectations. Instead of peace and prosperity, Jesus describes cataclysmic events to come. We see that judgment and destruction are a part of God’s predetermined plan. But He will preserve those who are His. Therefore, because of His sovereignty and gracious provision, we can wait without worry.

The next message in our Salvation Story series from this week's special guest.

In 1989, a man in Philadelphia purchased an old painting at a flea market for $4. He bought the painting for its frame. So when he got home, he tore the canvas away. Behind it, he found an old, folded document that he recognized as the Declaration of Independence. That was interesting, but he believed it was simply an old copy. He set it aside for a few years until a friend urged him to have it looked at by a professional.

At his friend’s insistence, the man contacted Sotheby’s, a famous auction house and authentication service. They immediately realized the folded piece of paper was an original copy of the Declaration. Only 24 were known to exist, and of those copies only three were held privately. It would sell at auction for $2.4 million.

Continuing on in our salvation story, we read that Jesus challenged his opponents’ understanding about the nature of the coming Messiah. These were scholars who knew the Hebrew Scriptures well. They were correct in their thinking that the Messiah would be a physical descendant of King David. Yet they failed to recognize his complete worth. The Messiah would not only be David’s son. He would be David’s Lord. 

As both David’s son and David’s Lord, Jesus is both fully God and fully man. Most people today readily affirm Jesus’ humanity. They may even believe that he died for their sins. But, don’t sell him short. As the exalted Christ and Lord, Jesus’ value is more than you could ever imagine.

Anticipation of life after death is a universal human hope. Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs would be buried in their tombs with a ship, believed to carry the deceased ruler’s spirit across the cosmos. Ancient Greeks sometimes placed a coin in the mouth of a corpse to pay the deceased person’s fare across the mystic river of death. Vikings would bury dead warriors with their bows, arrows, and horses; useful items that they might need in the next life. Indeed, in the book of Ecclesiastes we read that God has put eternity into man’s heart. 

Yet, there was one influential first-century Jewish sect that believed the soul ceased to exist after death. These were the Sadducees. They denied the resurrection, and as we continue in our salvation story, we read that they attempt to trip Jesus up with a supposed conundrum about the afterlife.

However, just as in the previous episode, Jesus would silence his opponents. First, he attacked the false premise of the Sadducees’ question. For those who are saved, the things of today will be replaced by an exceedingly better existence in the life to come. Jesus then mounted a positive defense for the resurrection and the immortality of the human soul. It was actually the Sadducees' denial of life after death that didn’t make any sense. An exceedingly better existence in the life to come changes how we enjoy the things of today.

Jesus’ response to the Sadducees corrects many of our own misconceptions about life after death as well. From marriage to our use of money, we make sense of the life to come by living for Jesus today.

Mark Twain once said, “Never discuss religion or politics in polite company.”  Yet as we read in our salvation story, Jesus’ opponents attempted to drag him into just such a debate by asking if observant Jews should pay taxes to Caesar or not. 

The Herodians were pro-Roman, a Jewish political movement that supported the Roman leader, King Herod. They wished to adapt to Roman customs and laws in exchange for peace and prosperity. The Zealots, on the other hand, sought to overthrow the occupying Roman government. They were doctrinally aligned with the Pharisees. But in addition to faithfully following the Torah, they called for more active resistance, saying that God was to be their only Ruler and King. 

Jesus' opponents wished to trap him. He would fall out of favor with either one group or the other. However, his response silenced them all: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God’s.”

Jesus' reply contains two important principles. First, to the rebellious Zealots, Jesus says that government is good. It has been instituted by God. Even secular human authorities, godless kings, accomplish God’s purposes in the world. But to the acquiescent Herodians Jesus reminds them that government is limited. The government is limited under God’s supreme authority over all our lives.

Though these particular movements no longer exist today, politics and religion certainly do. Therefore, obey Jesus’ heavenly authority by submitting to the earthly king.

From a very early age, we tend to resist authority. A toddler will stubbornly run in the opposite direction when mother calls. A teenager will wear certain clothes or listen to certain music in defiance of the established norms. As adults we don’t like anyone telling us what to do either, whether our boss, spouse, or even a friend. Like Frank Sinatra famously sang, “I did it my way.” 

Upon his arrival in Jerusalem with his disciples hailing him as king, Jesus immediately went to the temple, drove out the merchants, and began teaching. As we continue in our salvation story we read that representatives of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, then came and challenged Jesus’ authority. Who exactly did he think he was?

The religious leaders’ questions weren’t sincere. Their opposition would lead to Jesus’ execution just days later, which he foretells here in the parable about a vineyard and some wicked servants. 

While the story vividly illustrates Israel and her rebellious leaders, its significance lies primarily in the revealing of Jesus’ identity. He was the owner’s son. Jesus is the Son of God by whom everyone will be either saved or judged. Disciples acknowledge Jesus’ authority by listening and aligning their lives to his teaching.

On June 15, 1775, George Washington was named the first commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. He then assumed his command on July 3 in Cambridge, MA where the troops were assembled for General Washington’s review. He later publicly commented that what he found was an army in disarray. Dirty, independent, defiant, discipline scattered among regiments depending on individual commanders, and noncommittal – many coming and going as they pleased. 

Continuing to read in our salvation story we come to Jesus’ climactic arrival in Jerusalem. Jesus was the Messiah, the one through whom all the promises of God would be fulfilled. He would inherit the throne of King David and rule over God’s people. And now he approached the holy city, riding on a donkey as throngs of his disciples shouted, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” 

But like troops being found in disarray upon the review of their general, the people of Jerusalem were not prepared for the arrival of their King. Jesus wept over the beloved city before entering the temple and asserting his authority. He conducted a frontal assault upon the religious leaders and their corrupt system, driving out the merchants before beginning to teach in the temple.

These actions would lead to Jesus’ arrest, trial, and execution later that very week. Jerusalem would be destroyed because she rejected her king at his first visitation. May we be found ready awaiting his second.

In this bonus episode of our salvation story, we are reposting Pastor Tim's sermon from Palm Sunday 2024 where he jumped ahead to Luke 19:28-40. 

Palm Sunday is celebrated by Christians all around the world. It’s significance can hardly be overstated as all four gospel writers record Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem to the people’s chants of praise. However, Luke omits the palm branches and the famous cry of “Hosanna!” In fact, there are a number of significant differences in Luke’s retelling of this well known story. Luke presents Jesus as the King and his disciples as loyal subjects, distinguishing their response from that of the Pharisees. 

Back in 2024, at the beginning of Passion Week, we jumped ahead in our salvation story to learn about the timing of a not yet kingdom and how we should respond to our already King.