The Widow's Offering
Jesus looked up and watched as wealthy people dropped their gifts into the temple treasury. Then he noticed a poor widow who put in two tiny copper coins worth almost nothing. "I'm telling you the truth," Jesus said to his disciples. "This poor widow has given more than everyone else here today. All those rich people gave from their extra money—what they could easily spare. But this woman is poor, and she gave everything she had, all the money she needed to buy food and survive."
Jesus Predicts the Destruction of the Temple
Some of Jesus' followers were talking about how magnificent the temple looked, with its beautiful stones and all the sacred gifts that decorated it. Jesus listened to their conversation, then spoke to them directly. "Everything you're looking at right now," he said, "will one day be completely destroyed. The time is coming when not a single stone will be left sitting on top of another stone. Every single one will be torn down and thrown to the ground."
Signs of the End Times
"Teacher," the disciples asked Jesus, "when will these things happen? What sign will tell us they are about to take place?" Jesus replied, "Be careful that no one tricks you. Many people will come using my name, saying 'I am the one' and 'The time has come.' Don't follow them. When you hear about wars and uprisings, don't be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end won't come right away." Then he continued, "One nation will fight another nation, and one kingdom will attack another kingdom. There will be massive earthquakes, terrible hunger, and deadly diseases in many places. Frightening events will happen, and amazing signs will appear in the sky. "But before all these things occur, people will arrest you and treat you cruelly. Because you follow me, they will hand you over to religious courts and throw you in prison. They will drag you before kings and government leaders. This will give you a chance to tell them about me. "Make up your mind now not to worry ahead of time about what you'll say to defend yourself. I will give you the right words and wisdom so that none of your enemies will be able to argue against you or prove you wrong. "Even your own parents, brothers, relatives, and friends will turn against you and hand you over to your enemies. Some of you will be killed. Everyone will hate you because you belong to me. But not a single hair on your head will be lost. If you remain faithful and endure, you will save your lives."
The Destruction of Jerusalem
When you see armies surrounding Jerusalem, you will know that the city's destruction is about to happen. When that time comes, everyone living in Judea must escape to the mountains. Those who are in the city must leave immediately, and those who are out in the countryside must not go back into the city. These will be the days when God's judgment finally comes, fulfilling everything that has been written in the scriptures. How terrible those days will be for women who are pregnant or nursing babies! There will be overwhelming suffering throughout the land and fierce anger directed against this people. Many will die by the sword, and those who survive will be taken as prisoners to nations all around the world. Jerusalem will be trampled down and controlled by foreign peoples, and this will continue until the time God has set for the Gentiles comes to an end.
The Coming of the Son of Man
There will be strange signs appearing in the sun, moon, and stars. On earth, entire nations will be filled with terror and confusion, not knowing what to do as they hear the ocean roaring and see massive waves crashing. People everywhere will collapse from sheer fear and dread about what is coming to the world, because even the mighty forces that control the heavens will be violently shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming down through the clouds, displaying tremendous power and magnificent glory. When you begin to see these things starting to happen, stand tall and raise your heads high with confidence, because the time of your rescue is approaching.
The Parable of the Fig Tree
Then Jesus shared a story with them to help them understand. "Look at the fig tree and all the other trees around you," he said. "When you see their branches beginning to grow fresh green leaves, you don't need anyone to tell you what's happening—you can see it with your own eyes and you know that summer is coming soon. "In the same way, when you see all these events I've been telling you about actually taking place, you can know with certainty that God's kingdom is very close at hand. I'm telling you the absolute truth—the people living right now will still be alive when all of these things come to pass. The sky above and the earth beneath will eventually disappear completely, but the words I have spoken to you will remain forever and will never fade away."
Be Ready for His Coming
But be careful and guard your hearts, or they will become heavy and dull from wild living, drinking too much, and being consumed with everyday worries about life. If you're not careful, that day will catch you completely off guard, like a trap that snaps shut without warning. This day will come suddenly upon everyone living anywhere on earth. So stay alert and keep watching at all times. Pray that you will have the strength to escape all the terrible things that are about to happen, and that you will be able to stand confidently before the Son of Man when he comes.
Jesus' Daily Ministry
During those days, Jesus would teach at the temple every single day. But when evening came, he would leave the city and go spend the night on the Mount of Olives. Then, early each morning, all the people would come to the temple to listen to him teach.