Focus Passage: Luke 21:5-19 (NASB)
5 And while some were talking about the temple, that it was adorned with beautiful stones and votive gifts, He said, 6 “As for these things which you are looking at, the days will come in which there will not be left one stone upon another which will not be torn down.”
7 They questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, when therefore will these things happen? And what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And He said, “See to it that you are not misled; for many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not go after them. 9 When you hear of wars and disturbances, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end does not follow immediately.”
10 Then He continued by saying to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, 11 and there will be great earthquakes, and in various places plagues and famines; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.
12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. 13 It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. 14 So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; 15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. 16 But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, 17 and you will be hated by all because of My name. 18 Yet not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Read Luke 21:5-19 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!
Some of the details in the gospel records I find fascinating, and one detail Jesus shares in this journal entry’s passage stands out in my mind as being very interesting.
As Jesus is sharing the first portion of describing what will happen, He shares the following, “Yet not a hair of your head will perish.” (Luke 21:18)
Now the literal side of me says that this verse must mean that Jesus is promising us the same hair that we had on earth. We could be in a new body, with new organs, and with a new head and face, eyes and nose, but with the same hair, since the verse clearly says that “not a hair of will perish”. Some people might be excited to read this, while others would rather receive a different head of hair or a head that simply has hair if they have lost all of theirs.
However, while we can have fun with the literal nature of Jesus’ promise, I believe that Jesus is saying something deeper here. Within this verse are both a promise and a revelation of God’s character.
God’s character is very interested in the details. He pays more attention to how we are put together than we often do. God also cares so much about each of us that He promises to keep even the least significant part of us safe.
As we keep moving forward in our relationship with God, He will not let even the tiniest part of us perish. Even if I lose a part of me here on earth, God promises that my future self is safe, and that death is not the end for anyone who trusts and believes in Him.
This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!
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