Matthew 24:1-8: a reflection

1Jesus went out from the temple, and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple. 2But he answered them, “You see all of these things, don’t you? Most certainly I tell you, there will not be left here one stone on another, that will not be thrown down.” 3As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? What is the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?” 4Jesus answered them, “Be careful that no one leads you astray. 5For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will lead many astray. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you aren’t troubled, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. 7For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there will be famines, plagues, and earthquakes in various places. 8But all these things are the beginning of birth pains.

As Jesus foretells the troubles that will come, wars, famines, earthquakes, upheavals, he gives his disciples a striking instruction about how to respond: See that you are not troubled. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet. These are but the beginning of birth pains. Amid the turmoil and alarming events of the world, Jesus tells his followers not to be thrown into panic, but to remain steady, knowing that God's larger plan is unfolding.

Notice Jesus' counsel amid the world's turmoil: do not be troubled. He does not deny that troubles will come, wars, disasters, upheavals; they will. But he tells his followers not to be alarmed or thrown into panic by them, for these things must happen, and are but the beginning, not the end. The turmoil of the world is not a sign that God has lost control, but part of a larger plan unfolding toward its appointed end. So his followers are to be steady, not panicked, amid it all.

That counsel is one we need, for the turmoil of the world can easily throw us into alarm and fear. We hear of wars, disasters, upheavals, crises, and can be gripped by panic, as though everything were spinning out of control. But Jesus tells his followers not to be troubled; the turmoil, real as it is, is not a sign that God has lost control, but part of a larger plan moving toward its end. When you are tempted to be alarmed by the troubles of the world, the wars and disasters and crises you hear of, do not give way to panic; remember Jesus' words, see that you are not troubled. God has not lost control; the turmoil is part of a plan unfolding toward its appointed end. Be steady amid the world's alarms, trusting the God who reigns over it all, rather than being thrown into panic by troubles that, however alarming, are not beyond his control or outside his plan.

Lord Jesus, foretelling the troubles that would come, wars, famines, earthquakes, upheavals, you gave a striking instruction: see that you are not troubled; when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed, for all this must happen, but the end is not yet; these are but the beginning of birth pains. Give me that counsel amid the world's turmoil, which can easily throw me into alarm and fear. I hear of wars, disasters, upheavals, crises, and can be gripped by panic, as though everything were spinning out of control. But you tell your followers not to be troubled; the turmoil, real as it is, is not a sign that God has lost control, but part of a larger plan moving toward its end. When I am tempted to be alarmed by the troubles of the world, keep me from giving way to panic; help me remember your words, see that you are not troubled. God has not lost control; the turmoil is part of a plan unfolding toward its appointed end. Help me be steady amid the world's alarms, Lord, trusting you who reign over it all, rather than being thrown into panic by troubles that, however alarming, are not beyond your control or outside your plan. Keep me steady and unafraid.