Worldwide Christmas December 1, 2025 Devotional

MATTHEW 24:1-2 | ¹As Jesus came out of the temple and was going away, his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² Then he asked them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly I tell you, not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”

MATTHEW 24:36 | ³⁶ But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son but only the Father.

Why has the return of Jesus generated such confusion? One reason is rooted in the gospels themselves. Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple but He also talks about the end of time and His final return. It is easy to confuse the teaching about the imminent crisis with the teaching about the final crisis. There are a series of signs that will lead to the destruction of Jerusalem; rumors, wars, persecution, and the desecration of the Temple. Indeed, Jesus' followers were persecuted and tried, and there were rumors of wars and conflicts prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70 by the Romans. That is why Jesus can say that the current generation will see "these things" and that they will be as predictable as the yearly flowering of the fig tree (see Matthew 24:32-34). On the other hand, Jesus insists that when it comes to the final hour of His return, no one knows, and far from readable signs, there will be complete surprise. We can be certain that the timing is uncertain. The confusion comes when readers confuse the two crises, and ignoring Jesus’ warning that it is impossible to know the date of His return, they take the signs of the imminent crisis to be a roadmap to the final one.

As you read Matthew 24, look for sections that apply to these two different crises. Notice the change in language from the language of historical events and everyday happenings to the expressive and symbolic language of the apocalypse.

Why do you think Jesus included both kinds of language and both crises in the same sermon? (See the meditation for tomorrow.)

Gracious God,

Save us from fruitless speculation about the timing of Your return. Help us experience Your presence now.

Amen.