The Captivating Power of Violence
Scripture: “And some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings. But he said, ‘As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.'” (Luke 21.5-6, ESV)
MAIN POINT: Violence captivates us, but Christ calls us to look through it rather than at it or away from it.
In the fourth century, Augustine told of his friend Alypius who attended the gladiatorial games determined to keep his eyes closed. But when the crowd roared at the sight of blood, Alypius opened his eyes. He looked. He was captivated. He could not turn away. Augustine wrote that Alypius left the arena “healthy in body but wounded in soul.”
We understand Alypius, don’t we? We live in a world saturated with violence. We slow down for accidents. We stream news of disasters. We are drawn to scenes of destruction even when we know we shouldn’t look. This is precisely why Jesus’ words in Luke 21 are so challenging. He doesn’t shield us from visions of violence—temples destroyed, nations in upheaval, nature convulsing. Instead, He gives us these visions with a purpose: not to captivate us with fear but to direct our gaze through the chaos to see Him who reigns over all.
The question is not whether we will encounter violence and upheaval in this fallen world. We will. The question is how we will respond—will we close our eyes in denial, become fixated on the chaos, or look through it all to see Christ?
Reflection: Christ doesn’t hide the reality of this world’s brokenness but invites us to see Him in the midst of it. What violence captivates your attention? How can you look through it to see Christ?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us eyes to see through the brokenness to behold Your presence and promises. Help us fix our gaze on Christ in all circumstances. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Responses