This week in Crisis Counsels we are reflecting about the events that took place each day of Holy Week. On Tuesday of Holy Week, Jesus delivered the Olivet Discourse – so named because it is a set of teachings that Jesus spoke on the Mount of Olives. In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus gave a series of warnings about the future. He said, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, “I am he!” and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; such things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.” (Mark 13:5-8)

The list of troubles continues and finally culminates in a description of the Second Coming. “Then then will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory.” (Mark 13:26) Because of this, Christians throughout the centuries have often imagined that the end of the age must be near whenever the troubles on earth are great. Recently, with the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change and numerous natural disasters and wars in multiple places, some people have wondered whether these are signs that we are actually in the “last days.” But when Jesus gave warnings about the future, followed by the promise of the Second Coming, he did so not in order that Christians might speculate about “the end times,” but in order that no matter what troubles come, we may know that these troubles are not the last word. God has the last word, and that word is the victory of Christ. So as we confront the present pandemic and all the other agonies of our age, we do well to hear afresh the words of Jesus: “Do not be alarmed; such things must take place, but the end is not yet.” We are called simply to trust that the future is in the hands of God. Troubles come and go throughout the course of history; but we can take heart that God is in charge of our destiny. As we place our faith in Christ, we have the assurance that we have a bright future in God’s eternal kingdom.

Daily Prayer: Inspire us, O Lord, as we entrust our future to You. Share on X

About the Author

Dr. David A. Palmer has been the senior pastor at the United Methodist Church of Kent since 1995. He has a B.A. from Wittenberg University, a Master of Divinity from Duke University, and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. A native of Wooster, Ohio, he has served three other churches in east Ohio before coming to Kent. He and his wife, Mavis, have three children.