Jesus said this to his young men after
he shocked them with prophecy that the glorious temple they had just
admired would be destroyed after a lengthy period of perplexing
times. He warned of deception and false messiahs. He spoke of wars
and insurrections and societal unrest. He forecast earthquakes,
famines, and epidemics. He talked about fearful sights and notable
signs indicating the end of Jerusalem and the beloved temple.
Then he got personal. In these trying
times, he said, they should expect to be arrested and persecuted.
They should anticipate arraignments before religious and civil
authorities. They should prepared to be betrayed by family and
friends. They should know they would be hated for following Jesus.
Through all that they should remain
calm and depend on him for the right words to refute and diffuse
baseless accusations leveled by adversaries. “By your patience,
possess your souls.”
This short sentence packs a big
meaning. Successfully applying its truth can make the difference
between being swept away in anxious fear and remaining in control
when everything else is falling apart.
The Greek word behind patience
is ὑπομονή, (hupomone).
It is the capacity to bear up under difficult circumstances. It
refers to patient waiting, perseverance, endurance, and
steadfastness. In Greek usage it meant holding out against enemies,
with the focus of human energy to persevere.
In
Hebrew thought, however, it focused more on God and waiting on God.
Wherever it is used in the Greek translation of the Old Testament it
refers to “waiting on God.” At least four different Hebrew words
suggest the essence Jesus wanted to convey. One is expectation and
hope as an attitude on our part. Another is the idea of waiting in
persevering expectation. A third means quietly and patiently waiting.
The last is hope with confidence in God as the hope of Israel.
Jesus
is telling the disciples – and us – that when tough times come we
need to refocus on the God who will see us through and quiet
ourselves in that hope. Paul reminded young Timothy of the same
thing: “I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is within you
through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit
of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy
1:6-7).
In
2 Chronicles 20 King Jehoshaphat was faced with an overwhelming army
arrayed around Jerusalem. He called the people together, and then
called upon God. After a prayer the Holy Spirit came upon Jahaziel, who prophesied, “Do not be afraid or dismayed because of
this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” He
went on to prophesy that the next day they should go out against the
adversaries knowing that the Lord was with them. They listened to
God, and the battle was over before it started.
Clearly
patience is necessary for us to possess
our souls. Κτάομαι (ktaomai) means to get, gain, or control. It means to get under
control or win mastery over. In tough times where our faith and
safety are challenged Jesus tells us we must have self control.
Otherwise we are prone to “lose it” and become reactive and
ineffective. I am not proud to admit I have done that more times than I
should. The only way to keep control of our selves when we need
it is through patience.
How
do we gain this patience? James writes that “the testing of your
faith produces patience” (James 1:3). Patience comes through
adversity. James goes on to encourage us to let patience be completed
in us, that we may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. Quiet
assurance, stability, and consistency are needed in difficult times.
Tradition
tells us the apostles did face severe trials as they followed Jesus
throughout the world. All of them but one was executed for their
faith, but they remained faithful through the ordeal. They had seen
Jesus handle torture and execution, and they were ready to follow.
This
is good news or us. God created us in his image and likeness, with a
desire to be in communion with him. Our bad choice for lunch in the
garden damaged that. Jesus came to show us how to patiently possess
our souls in hard times, and then died on our behalf that the penalty
for our sin might be paid. Now the Holy Spirit gradually restores
God’s likeness within us and gives us the grace to persevere in
adverse times and situations.
We
all will face hardship in following Jesus. There is no way around it.
Invoking the power of the Holy Spirit will enable us to retain self
control by focusing on the hope of Jesus Christ who suffered as we do
and offers a way through.
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP)
Luke
21:5-19 (Proper 28 C)
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