We’re
getting closer to the end of our church year. In fact, next Sunday is Reign of
Christ Sunday, which is the church’s equivalent to New Year’s Eve. As we draw
closer to the end of the church year, our Gospel readings begin to emphasize
the signs of Christ’s Second Coming. In fact, Jesus talks about some of these
signs in Mark 13:1-8.
In
a sermon often called the Olivet Discourse (because it was delivered on the
Mount of Olives), Jesus gave the disciples and us a look into the future. The
sermon spoke to both the destruction of the temple by the Romans in 70 AD and
the destruction to come when Christ returns. Jesus’ sermon focused attention on
preparedness, readiness to suffer, and trust. Jesus began his description of
the events to come by emphasizing that many people will claim to be Him. All of
them will deceive the people. As the time of Christ’s return draws near, wars
and rumours of wars will escalate in number or intensity or both. These
conflicts will involve both nation states and ethnic groups. Natural disasters
will gain more worldwide attention.
One
of the signs Jesus talks about is the destruction of the temple, and he uses
that sign to describe what things will be like on earth as the Second Coming
draws closer. Many of the stones in the temple were the same weight as a large
jet. When the disciples commented on the size of the stones, they were likely
expecting a messianic takeover of the temple. They were looking forward to a
life of power and prestige. Unfortunately, they still did not realize the true
nature of Christ’s kingdom.
The
destruction of the temple was the result of its misuse by its leaders. The
sacrificial system of the temple could not make sufficient atonement for the
sinfulness of mankind. The disciples could not believe that one of the
architectural wonders of the world had lost the grandeur of the spirit. Jesus’
conversation about the destruction of the temple was symbolic of the systems
and institutions that oppress and exclude people. He was talking about the end
of the status quo and the beginning of justice, freedom, and the redistribution
and/or redefinition of power and wealth.
When
our world is falling apart, God is not through with us-not by a long shot!
Jesus reminds us not to create treasures here on earth. We must create
treasures in heaven. Things that we think are permanent in our lives are only
temporary. Material goods are temporary. They can be taken away. Our journey
through life is short. We are travellers passing through. Our true home is in
heaven and our true wealth is in knowing Jesus’ love and care for each of us.
The
false teachers represented the religious cultism that results from man’s search
for spiritual meaning outside of God’s world and word. Man’s self-interest
often leads to social upheavals. Natural disasters often occur when the
ecological system is upset by things such as pollution. These signs are
constantly happening, so Jesus told the disciples not to see them as signs of
final judgment. He told then that these signs are precursors to the end-time
wrath.
Jesus
expects his disciples to be the first people to counter false prophets, condemn
war and show compassion to the victims of natural disasters. False prophets
arise in every war, cult or natural disaster. If we ignore what they teach,
they won’t survive. The main reason why false teachers can thrive is because of
our secular society. People do what they please, and they have no time or place
for God. All we have to do is look at our congregations on Sunday mornings to
see that this is true. People make time for other activities on Sunday but they
don’t make time for God. People want to do what they please, and God makes that
uncomfortable. They try to gain satisfaction from earthly things such as
possessions, status, position or wealth, but the only thing that gives us true
satisfaction is faith in God.
When
Jesus referred to the pains of childbirth, he was referring to the frequency of
the signs of the end time. When a woman is in labour, her contractions are infrequent
at first and become more frequent as the baby comes closer to entering the
world. In the same way the signs of the end times will be infrequent at first
but will escalate to massive and tragic proportions just before Christ’s
return.
God’s
answer to trouble is trust. He wants us to trust him in times of trouble,
especially as the Second Coming draw closer. Faith is the link between heaven
and earth. This world is a place where our faith will be refined and where our
hope will rest on our future heavenly home-one that will never perish or be
destroyed. God is up to stuff that is beyond our ability to understand. Our job
is to be alert for it.
This
passage from Mark’s Gospel was not meant to make us worry about the future. It
was written to offer comfort to first century believers who were struggling to
make sense of their world and their lives.
We have the same struggles, so this passage gives us comfort as well. A
prophet speaks both to their own generation and to future generations. When
Jesus spoke to the disciples about the destruction of the temple, the troubles
leading up to that day and of the signs that the terrible day was upon them, he
was speaking to both their generation and ours. We live in the interim between
Christ’s ascension and his return, and in this interim we will experience the
same circumstances that Jesus promised his disciples. We will experience false
prophets, wars and rumours of wars, natural disasters and persecution.
Jesus
reminded the disciples that buildings are only stones and bricks. What really
matters is what goes on inside. Life-giving waters are splashed and stories
from the Bible are told-stories that are meant to give us guidance while we are
on our faith journey. A simple meal of bread and wine is given to all of us,
and we gather together to bring all of our joys and concerns and thanksgivings
to God.
The
destruction of the temple was not the end. It was the beginning. It was not
about dismantling God. It was about new beginnings in faith. A building may be
destroyed, but the place where God dwells can’t be destroyed because God lives
in Jesus and his word as well as in the hearts and minds of all believers. The
future of this congregation is a good example of what I’m talking about. I know
that you have had many challenges during the last few years, and you have had
discussions about your future. It is my hope that you can take comfort in the
knowledge that although your physical makeup may be changing, your spiritual
makeup will remain the same, especially if God lives in your hearts and minds.
Our
hope is in Christ’s return, which will be the main event of the end times. We
must be careful not to be deceived by world events. Instead, we must look
forward to the greatest event in history-Christ’s return for his church!
Bibliography
1.
Jeremiah,
David: The Jeremiah Study Bible, NKJV (Brentwood,
TN: Worthy Publishing; 2013)
2.
Collin
Wimberly, “Life in the Last Days.” (Preaching Magazine, September/October 2015,
pgs. 49-50)
3.
ESV Study
Bible. Part of Wordsearch 11 Bible software package.
4.
McKenna, D.L.
& Ogilvie, L.J.: The Preacher’s
Commentary Series, Vol. 25: Mark (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.; 1982)
5.
MacArthur,
J.F. Jr.: The MacArthur Study Bible, NASV
(Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers; 2006)
8.
Micah D.
Kiehl, “Commentary on Mark 13:1-8.” Retrieved from http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1419
10. Brian P. Stoffregen, “Proper 28-Year B; Mark 13:1-8.”
Retrieved from www.crossmarks.com/brian/mark13x1.htm
11. The Rev. Dr. Kathi Martin, “Flip the Script.”
Retrieved from www.day1.org/490-flip_the_script.print.
12. Dr. Mickey Anders, “Everything Nailed Down is Coming
Loose.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-8-NailedDown-Anders.htm
13. Pastor Vince Gerhardy, “The End is Still to Come.”
Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-EndCome-Gerhardy.htm
14. The Rev. Dr. James D. Kegel, “Sic Transit Gloria.” http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-SicTransit.-Kegel.htm
15. Dr. Jeffrey K. London, “Joy Ahead.” Retrieved from http://www.lectionary.org/Sermons/NT/02-Mark/Mark-13.01-08-JoyAhead-London.htm
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