Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus told His disciples, “when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring. Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees”, and in chapter twenty-one and verse thirty of his book Luke shared how Jesus continues His parable with how to know, “summer is now nigh at hand” where we read:
When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
The verse reads, “When they now shoot forth, ...” Luke began with the words, “When they now” or “at the time and moment the fig tree and all trees even so and indeed” “shoot forth” which means “thrust, put and push forward or germinate”. Luke shared how Jesus directed His disciples' attention toward the time when “fig trees” and “all trees” begin to “germinate”.
The verse goes on to say, “... you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.” Luke continues with the words, “you see and know” or “you, disciples of Jesus observe, notice and discern, understand and be acquainted” “of your own selves” which means “pertaining to the disciples' own personal selves” “that summer is now” or “the summer season of the year is at this time” “nigh at hand” which means “near, imminent and soon to come”. Luke shared how Jesus said at the “time” the “fig tree” and “all trees” begin to “germinate”, the summer season is very near.
When we meditate upon Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus used the idea of “trees” germinating to show how the season of “summer” is close. He will use this example to demonstrate how the signs of the times reveal His Kingdom is close as well, and those who listen will align themselves with Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” and be able to discern the “times” when His Kingdom shall appear.
Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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