“Some great but so far unanswered questions”
Meditation – Thursday, November 21, 2024
Luke 17: 20-37 (Forward, p. 23) CEV p. 1085
I have often thought that when it comes to speculations about the End Times, it is often as was said of the rabbis at the time of Jesus: “if there were three rabbis, there were five opinions.” Today’s passage on the coming of God’s kingdom evokes the same kind of response.
Jesus’ discourse on this subject was prompted by a question from some Pharisees, who wanted to know when God’s kingdom would come. Obviously, they were expecting very visible, very tangible, for Jesus replies, “God’s kingdom isn’t something you can see. There is no use saying, ‘Look! Here it is’ or ‘Look! There it is’. God’s kingdom is here with you’ (or, variously translated, ‘here in your hearts’). I’m afraid that this something of a veiled answer when it comes to the original question from the Pharisees. It seems to intimate that the Kingdom is now, is present and available to anyone who wishes to be part of it or embrace it. I’m sure that this wasn’t what the Pharisees expected or hoped for, but, to me, as a believer, it is of infinite comfort. We can all be part of it if we choose to.
But then Jesus switches gears a bit. Instead of speaking of something in the here and now, something immediate, He shares something of future developments. Here it gets a bit hazier—and speculative, but there are some things that we can know for sure:
Firstly, there will be a widespread longing for the Son of Man, but He will not be there. Indeed, there will be many pretenders, people claiming to be the Messiah, but you are not to believe them or be taken in by them.
Secondly, the day of the Son of Man, His return, will be sudden but quite evident, quite visible. What is more, many people will be caught entirely unaware. They will be carrying on with life as if nothing unforeseen was about to happen.
Thirdly, that choices matter, and have long-term, eternal outcomes or consequences, that is, are matters of eternal life and death. (Here he mentions the example of Lot’s wife, who blew it all in just an instant). And to illustrate its suddenness and unexpectedness, He explains that two people might be doing routine tasks together, grinding wheat perhaps, or at work out in a field, or even in bed together, and one will be taken to be taken to be with the Lord and one will not. Furthermore, Jesus tells us that trying to preserve their lives, rather than giving them over to Jesus, is a useless exercise. This is certainly a sobering thought and reality.
And finally, He tells us that for some it will be too late. Here Jesus says something that has puzzled Bible teachers, scholars, and pastors for centuries. He says, “where there is a corpse, there will always be buzzards [vultures]”. So, what is Jesus getting at here?
Here let me suggest some possibilities. Firstly, it is possible that Jesus may be speaking literally. Whenever there is civil unrest or war in the Middle East, there will of course, be bodies, corpses, which will almost automatically attract scavenger birds, carrion birds like vultures or buzzards. And certainly, given the present state of the Middle East, this is a very real possibility.
But then, let me also address this saying metaphorically, and suggest a couple of scenarios that take place so often. With the social media, and with the grapevine that characterizes many smaller communities, people are often quickly made aware of anything important that takes place. And, not only that, if there is a serious accident, fire or a reason for police intervention, a crowd often shows up as spectators to take in the scene.
So, in light of this, what might the corpse represent? It is something dead, finished, gone. The mention of a corpse may be just an incidental detail, as often happens with Jesus’ parables, or it may refer to an institution or some outside entity. But whatever it is, it is too late for it, and people know it. And, if that be true, we as believers should be aware of it as well.
So, Jesus is telling us that our lives count, our choices count, and have lasting, even eternal consequences. We may not understand all the details, or how God will work everything out, but we know that He is there, and will help us and guide us as we try ‘to do our part’, and make our choices. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you” (verses 20-21).
“Jesus is making the most extraordinary statement. We often conceptualize the kingdom of God as something outside of ourselves, as something that will come down to us or come upon us. We read the Bible as if the kingdom of God will come at the end of this life, as if the kingdom is separate from us and our human existence.
“Here, Jesus is clear: the kingdom of God is among us. It will not come from the sky one day or be offered as a reward at the end of our lifetime. Instead, the kingdom of God can be found here and now.
“We have a responsibility to live into this kingdom that God imagines for us. Are you ready to take the first step?”
Moving Forward: “Where do you see the kingdom today?”