Sermon for the Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“Endure to the End? Me?”

Text: Mark 13:1-13; Daniel 12:1-3; Hebrews 10:11-25

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

It was probably like a punch in the gut. Their hearts started beating faster, and all the blood drained from their now ashy faces. Their breathing was shallow, their knees weak. Tell us, they said. Tell us when these things will be. Namely, the Temple destroyed. And not just destroyed, but to this extent - not one stone upon another. Really Jesus? Is it true?

They should have known this was true. Remember Peter? Your confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God is the stone on which Jesus was going to build His Church (Matthew 16:18). Not these stones. Lifeless stones. And remember what Jesus said just a few days before this, that the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone (Mark 12:10)? Which was a prophecy of Him? Or when He said destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19), talking about Himself as the new Temple, a living Temple, one not made with hands or out of stones?

But they didn’t remember. Just as we often don’t remember. When bad news overwhelms us. When world events shock us. When personal tragedy or hardship or life sends us reeling. We become frightened disciples.

So they want to know more. We want to know more. Tell us more, they ask Jesus. And Jesus does. But I think it fair to say: it’s not what they want to hear! It will be as we heard from Daniel today: a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time.

First, Jesus says, there will be trouble in the church - false teaching and false messiahs. Which is troubling. Troubling to think that some people will be led astray from the church by those within the church, but who have really left the true church. We see this happening. False teaching, unscriptural teaching, because the Scriptures are no longer considered the Word of God - unseated by culture, so-called science, or just our own truth. And those who claim they can save the church with their methods and schemes, while pointing us away from the words and sacraments of Jesus. There will be trouble in the church.

There will be trouble - not peace - in the world - wars, violence, nation rising against nation and kingdom against kingdom. We see this, too, of course. Devastation, blood, havoc. Son and daughters sent into harms way. Hostages and innocent bystanders caught in the crossfire. Sometimes the cause is good and just. Sometimes it’s just from greed and hate. And the aftermath - long lives of suffering, sadness, and pain. Trouble in the world.

And then there is also trouble in creation - earthquakes and famines, just to name two. We could add to that list: hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, floods. Birth pains, Jesus calls them. The travail, as God told Eve in the beginning, caused by sin. 

And as if that all weren’t enough, this too: trouble in the family. And this maybe the most heartbreaking of all. Brother against brother, fathers not being fathers, children rebelling and rising against parents. The very ones we should be able to rely on in the midst of all this other trouble and danger . . . This, too, you’ve seen. Maybe even had it happen to you. And maybe you’ve heard it encouraged lately - not to celebrate the holidays with your family if they voted the wrong way. Trouble in our own homes.

These are the signs, Jesus says. Which may not be good news, but good to know. That we not just see them and what is happening in the world and in our lives physically and outwardly, but see and know them in their proper spiritual perspective. To see and know, that when you add all this up and it seems like all hell is breaking loose, that’s exactly what is happening. For with Jesus’ death and resurrection comes His heel upon the serpent’s head, and with that the thrashing around, the convulsing, the violent twisting and turning of the serpent’s body. Satan’s death throes. Satan raging again God’s three estates: church, world, and home, to take them down with him. To destroy them all. To curl his tail around them and take them down into the abyss with him. Them, and with them, you.

But, Jesus says, the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Which . . . I guess is good news. Some will be saved . . . But what about me? Is this all you got for me this morning, Jesus? After all that talk of trouble, the message is just hunker down, duck and cover, stick it out, become a prepper, and if you can make it through, endure, you’ll be saved? That’s not much encouragement, really, especially when you consider who He was talking to . . . who couldn’t do it. Peter, who would shortly deny Him. James and Andrew, who ran for it. John, who just stood by and watched it all. And all four who hid behind locked doors, trembling in their sandals. The one who endures to the end . . . ? So, to repeat a question we heard these same disciples ask just a few weeks ago, and maybe that was arising in your own minds: Then who can be saved?

Well, let’s think about that . . . Not Adam and Eve. They couldn’t endure. They fell. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob couldn’t do it. Moses couldn’t do it. David and Solomon couldn’t do it. Those twelve couldn’t do it. Can we . . . endure to the end?

But there is one who did. The only who could. Jesus, of course. He was the one who endured the full rage and fury of the evil one. The religious authorities against Him, the civil authorities against Him, His own family not believing in Him, and yet faithful and steadfast to the end. Even to death. Even when faced with the cross. And He was saved, resurrected, and is now seated at the right hand of God. 

And as the one who did what we could never do, as we heard in the reading from Hebrews, He opened for us a new and living way to God. That offering Himself as that single sacrifice for the sin of the world, we now have hope. Only one could endure to the end, but He endured for us all. That in Him, we endure to the end as well. It’s the only way we can. 

That’s why Baptism, where in that water purified by Jesus’ blood we are baptized into Christ, the one who endured. That’s why Absolution, where repenting of how we’ve not remained faithful and steadfast we cannonball back into the waters of Baptism, back into Jesus and the forgiveness of the one who endured. That’s why the Gospel, where we hear of the One who endured to the end for us and He scoops us back into His arms of forgiveness and love, to endure. And that why the Supper, where we confess our hope, that here is our hope, our only hope, as the fruits of the cross are fed to us, the Body and Blood of Jesus given to us, that we live in the One who endured to the end for us, and the One who endured to the end live in us. That with all these we make it to the end. Not because of my strength, my ability, my faithfulness, or anything in me - cuz I got nothing! But all because of Jesus. For He who promised is faithful. Even when it meant going to the cross. 

