Discussion of how verse three became
“ When will we see you joyful as always ? “
3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately . “ Tell us, “ they said, “ when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age ? “
First of all, when I read a passage and I get stumped I look either further outward to the circumstances, or failing that, look inward to either the passage itself, the actual words, or into my feelings about what I have read or heard . This is a two step – left foot or right foot, followed by the other foot .
The entire chapter can be looked at as a whole, when looking outward. What is the kind of stuff Jesus is saying, and beyond that, a carpenter is talking about God . In this chapter there are literal contradictions that show the context is spiritual. The best one is that if he was talking about the destruction of the planet and this realm of existence in the natural science sense of it, than he would have been wrong, if you understand “generation “ to mean a lifespan of less than eighty years . I have looked at the whole chapter and beyond to come to the understanding that this verse can be paraphrased as I have done . Jesus is not talking about the end of the planet – he is talking about the end of the existence of awareness .
Furthermore, why are the disciples asking this if Jesus was not talking about such things in his response of verse two . I believe they have made an assumption that the end of the temple is the end of the age . Even further, they want Jesus to talk nicely to them again, and are throwing him a bone where he can chew on about how everything will be wonderful . This is truly a journeyman – apprentice relationship : the apprentices do not have a clue about their work, and the loving journeyman must once again set them straight by meeting them where they are at and leading them forward .
If one has a faith based on a temple then the end of the temple is the end of one’s age . Jesus answers their question for what it is, regardless of where it came from, and he answers it with love and joy .
Another issue is the problematic nature of the question : If one is always in joy than the reason you may not see that person in joy is a problem with your sight and not their joy ! Another unrelated example of a problematic question is the question “ Do you admit you beat your dog ? – Yes or No ? “ A yes answer means you admit you beat your dog – a no answer means not only do you beat your dog, but by not admitting it you are trying to deny it . There seems no benevolent way out of such a question, and Jesus is getting better at finding ways to deal with these things during his ministry on the way to his trial . His answer in this case is more like “ I beat my dog in every race because I am faster than him and he is slow – I always win a race against my dog ? “ : P The disciples have asked a spiritual question in response to Jesus worldly statement about the temple . Jesus answers their spiritual question in worldly terms, as is necessary since the spirit is only visible in it’s effect on the world and in that way is like the wind – you see the tree bend and know which way the wind is blowing . This sets the stage for the remainder of the 24th chapter of Matthew, which he has faithfully recorded, and I have lovingly paraphrased as I find it – full of JOY .
The Master Tradesman will have a good laugh over libations at the end of the day, when the Journeyman relates this tale of the day to Him in the embarrassed presence of the apprentices .
If you are next to the truck and lunch Is called on a cold rainy day, do not go all the way back out to the other end of the property to get your cloak, since you saw the owner give the foreman two hundred bucks at the beginning of the day saying “ Happy Court, but only two hours ! “ .
If your wife tries to get back in the burning house to turn off the tap, don’t let her do it !
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