November 17, 2024
Atonement Lutheran Church
Last Sunday of the Church Year, Proper 29 B
Sermon on
Mark 13:24–37
In the Name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Today is the last day of the church year. And it is fitting that right before we begin Advent, a season to prepare for Christ coming. We first talk about the end of the world, Christ second coming. Today’s reading is part of a larger Apocalyptic discourse in Mark chapter 13. The first half of Mark 13 talks about the destruction of the world, and in part the destruction of the Jewish temple that took place in 70 A.D. by the Roman Empire.
In that discourse Jesus gives us some terrifying imagery about destruction of the world. Now for most people the end of the world is troubling, if not frightening to think about. As for us who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God – the one who takes away our sins – the end of the world is not something to fear but a comfort and joy.
As the rest of the world sees the end of the world as something to fear, to be frightened and scared of. Just take a look at movies about the end of the world. They all are filled frightening and dystopian – a time full of pain and suffering for everyone. Why would they see it any differently. The End of the world is judgment day and for those outside of Christ, are scared because they know they will be judged not by their actions but by their faith.
In Mark 13:24 – 27, Jesus gives us a frightening imagery of what it will be like when Christ returns - “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.” What a frighting picture that makes. All of creation is falling, it is dying and there is nothing that can save it.
Think of it like a car, truck, or some kind of mechanical device. From the moment you begin using it, it starts to break down. Overtime the wear and tear of using it will cause something to break. Yes, giving it maintenance – like oiling parts and refurbishing some of its parts – will prolonging its use but eventually it will break down enough to the point to where maintenance and refurbishing its parts will no longer work.
That's what Sin does to our world. Our world is not in a state of ever-increasing improvement, as many atheists and evolutionists would like to think. No, the moment sin entered into our world, the world is in a state of decay, it is slowly dying, falling apart just like that well-loved and used car, truck, or mechanical device. We can give our world maintenance – and we should because we are care takers of this world – but eventually creation will not be able to be maintained and will completely fall apart around us. That is the state of the world when Christ returns.
The second coming of Christ sounds terrifying, and it is for those who do not believe in Christ Jesus as the Son of God. But for use who believe, that have faith, let us look at vv27 “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.”
This verse alone gives us comfort, for Christ will not abandon us to this world that's falling apart, to the suffering that comes to the end of the world. No, Christ will send out his angels to gather us up to be with him. That's what is meant by the elect in this passage, the elect are all those who believe In Christ Jesus, the Son of God. And when we are gathered with Him, we will be with Him in the new Heaven and the New Earth, a place where God will dwell with His people, both in body and spirit.
Now, before this take place, we need keep in mind the lesson that Jesus gives about the Fig tree. Earlier in the day, Jesus and his disciples came across the Fig tree that Jesus cursed the day before for bearing leave but not bearing any fruit – this took place in chapter 11 of Mark – and found it withered and when the disciples saw it, they asked about it and Jesus used it as an object lesson about faith and prayer. In vv28 – 3, Jesus’ reference a Fig tree again. “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. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Figs are a staple in the diet of the Mediterranean people, and Fig trees could have been found all over the place during Jesus’ time. And you know the time of year it is and when a Fig tree is ready to be harvested by the leaves the Fig tree puts out. A Fig tree and its leaves are a sign of what is to come and when to start preparing for the season and for the harvest. Likewise, the end of the world will, and Christ second coming, will have its own signs to look for. “Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. This must take place, but the end is not yet. 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.” (Mark 13:6–8)
Even though Christ is giving use the signs to lookout for, Christ tell us that we cannot predict the end of the world. “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.” Christ is telling us that we need to stay vigilant, to prepared and stay prepared.
I think back to when I was a kid on my parents’ farm in the middle of no ware. When my mom and dad would leave the house to go into town – a twenty-minute drive – I was given a list of work to do, and I was expected to have them done by the time they came home. I had no idea when my parents would be home, it could be in 45 minutes or hours later, I would have no idea. I had a choice to make. I could wait until the last minute by guessing when they would be home, and by listen for the sound of a car coming down the road next to my house – which I found out is busier than I thought it would be for being in the middle of no ware – and then quickly, and poorly, do the work mom and dad gave me only to fail to get them done and then be scolded by my parents; all because I thought I could predict when my parents would come home. Or I could do the work my parents gave me and be ready for them to return knowing that every sound of a car coming down my road could be them, or not.
This is how we are to be. We need to be ready and awake. We need to do the work that God has given us to do and be ready for His return. Like with my parent when the went into town, we have no idea when Christ will return. We need to be ready, knowing that any of the signs Christ has warned us about, could be His return.
Remember, the end of the world is not something for us to fear. For Christ took away our sins on the cross and because of His selfless, loving act of dying for our sins, are we able to have a new life with Him in our heart. And on that day of Christ return, we will be given a new life eternally in God presence experiencing the never end love of God.
May this knowledge of Christ return bring you encouragement in your daily life, doing the work that God has given you, and evermore be ready and watching for Christ return.
Amen.
