Monday, December 10, 2012

Sermon for 25 November 2012, Last Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 29B)



Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
St. Mark 13:32-37
Stay Awake! Watch!
Last Sunday in the Church Year (Proper 29B), 25 November 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Jesus said: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus’ words will never pass away. It is comforting that Jesus’ words are trustworthy and will come true, just as His prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple have already come true. Now, with eager expectation, we await Jesus to teach us about the end of all things. We await words that will be with us always, just as He is with us always even to the very end of the age.
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. This sounds strange to us. Jesus, the Son, does not know these things? One of Christianity’s important teachings gives us insight into this question.
We are familiar with the Christian teaching that Christ is True God and True Man. As true God, He knows all, sees all, can do all. As true man, He bears our flesh, was born, ate, drank, slept, was tempted, and could die. These are the two natures of Christ: divine and human. The human nature at times made use of the divine nature. We see Christ change water into wine, hear the thoughts of the Pharisees, even walk on water. We also see the divine nature make use of the human nature. The divine cannot experience temptation in the way flesh can. The divine cannot die.
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. We know that according to His human nature, Christ did not know what day the Judgment will be, for He did not always make use of His divine nature. But as true God, He does know all things.
No one but God knows about that day or hour. No one on this earth can know or has the ability to find out when the Last Day will be. Dates have been predicted. They have come and gone with no result. That teaches us it is futile to guess when it will happen. What Jesus gives us to do is, WATCH! Stay Awake!
Jesus gave this very command to His disciples when He went to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, recorded in Mark 14: 32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
On their own, the disciples did exactly what Jesus warned them not to do: fall asleep. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. We too, are like the disciples. We tire of watching. We fall asleep. If it were just up to us to be alert on our own, we would fail miserably. But He who commands us to watch is with us. He promised to be with us to the end of the age. He is with us. He who has made us into His Body and has built a magnificent new building out of us living stones is with us. He who was beaten and killed and thrown out of the vineyard has entrusted it to us. Christ Jesus helps us to watch. And wait. And stay alert. And be on our guard.
When Jesus ascended into heaven He entrusted His message to the disciples and promised them the Holy Spirit, so that the Word would go out with power. He left the house of earth and put his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
We are now his servants, whom He has put in charge of His tasks here on earth. We have His people to care for. To those assembled here and elsewhere around the world, God’s Word is preached in all is purity and the Sacraments administered according to the way Christ instituted them. We have his Gifts to share with all believers to build them up and increase their faith, forgiving their sins. We also have Jesus’ admonition from Gethsemane: Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. We are gathered here together to watch and pray every Sunday to encourage one another, and keep one another awake, on guard.
Two friends of mine recently wrote about When You Do Not Go to Church.
One Pastor introduces the article this way: It never ceases to baffle and confuse me when I hear people make the comment, “You don’t have to go to Church to be a Christian.” I used to try to respond to this with rather long-winded explanations of the third commandment, and the gifts given, and blah, blah, blah. Lately, I’ve just decided to respond to those comments by asking, “Really? Where does our Lord in His Word teach that?” Hint: He doesn’t! My friend, Pastor Weedon, offers this “take” on not attending Church.
“If I decided one Sunday just to skip Church that week, do you think anyone would notice? Ah, you say, but you’re the pastor. Yes, they’d notice. I agree. They would. But it also makes a difference when YOU decide to skip Church this Sunday.
“Each Sunday is a gathering of the family – and when a beloved family member doesn’t show up for the family gathering and meal at Christmas or Easter or Thanksgiving, there’s a hole, a gap, a pain that everyone feels. We’re all the less for that person not being with us to revel in the celebration of that day. Their absence diminishes the joy of the family. So when you choose to skip on Sunday, when you don’t come together with your church family to join in offering the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and to receive the gifts your Lord has for you, it’s not just you that miss out. Your extended family – the Church – misses out. They are diminished by your decision to absent yourself. The singing is that much quieter. The “amens” that much softer. The spot where you usually sit and stand reminds us all of your absence.
“Surely old Neuhaus was dead right on this: Christian discipleship should begin with a very simple commitment that any given Lord’s Day will find you in the assembly of God’s people, singing His praise, offering your prayers, receiving His gifts. The *only* reasons for missing is because you’re too sick to be present or because you’re away traveling – and even in the later case, blessed are you if you find the family gathered in that location and join with them.”
“Let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
End quote.
When we leave this place were we are renewed, refreshed, awakened, forgiven and go to our homes, neighborhoods, schools, jobs, and there carry out our other assigned tasks: to share this forgiveness with others saying to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough!” We want our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones ready, watching for when we hear, “The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is here!
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Dr. Luther wrote: May our Lord Jesus Christ perfect His work which He has begun in us, and may He hasten that Day of our redemption for which, by the grace of God, we long [for] with uplifted heads and for which we sigh and wait in pure faith and with a good conscience. In these we have served an ungrateful world, which is the incorrigible enemy of its own salvation. Come, Lord Jesus! And let him who loves You say: Come, Lord Jesus! Amen!
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.