The Changing of the Times

This is the English-translated outline of the sermon preached by Rev. Musubi Tabuchi to the congregations of Ashiya Christian Church and Unfinished Community on Sunday, November 16, 2025, drawing from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 21, versed 5-19

For the religious life of the Jews in Biblical times, the Jerusalem Temple held profound spiritual and cultural significance. Jesus Himself came to worship there at the age of twelve with His parents (Luke 2:47). At that time though, both He and his fellow Jews may have felt somewhat conflicted. The Temple of Israel, originally built by King Solomon, had long been destroyed by the Babylonians. Later on Ezra and others rebuilt it as they returned from exile. By Jesus' time, King Herod had further expanded the temple, and made embellishments upon it. However, Herod's expansion of the temple had not been for religious reasons, but rather as part of a policy to appease, and thereby pacify, the Jews. So no matter how magnificent it might have appeared, its splendor likely held little actual meaning for Jesus. And - just as Jesus said today - this temple would be utterly destroyed forty years later, in 70 AD; this time by the Romans.

Could Jesus truly have foretold the temple's future? He surely could have, though what he spoke today was less prophecy and prediction than simple historical inevitability. For no matter how prosperous a nation may grow to be, it will eventually fall. The Israelites themselves had weathered the rise and fall of many great empires—Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece—and all those nations eventually perished. Amidst this, the Jewish people survived, and Jesus states here the primary reason for this survival; their faith in God.

So no matter how politically stable or unstable society may be, no matter how much hope for the future might seem to be lost, if we lose our faith in God, that is when we truly lose everything. That faith has no meaning without a sure connection to God, but it isn't about buildings like the temple, nor about lavish decorations. What we are meant to do in times like these is only this; prayer. Not dive into the information broadcast by the media, not to drown ourselves the rumors put forth by people, but to nourish ourselves in dialogue with God.

Let us pray:

God, as we find ourselves coming to the end of this church year, grant us the grace and wisdom to spend this time with you, reflecting anew on each instance of guidance and support throughout that you have given us throughout this year.

We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)