Pentecost 25, 2015
Mark 13:1-13
"The End"
Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
There are two little words that I read to my son when I put him to bed at night that I'm never quite sure how he will respond. They are the words "the end." When he is tired and ready to sleep those words mark the moment that he can snuggle up against my chest, rock, and fall asleep. But when He isn't ready to go to bed...those words are met with a cry of "no daddy." He doesn't want the book...or the reading of stories...or the day to be over.
That is how life is. There are days that we don't want to end...and there are days we can't wait to have end. With the tragedy of terrorism in Paris we are reminded of the latter. It is a day we wish would have never happened. It is a day we wish would just end. It is a horrific reminder of the day we suffered on September 11, 2001 as the twin towers in NYC came crashing down. On these kinds of days...we pray, "Come quickly Lord Jesus" and hope that our Lord would say to all this suffering and wickedness: "The End."
The end that the world wants...is a world of peace. All kinds of people love to hear the message of God giving us peace that passes all understanding or the wonderful prospect of a world that turns all swords into plowshares (Isaiah 2:4). Wouldn't it be great if all people would drop their guns...and knives...swords...and bombs...and every other weapon. That truly would be great! It would be a wonderful Utopia. But that will not happen in this sinful and wicked world. So much for Jesus being the Prince of Peace... that must have been too good to be true... just look at this world and the evil that goes on.
God's Word certainly speaks about peace...God's peace! Not our peace. Our peace allows everyone to do what they like...sinful or not...as long as it doesn't personally hurt us. Our peace is defined by our own wants and desires. Our peace tolerates and even loves sin. That is not God's peace. That is not what God promises. God's peace is found in the murder and resurrection of His Son. God's peace is found in Jesus. God's peace is beyond our understanding.
Listen to the warning Jesus has for this world. "And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And 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.” (Mark 13:1-2) "And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. 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. “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. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. 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. 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. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved." (Mark 13:5-13)
Those words aren't a promise of peace nor are they peaceful. They are a warning of what will come...they are words that sound very much like the world we live in. Jesus spoke these words in Jerusalem. Shortly after Jesus' death Jerusalem was sacked by Rome. The temple was destroyed once and for all. Buildings were thrown down. Wars were taking place. There were famines and earthquakes. Families fought with one another. Many were led astray.
Yes, these words sound like they were spoken of in our own generation. We have seen great buildings thrown down...as the twin towers plummeted killing countless people. There are wars and rumors of war all around us. There are earthquakes and famines. Families are torn apart. Christians are mocked and persecuted. Many are led astray.
So where is that peace that we want...more so...where is that peace that we need? That peace is found solely in Christ. That peace is found in this place where Jesus promises to be. The peace that we need is found in God's Word and Jesus' body and blood. The peace that we need is found in the forgiveness of sins. The peace that we need is found in one of the ugliest torture devices in the world...it is found in the cross.
Christ Jesus knows the problems that we endure and the wickedness of this world. Jesus knows our sorrows and pains. Jesus knows our every need. He knows the peace that we and the world so desperately need. In the face of the heartache and pain we endure our Lord tells us: "in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation [suffering. pain. troubles. distress]. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Christ has overcome the world. Christ has overcome sickness and death, tragedy and heartbreak, suffering, pain, and tribulation. He overcame all of these things on the cross for you where He took your sin upon himself.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ this life is full of problems. It is full of sin. When things get tough, when you have anxiety over your life and the problems that are too much to bare...come to the place Christ promises to be. Come to God's house where He gives you His peace. Come to the Lord's table where Jesus forgives your sins and gives you the strength to overcome this sinful world in His very body and blood.
God gives us His peace now. In this place. In His Son. God gives us heaven on earth as we come to this place to receive His gifts surrounded by all the saints and the angels of heaven. God gives us His peace as He promises life eternal where the Prince of Peace shall rule for eternity. God gives us His peace now as we look forward to the life to come with Him and all the saints where there will be no more pain or suffering, trials or tribulations, or death.
Dear child of God...why do we come to this place each week? We come because Jesus promises to be here. We come because Jesus promises to forgive our sins here. We come because Jesus gives us His strength here. We come because we are lifted to heaven in this place. We come because we believe without doubt these words: "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:17) Amen.
Now may the peace of God which passes all human understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.
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