Jesus tells of God's Great Big Plan
(From the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, verses 25-36)
Jesus' life on earth ended when he was arrested and killed by the Roman police in the city of Jerusalem. Before that happened, however, he spent a week teaching in the Temple.
Jesus taught his friends many things during that week. He knew his time on earth was coming to an end. He wanted them to be ready for what would happen after his death.
Jesus told his friends that God had a Great Big Plan to make God's Kingdom be on earth and in heaven. There would be no place where God's Kingdom wasn't, and everyone on earth and in heaven would be part of God's Kingdom.
"When will that happen?" his friends wanted to know.
"Only God knows," Jesus told them.
"How will we know that God is putting the Great Big Plan into action?" they asked.
"Everything will shake like crazy in the sky and on the water. People will know that something big is happening, but they won't know what it is. Then they will see the Son of Man coming from heaven with power and great glory."
"What you're telling us, Jesus, makes me feel scared," one of the disciples said.
"I know," Jesus replied. "Many people will be scared and will want to stop it from happening." Then Jesus told them a parable: "Look at the fig tree. In fact, look at all the trees. As soon as you can see leaves sprouting you know that summer is coming, right? No matter what you do, you can't stop summer from coming. When you see the wild things I have described, that will be your sign that God's kingdom is coming near. My advice to you is: Be on your guard. Stay alert. Don't get distracted. Otherwise God's Great Big Plan will sneak up on you and completely surprise you."
"We'll try," his friends told him.
"And one more thing," Jesus told them. "Pray that when God's Kingdom comes to earth that you will be able to stand before the Son of Man and be saved."
Questions to think and pray about:
What do you think about God's Great Big Plan?
Jesus called himself the "Son of Man." What do you think it will be like to meet Jesus face-to-face someday?