Big Idea - When things are hard, the question we want to be answered is "when will it end?" That is certainly the question I am asking now about the pandemic. We are all so done with this! For Jews in Israel during Jesus day, the big question was when they would finally get out from under oppressive Roman rule. Their hope for a Messiah was the hope of the end of their current troubles. But Jesus has been making it clear that is not His mission, yet the disciples are still not understanding. We might have more sympathy for them, given our own challenging times - it is natural to want to know when it will all end! When will better days come?

Jesus gives them part of their answer, but more than that He helps them redirect their focus because the end is not coming as soon as they might hope. Instead of thinking about when it will all end, He encourages them to 1) beware of the things that can lead us astray or erode our faith 2) be prepared for trouble, and 3) focus on how to get to the finish, 4) by focusing on the mission