Sermon Index
November 14, 2021
Mark 13:1-13We all like to go sight-seeing. We love to see the wonders of God’s creation and the wonders that people have created, using the talents given to them by God. Museums and historical sites are interesting and educational. We can learn from history. Here in Okinawa, should the old castle sites like Shuri Castle be rebuilt or left as they are? As we remember the past we remember the old glory and pride, but the ruins also remind us of the result of human pride and folly.
In today's Gospel reading, the disciples are visiting Jerusalem. Mark 13:1–２, 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.”
Today, only one wall (the “Wailing Wall”) of the old Jerusalem Temple remains. But at the time of Jesus it was at the height of its beauty. The temple was built with white marble and adorned with gold. It took King Herod 46 years to rebuild it. It was finished and ready just in time for the Birth of Jesus, who was taken there by his parents when he was just 40 days old to be presented to God as the first-born child. The temple was very important to the Jews. It was the symbol of their religion and of their country. It was a symbol that God was protecting and blessing them. It was a national symbol of pride and confidence and identity. .
The Disciples and all the Jews were sure that God would protect Jerusalem and their country as long as the Temple stood. They forgot that the Babylonians had destroyed both the city and the Temple in 587 BC and taken the people into exile and slavery. They forgot that even after the Temple was rebuilt, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), the king of Syria, captured Jerusalem in 167 BC and desecrated the Temple by offering the sacrifice of a pig on an altar to Zeus (the Abomination of Desolation). They forgot that the Romans were now in control of their country. But many disciples hoped that Jesus as Messiah would restore the old glory of Israel. “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”
And then Jesus dashed their hopes. 2Jesus said, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And so it happened. In the Year AD 70, the Roman Army completely destroyed the temple. The Gold was stripped away and the beautiful stones were carried away for other building projects. Only one section of wall remained, the so-called “Wailing Wall.” And the nation of Israel was scattered to the four winds until after World War II.
2Jesus said, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”
The disciples believed Jesus. But they asked him, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" Jesus did not give them a date, but he gave them signs; such as: false messiahs, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, persecutions, betrayals, and testimonies of faith and endurance of faith. Within a generation, all these signs had come.
In our generation, these signs have come again. Like the disciples, we see the wonderful, beautiful buildings in our modern society. We take pride in them. But will they last forever? Will the things that we take pride in today become the ruins of tomorrow? How about in our families? There are things we take pride in, but will they last forever? How about ourselves? There are things we take pride in, but will they last forever? Will they last before God? We all have certain gifts and talents given to us by God. But what will happen in the time of tribulation? When there are troubles and worries, natural disasters and national disasters, and the like? How about when we are given a bad time because of our faith? Can we make the good witness? Will we trust the Holy Spirit to give us the words to speak? Will we endure to the end and be saved? Or will our lives become like the ruins of the old castles?
Jesus knew that the end was near. He knew that he would soon be arrested and tried and crucified. As a human being, he knew he would suffer pain and humiliation. But he knew the plan of God. The Temple of his Body would be destroyed in death on the cross, but it would not remain as dead ruins. On the third day Jesus rose again from the dead. The old Temple in Jerusalem was no longer necessary, because Jesus had made the perfect sacrifice to forgive all sins of all time.
The cross of Jesus is not just a tourist spot. It is not just a place to review Christian history and culture. In the cross of Jesus we see the result of human pride, folly, and sin. In the cross we see the ruins of our selfish lives. In the cross we see that the end will be soon. But the cross also points to resurrection. His resurrection is not a museum of the past, but the way of life now for the believers in Christ. The church is not a museum, but rather a building that is alive and active in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit gives us the words of the Gospel to speak to this generation. There are words of warning. There are words of hope. There are words of promise. There are words of love.
In our generation, in our lives, there are the threats of false messiahs, crazy relgions, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes, famines, pandemics, betrayal and persecutions. There are our personal problems at home, at work, and at school. These problems challenge our faith. But in Baptism there is also the gift of the Holy Spirit who gives us courage and the endurance of faith and the power to make testimonies of faith.
"When will these things be?" In the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “Thy Kingdom come.” We pray that God will come and be the King in our hearts and in our lives. We pray that the mission of the church would spread the Good News of his Kingdom of Grace. And we pray for and look forward to the fullness of his Heavenly Kingdom of Glory. The end of the world might be tomorrow; or it may be 500 years from now, or it may come to us personally when we die. The future is in God’s hands. Therefore we can live without worry or fear, because we know the promise and salvation of God.
And so today’s Old Testament reading, the prophecy of Daniel Chapter Twelve becomes a message of comfort, hope and joy for Christians. The prophecy about the Angel Michael is fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Daniel 12:1–3
1“At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church