Someone helped me study. Until she decided it wasn’t that interesting. 😉
A powerful technique of Bible Study and meditation is to imagine you are making a movie of what you are reading. Imagine you are both the screenplay author and the director. What are the settings? Who are the characters? What are they saying and doing? How do the scenes progress? Can you imagine a movie that is true to the Bible text you are reading? I spent about an hour reading and meditating on the first block (Matt 24:1-3, Mark 13:1-4 and Luke 21:5-7) and this is my screenplay’s first draft of this section. (It is also my first attempt at a screenplay, so those of you familiar with scripts, please be gentle. 😉 )
FADE IN:
OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE IN JERUSALEM - DAY
The temple and its surrounding buildings are magnificent. The sun reflects brightly from some of the temple's rich decorations.
DISSOLVE TO:
DOOR OF THE TEMPLE - DAY
The temple door opens and Jesus and His disciples walk out into the bright sunlight. Jesus walks forward determinedly, but not too quickly, as if he has somewhere to go but has plenty of time to get there. The disciples exit right behind Jesus, but are having a vigorous conversation about the temple's architecture. Initially they are keeping up with Jesus, but as they keep talking and pointing at features of the temple they walk slower and slower. When they are well out of the way of other people leaving the temple, they stop and form a clump looking at each other, talking, shaking their heads, nodding and pointing. Jesus stops, turns around, smiles a small smile, and stands waiting.
JESUS, the Son of God.
PETER, JAMES, JOHN, ANDREW, JAMES THE YOUNGER, NATHANAEL, JUDAS, JUDE, MATTHEW, PHILIP, SIMON THE ZEALOT, THOMAS, Disciples of Jesus.
[To Do: Write the disciples' architecture dialog.]
One of the disciples suddenly notices Jesus patiently waiting. The disciple stops talking, and elbows the disciple next to him. The elbows pass quickly through the group. They all stop talking and the group walks towards Jesus. They arrive.
JUDE
(nodding towards the temple, as if to excuse themselves for not immediately following Him)
Teacher, the temple site is magnificent! See, what stones! And what buildings!
PHILIP
Yes, master, these buildings, with their pleasant stones and gifts, inspire the worship of YHWH!
The other disciples nod their heads and murmur in agreement.
JESUS
(smiling)
Yes, as Bezalel and Oholiab found joy helping Moses build the tabernacle in the wilderness, so many who worked on these buildings found joy in their work and drew closer to the Father.
Jesus looks thoughtful, then sad.
JESUS
(gestures with His arm, pointing out the whole temple area, and says slowly, with grief in His voice.)
Do you see all these buildings, all these great buildings? Truly, truly I tell you the days are coming that ... NOT ... ONE ... STONE ... shall be left upon another.
A tear is visible in Jesus' right eye.
JESUS
(quietly, with emotion)
Not one stone shall be left here upon another, at all, which shall not be thrown down. No, not one.
The disciples are visibly shocked, horrified. Some have their mouths open. No one moves or says anything for many seconds. Then Jesus wipes the tear from his eye, and smiles a bit of a forced smile.
JESUS
But that is in the future, and today has enough trouble of its own. Come, let's get something to eat.
Jesus turns towards the Mount of Olives and begins walking towards it. The disciples are still standing, shocked and speechless. After a bit they "come to" and follow Jesus, talking dramatically amongst themselves.
[To Do. Write the disciples' dialog on the walk. "What did He mean?" "No, I'm not going to ask Him. YOU ask Him!" "Why can't we ever go to the temple without SOMETHING happening?" ... ]
 DISSOLVE TO:
FOOD VENDOR'S CART NEAR THE BASE OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES - DAY
[To Do. Research c. AD 30 fast food in Jerusalem.]
Jesus and His disciples arrive at the food vendor's cart, Jesus first, then the disciples. The disciples aren't saying anything as they arrive, but it is clear they have not resolved anything on their walk from the temple. It is also clear they don't want to talk to Jesus yet about what He said near the temple.
Once Jesus sees one disciple pick up a basket of bread and another a basket of fish, he turns and continues walking towards the Mount of Olives. When Jesus is out of earshot the disciples continue their discussion, and the food vendor's eyes grow wide at what he is hearing. The disciples leave following Jesus, except Judas who is settling the bill for the food. Judas gives the vendor some coins, and gets back some coins. He is seen putting most of the change in the common bag, but some in his personal money bag. When his personal bag is secreted under his clothing, Judas turns and hurries to catch up with the rest of the disciples.
[To Do. Write the dialog at the vendor's cart.]
  DISSOLVE TO:
SEVERAL SHOTS OF JESUS AND THE DISCIPLES ASCENDING THE MOUNT OF OLIVES - DAY
Each of several shots shows Jesus walking silently up the path. Behind, out of Jesus' hearing, the disciples walk, talking and gesturing. It time it becomes clear they are choosing which of them will ask Jesus what He meant.
[To Do. Write the disciples' dialog on the walk.]
 DISSOLVE TO:
MOUNT OF OLIVES OPPOSITE THE TEMPLE - DAY
Jesus and the disciples are sitting, eating the bread and fish. The conversation is strained, on small things of no importance. Jesus is untroubled but the disciples clearly have Jesus' words at the temple on their minds. When the meal is finished, four disciples get up, walk towards Jesus, and sit on the ground near His feet. No disciple says anything. But when Jesus looks at each one intently, they speak.
PETER
Teacher, say to us, when shall this be?
JAMES
(Interrupting. Peter thought Jesus talked about one event, and James thought Jesus spoke of several events. They could not come to agreement on the walk.)
Say to us, when shall THESE be?
JOHN
What is the sign when this is about to take place?
ANDREW
Yes, what shall be the sign when all this is going to be accomplished?
JOHN
(chokes up)
And ...
Everyone is looking intently at John, waiting for him to finish his question.
JOHN
(softly, but loud enough all can hear)
And ... what is the sign of your coming, and ... and ... and of the end of the age?
The screenplay draft fleshed out details as I was writing it, but most of this came from about an hour of pondering the texts. It was a delightful hour.
Are you following God's plan for your life? You should. Your plan sucks. It really, really sucks. Suckage Maximus. Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG! Jesus is coming. Are you ready to meet Him? Give your life to Jesus Christ. Time is running out.
Lift Up Your Eyes! 