How do we live with the awareness that Jesus is coming again?
In Luke 17:22-37, Jesus gives His disciples a glimpse of what the days leading up to His return will be like and challenges them—and us—to live in constant readiness.
Key Verse: “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in His day.” – Luke 17:24 (ESV)
Background Context: In Luke 17:22-37, Jesus speaks to His disciples about His second coming. He warns them that there will be days when people long for His return but won’t see it immediately. Jesus describes how His return will be sudden and unmistakable, comparing it to the days of Noah and Lot, where people were carrying on with their everyday lives until destruction came suddenly. He urges His disciples to be ready, not distracted by worldly pursuits, and to live in anticipation of the day He will be revealed.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
Second Coming Foretold
22And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it. 23“They will say to you, ‘Look there! Look here!’ Do not go away, and do not run after them. 24“For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day. 25“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. 26“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: 27they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. 28“It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; 29but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. 30“It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed. 31“On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. 32“Remember Lot’s wife. 33“Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. 34“I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. 35“There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. 36[“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left.”] 37And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”
Reflection on Luke 17:22-37:
- Longing for the Son of Man’s Return: Jesus tells His disciples that the time will come when they will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but they will not see it immediately (Luke 17:22). This speaks to the tension we experience as believers living in the “already but not yet”—we know Jesus has come and established His kingdom, but we are still awaiting His final return. This longing reflects a deep desire for the fullness of God’s kingdom and the completion of His redemptive plan.
- Avoiding False Signs: Jesus warns His disciples not to be deceived by those who claim that the Messiah has returned in secret places, saying “Look here!” or “Look there!” (Luke 17:23). His return will not be a hidden event but as obvious as lightning that lights up the whole sky (Luke 17:24). This reminds us to be discerning and not to be misled by false claims about the end times. When Jesus returns, it will be unmistakable to everyone.
- The Suddenness of His Return: Jesus compares His return to the days of Noah and Lot, where people were going about their normal lives—eating, drinking, marrying, buying, and selling—right up until the moment judgment came (Luke 17:26-29). This underscores the suddenness of His return. Many will be caught off guard because they are too focused on worldly pursuits and not paying attention to spiritual realities. The message here is clear: we must not be lulled into a false sense of security by the rhythms of daily life but live in constant readiness for Jesus’ return.
- Remember Lot’s Wife: One of the most striking warnings Jesus gives is, “Remember Lot’s wife” (Luke 17:32). Lot’s wife looked back at Sodom as it was being destroyed, symbolizing her attachment to what she was leaving behind. Jesus uses her as a warning to us: when He returns, there is no room for divided loyalties or hesitation. We must be willing to let go of worldly things and follow Him fully, without looking back.
- Losing Your Life to Save It: Jesus makes a profound statement: “Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it” (Luke 17:33). This echoes His earlier teachings about discipleship, where following Jesus means denying ourselves, taking up our cross, and letting go of our attachment to worldly things. True life is found in surrendering all to Christ.
- The Separation of the Righteous and the Unrighteous: Jesus paints a vivid picture of the separation that will occur when He returns—one person will be taken, and another left (Luke 17:34-36). This imagery reminds us of the urgency of living in readiness. The return of Jesus will bring about the final judgment, and we must be prepared to meet Him at any moment.
Summary Key Points:
- Longing for Jesus’ Return: We are to live with a deep longing for Jesus’ return, knowing that it may not come immediately but trusting in His promise.
- Discernment in the End Times: We must be careful not to be deceived by false signs or claims about Jesus’ return. His coming will be sudden and unmistakable.
- Living in Readiness: Just as in the days of Noah and Lot, people will be going about their normal lives when Jesus returns. We must not be caught off guard but live with a constant awareness of His coming.
- Letting Go of the World: Jesus’ warning to “remember Lot’s wife” challenges us to fully let go of worldly attachments and follow Him with undivided loyalty.
- Losing Our Lives to Find Them: True life is found in surrendering all to Jesus, letting go of our desire to preserve our own life, and trusting in Him for eternal life.
Application: Reflect on how you are living in anticipation of Jesus’ return. Are there areas of your life where you are too focused on worldly pursuits, or are you living in readiness, aware that His return could happen at any moment? Consider what it means to “lose your life” for the sake of Christ—are there things you are holding on to that you need to surrender to Him? Take time today to evaluate your spiritual readiness and ask God to help you live each day in light of eternity, with a heart that longs for His return.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of Jesus’ return and the hope we have in His coming kingdom. Help us to live in readiness, with hearts that long for Your Son’s return. Guard us against being deceived by false signs, and keep us focused on living for You in this present moment. Give us the strength to let go of anything that holds us back from fully following You, and teach us to live each day in the light of eternity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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