November 18, 2012
The End
- Mark 13:1-8
- Dr. Teri Thomas
Did you notice that we recently had a national election?
Have you noticed that it is now over?
Have you noticed that the world has not come to an end?
No matter which candidates you supported you undoubtedly heard the prophecies and predictions that if the “wrong side” were to win we should all be angry, anxious and fearful.
You don’t need to look very far or listen too long to find a commentator
full of apocalyptic predictions to stoke our anxieties and fears.
But if we notice all this it is important to also know that we are not the first people to have these fears.
Scripture also contains a large amount of apocalyptic material.
Apocalyptic literature is that which is predicting imminent disaster
and total or universal destruction of the world as we know it.
This morning’s reading from Mark is often referred to as the “little apocalypse”.
Jesus and his disciples are standing near the temple in Jerusalem.
Mark describes them like a bunch of country bumpkins
standing in the middle of the big city surrounded by sky scrapers.
It is the week of Passover and the city is full of pilgrims, priests, animals, and lots of money.
And there the disciples stood, gaping at the temple wall
and thinking about how magnificent it was.
“Look, Teacher,” they said “Look at the stones and the buildings!”
Jesus responds, “Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
All those glorious things will be reduced to a heap of rubble,
like a child’s wooden blocks strewn carelessly on the floor.
The disciples, shock by what Jesus described,
asked him, “When will this be? How will we know it is coming?”
Even the disciples were not the first generation of believers to struggle with these questions.
Much of what is stated here is basic apocalyptic theology.
Jewish apocalyptic literature had been working with such themes, and imagery
for several centuries leading up to the time of Jesus and Mark in the first century.
But this chapter in Mark – was not written so that we could identify signs of the end. Mark wrote these words to offer comfort to first-century believers who were struggling to make sense of their world and lives.
The passage is not a prediction, but a promise. It is not about calamity but rather about comfort.
The early Christians in Mark’s time
were struggling with all the crises and disasters this passage describes.
The temple had fallen.
Christians were persecuted.
False messianic figures were gaining prominence and popularity.
The people were living in difficult times and they probably found comfort in the belief that Jesus had already anticipated this and was offering words of encouragement to them.
When it comes to our own day, that kind of encouragement is still helpful,
for though our wars may be different, and exploding neighborhoods replace falling temples,
and political persecution is more prevalent than religious,
we are still at times afraid that the world is falling apart.
The clear message to believers today, just as to first century disciples, is “do not fear.”
For Jesus the apocalyptic message, as odd or fear inducing or peculiarly future-oriented as it may seem, to him it was actually very much about the present and about what we do today.
Jesus points out that there will be an end, not to make us afraid or worried
but to help us live today.
What if you knew you had only one month left in your life?
- Would you finish up important matters at work?
- Would you travel to a place you always wanted to go?
- Would you pray more, go to church more, do that generous act you always wanted to do for others?
- Would you find ways to leave a mark on the world?
- Would you reconcile a fractured friendship?
By answering yes to any of these possibilities, we indicate that in our last days
we would be better stewards of all the things God has given us.
Better than we are now.
In the intensity of last days, we would live better, be better.
We would be more generous, more focused on the most important things in life.
The question is: Why do we need to be under threat of death to do those things?
We are called to live always anticipating the activity of God.
It is not about practicing so we can pass some divine behavior test.
We are called to live in joy and confidence.
Joy in the knowledge that God has revealed grace, mercy and goodness to us
and to all the world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Knowing God’s love in Christ, we are called joyfully to share that love with others.
Our confidence and assurance comes from the promise
that the God who raised Jesus from the dead will also raise us,
and will restore the world to its intended glory.
And this will all happen in time. In God’s time.
We would like to know when that is.
But Jesus says it really makes no difference when.
We are called to live now, allowing the promises of God about the future to infuse our present.
Because when we look for the activity of God here and now, we begin to see it.
In an act of kindness of a friend,
in an opportunity to help another,
in the outreach ministry of a congregation,
in the chance to listen deeply to the hurt of another.
God shows up in all kinds of places,
working with us, for us, through us, and in us.
We just have to look.
When will this happen?
Letter to the Hebrews said-
23Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, 25not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
When will this happen?
Now.
What will be the sign?
When you see people acting as Jesus did.
Even here.
Even now.
Amen.