The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Mark 13:1-13
Two Questions
Proper 28B, 18 November 2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the
sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” There are two
questions from the disciples in verse four. One deals with the destruction of
the Temple in Jerusalem and all the city with it. The other has to do with the
end of the world. It is appropriate that we talk about the end as the leaves
turn colors, the harvest is gathered in, and as snow becomes a regular part of
our forecast.
Jesus combines the answers to those seemingly simple
questions in the rest of Mark 13. He spends verses 5 through 13 describing everything
through the end of the world. Today’s appointed Gospel reading answers their
second question. But there’s more to His answer that you need to hear. In
verses 14-31, Jesus speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem, answering the disciples’
first question. Finally, verses 32-37 warn of false prophets and conclude His
teaching on the end of the world.
St. Mark sets the scene: As [Jesus] came out of the temple,
one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and
what wonderful buildings!” 2And
Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left
here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
Seeing the Jewish Temple in all of its glory would have been
awe-inspiring. Jesus shocks His disciples with His response.
3And
as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John
and Andrew asked him privately, 4“Tell
us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things
are about to be accomplished?” 5And
Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my
name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of
wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end
is not yet. 8
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be
earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. These are but the
beginning of the birth pains.
9
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will
be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my
sake, to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed to
all nations. 11
And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious
beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for
it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 And brother will deliver brother over to
death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and
have them put to death. 13
And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the
end will be saved.
In this world you will have trouble. Jesus’ words ring true.
We have good times and bad, but neither one lasts. Persecution will accompany
the proclamation of the Gospel. Bad things will happen to good Christians. It
is part of life under the cross. Jesus gives his promise: the one who endures
to the end will be saved. This is His teaching for you about the end of the world.
In the middle of Jesus’ teaching on the end times, his answer to the second
question, He takes time to answer their first question.
Now Jesus warns those of that generation about the
destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, when “There will not be left here one
stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
In Mark 13:14-31
(ESV) Jesus explains when those things will be, "But when you
see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the
reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let the one who is on the housetop not go down,
nor enter his house, to take anything out,
16and
let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17And alas for women who are pregnant and for
those who are nursing infants in those days!
18Pray
that it may not happen in winter. 19For in those days there will be such tribulation
as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now,
and never will be. 20And if the
Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the
sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21And then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is
the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22False christs and false prophets will arise and
perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23But be on guard; I have told you all things
beforehand. 24"But
in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon
will not give its light, 25and the
stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be
shaken. 26And then they will see the Son of Man
coming in clouds with great power and glory.
27And
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. 28"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. 29So also,
when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very
gates. 30Truly, I say to you, this generation
will not pass away until all these things take place. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words
will not pass away.
What things that generation saw! In 70 AD, Roman troops took
the city of Jerusalem. It looked like the world was coming to an end.
Sacrifices in the Temple came to an end. We Christians know that they were no
longer necessary since Jesus is the Temple, our Great High Priest, and the
sacrifice, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! The fires
burned so hot that stone cracked and crumbled, the gold of the temple roof
melted and ran like water into cracks, and not one stone of the temple remained
upon another. The destruction was mind boggling, the human carnage horrific.
Hundreds of years later, Islam built its famous Dome of the Rock Mosque on the
temple mount. All that remains of the glorious ancient Temple is the “wailing
wall.”
But the disciples also asked “what will be the sign when all
these things are about to be accomplished?” Jesus’ answer to that question
resumes in Mark 13:32-37 (ESV) 32"But concerning that day or that
hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the
Father. 33Be on guard, keep awake. For you do
not know when the time will come. 34It 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. 35Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when
the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the
cock crows, or in the morning— 36lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37And what I say to you I say to all: Stay
awake."
A medieval liturgical verse summarizes all of this very
well: “Guide us watching and guard us sleeping, that awake we may watch with
Christ, and asleep we may rest in peace.” Jesus’ words abide with us and we
abide in Him.
We are duly warned about false prophets. They will come.
They will deceive some. And the surest sign that one is listening to a false
prophet is when you hear a date for the end of the world. You’ve heard of such
preachers. The date comes and goes, and they just look foolish. They have their
followers, but you are not to be among them. You are given to be on your guard
and stay awake in Jesus, no matter what comes.
At the heart of all of this is Jesus. He has warned us ahead
of time of what will happen in the last days. We need not be surprised. His
words have already been fulfilled. They will be fulfilled again. We, the
baptized, are given to be faithful until Jesus’ return. Until then, Jesus
abides with us in Word and Sacrament, the means the Lord has given so that we
may remain faithful until the Last Day. Therefore, we will not fear, though the
earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Two Questions. Jesus is our answer, our hope, and our salvation.
He is the one who sustains us until the Second Coming and He is the One who
comes.
The Lord is present with His people. That’s a promise. Our
Triune God has been with Immanuel Sheridan for over a hundred years. We raise
to Him our songs of thankfulness and praise, trusting in His promises and His
presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
