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Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives

Writer's picture: Justin Scoggins, Th.D.Justin Scoggins, Th.D.

In Matthew 23 Jesus checks the Pharisees. Typically called the ‘7 woes’, we see Jesus use phrases like; “blind guides”, “brood of vipers”, and “whitewashed tombs”. “How will you escape the judgment of hell*?”

Jesus goes in on these religious leaders. Their portrayal of what it is to be righteous. He is saying “Listen to them and their teachings, but don’t do what they do because the result is walking pretty death.” They are a contradiction and hypocritical in life. It’s worth noting that religious leaders are called to the floor multiple times by Christ during his time on earth for their failure to righteously and truthfully represent the character of God. As leaders, there is a different level of responsibility that we bear in caring for the message of Christ and how we not only represent him but his kingdom. The importance of good stewardship is present in Matthew 23. People are quite literally turned away from God because of religious leaders' unwarranted and hypocritical expectations. I think it’s fair. If we claim to be leaders of the faith, we should be comfortable with, and expect to be held to, the standard we are asking folks to believe in and follow. If we are falling short, we should expect the backlash and judgment. Jesus is right in calling these leaders to the floor and he is right in calling us to the floor today.

In Matthew 24 he makes his way to Mount of Olives. From here, you would be able to clearly see the Temple. The disciples ask for a ‘sign’ (semeion in Greek) or indication and significance. Then we get into the eschatological (concerning the last things) discourse. This is where stuff gets a little hairy.

In simple terms, end-times excitement has pervaded church culture. People seem to hang on to every headline in anticipation of the next prophetic milestone being fulfilled. Very doom and gloom and more sci-fi than biblically and scripturally accurate. The vision in my heart to be a world changer hits a brick wall against these pessimistic and escapist forecasts. If I followed this line of thinking to its logical conclusion there was no need to train, to plan, or to engage: the future of human flourishing in Christ is a moot point.

I believe are now seeing the bitter fruit of these seeds, and while end-times conversation has not seemed to slow, some people are beginning to recognize a cause-and-effect relationship. Our pessimism; “times will grow darker, a great many will fall away, those opposed to Christ will take over…” has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Why try and save something that is doomed anyway? Eschatology is important, but only in so far as it is wrapped in ‘telos’ (final realization of Christ becoming all in all) and speaks to something more victorious. And all things will be made new. But that’s not what is going on in Matthew 24.

Jesus is telling of something imminent. AD 70 to be specific and the Roman destruction of the Temple and the end of the Jewish sacrificial age.( Which happened, by the way). That generation would not pass away until these things happened. We get a little too focused and caught up (raptured) by things other than advancing Christ and his kingdom. I put an (*) by hell up at the top for a reason. That word is ‘Geena’ or Valley of Hinnom. A pretty literal place that they would associate with during this time. It’s right outside the gate of Jerusalem and is a burning trash pile. Where the lepers and dogs eat. Guess what this place is now? A fulfillment of Ezekiel 47. It’s a lush, green landscape now. Christ is saying “Repent and follow me”. Then and now, because even hell looks different in Him.

Giants in church history believed in a more victorious eschatology, including church fathers like Eusebius (263-339 AD), considered by many the Father of Church History, and Origen a prolific early theologian and writer (185-254 AD). Similarly, revivalists like Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, and Charles Spurgeon all held similar victorious views. I think we should revisit this view a little more and spend some time with it. Remember, we are held to a higher standard, and praise Christ for that.

Eschatology is something full of hope and promise. Something amazingly beautiful and welcoming. It is the ‘telos’ of the cross for all time. It is a point of joy and jubilation for the world to see. I believe that it is the tangible embrace of the garden where he walks with us once again (Rev 21-22). Not a ‘woe’.

But even so, we find ourselves waiting. Waiting for the culmination. Waiting for the evidence of our hope to be realized. Every tear to be wiped away. Sickness to be no more. And death to be finished. We wait for that moment.

The Commission, Artist:Tom duBois Limited Edition Giclée on Canvas.1999



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Artwork credit: The Last Supper, Sadao Watanabe ,1977

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