But there’s another reason for all this, all these troubles, as well. All the troubles - in church, in the world, in our homes - aren’t just the death throes of an agonized and hate-filled satanic foe. In that case, why not just slay him and get it over with? But God is able to all these things for His good, so that we rely on Him and not on ourselves, but also for the proclamation of the Gospel. 

We talked about this Wednesday night in our Bible Study. After the martyrdom of Stephen, Saul began to ravage and rage against the church. But the more he did so, the more it grew! His persecution caused the people to leave Jerusalem and scatter, and when they did, they took the Gospel with them. They told others the reason why they were fleeing, they told them about Jesus and they hope we have in Him, and the living and active Word of God worked in the hearts of those who heard. You would think persecution would shrink the church, but it did just the opposite.

That’s why in the midst of these words of Jesus about all this trouble, He also talks about the Gospel being proclaimed to all nations, and the Holy Spirit giving them what to say when they stand before governors and kings. You see, the troubles in the church, the world, and our homes give us the opportunity to confess our faith, in words and deeds. To repent - not just to God, but to one another - and to forgive those who sin against us. To stir one another up to love and good works, to encourage one another, and to not neglect meeting together here in the Divine Service, where Jesus comes to be with us and serve us. For if we are to endure this world and its troubles, it is only in Jesus. 

So be on your guard, Jesus says. Because there is no escape. In this world you will have trouble. If you don’t think so or don’t now, you are either deceiving yourself or . . . just wait! You will. And when you do, what will you do? Some medicate - legally or illegally. Some plunge deeper into their sin. Some commit suicide or helps others to do so. Some think they can save themselves living their own truth, or looking to the government to save them. 

But every stone in this world will topple, except one. Every Temple in this world will be destroyed, except one. And if you rely on yourself and what you can do, you too will be toppled. There is only one way - not to escape - but to endure to the end. You’ve heard the signs, you’ve seen the signs, and you’ve heard the truth. So walk out that door and rely on yourself, or come to the Table that is set before you in the presence of your enemies (Psalm 23:5). Jesus’ Table. Come with your sins and failures, your denying, running away, and your doing nothing. Come with your doubts and fears, your weakness and brokenness, your rebellion and stubbornness. Come reeling from being thrashed by the evil one. And come for Jesus’ forgiveness, His strength, and His life. For there’s only one who endured to the end. So come to Him, for that’s how we will endure to the end - in Him - who did it all for you. 

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Pentecost 26 (November 18-23, 2024)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: 2 Peter 3:13 – ”We are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #516 “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”

Hymns for Sunday: 516, 336, 639, 515, 663, 941

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14

What is happening in heaven? How is God described? How is His kingdom described? Who receives the kingdom? Why?

Tuesday: Revelation 1:4b–8

Who gives us grace and peace? How did He provide this for us?

Wednesday: John 18:33–37

What kind of king is Jesus? What kind of kingdom does He have? Why? How did Pilate and how do people today misunderstand?

Thursday: Isaiah 51:4–6

What is going to vanish in the end? What will not? Why?

Friday: Jude 20–25

What are we to do while waiting for Jesus to return? How does God help and strengthen us until that day?

Saturday: Mark 13:24–37

No one knows the day of Jesus’ return – why is that good? How can we stay awake and alert until that day?

The Catechism - The Sacrament of the Altar: What is the Sacrament of the Altar? [Part 2] Where is this written? The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat, this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Collect for the Week: Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and guidance for our congregational treasurer, Logan Hansen.

+ the Confessional Lutheran Church of South Africa, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for the Lutheran Haven adult care community.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268

Sermon for the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost

LISTEN

Jesu Juva

“When Big Is Little and Little Is Big”

Text: Mark 12:38-44; Hebrews 9:24-28

 

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

When you think of role models, poor widows are not the first thing that pop into your mind. Maybe a teacher, or someone who goes out of their way to help others, or someone who leads in the face of danger. 

If you lived in Jesus’ day, the scribes would be the kind of people you looked to, along with the Pharisees. They were serious about their religion. They knew their Scriptures. They were leaders. And yet, as we heard today, Jesus says to beware of them. They are, in fact, not good role models. 

Because while they looked good, they were anything but good. Whitewashed tombs, Jesus called them (Matthew 23:37-38). Meaning that just as a tomb may appear beautiful and impressive on the outside, when you open it up it is anything but! Inside is a rotting corpse. So outwardly the scribes may look good and righteous and holy, like good role models, but inside, in their hearts, it is quite a different story. Inwardly they are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. It was all a show. They weren’t sincere. They prayed long prayers with their lips but not their hearts. The widows they should have helped they instead devoured. 

The same could be said of the rich folks Jesus saw that day. He didn’t criticize them, but He didn’t praise them either. Like with the scribes, don’t judge by what you see, Jesus is saying. They were putting large sums in the offering box, yes. Dumping in lots and lots of coins. But only because they had lots and lots of coins. 

But hey, Jesus says, all of a sudden, look at this widow. Maybe they hadn’t even noticed her, in her plain clothes, her offering not in a large money bag but hidden in her small hand. Be like her. Because she’s the opposite of a whitewashed tomb. On the outside she doesn’t look like much, but inside! Ah, inside is the most beautiful faith! Faith that took two coins, her last two coins, all she had to live on, and gave them to God. And not because she was commanded to do so - she should have been receiving alms, not giving them! Had she not gone to the Temple that day, no one would have missed her or her offering. But it mattered to her. So she went. And she gave. And she mattered to Jesus.

As do you. No matter how rich or poor you are. No matter how much you matter to the world. That’s why Jesus gave all He had. For you. Not just giving all He had to live on, like this widow, but His very life itself. And He gave not only more than anyone else, but more than everyone else put together, and what no one else could give - a perfectly sinless life to atone for all the completely sinful lives of the world. And while just one life for the countless lives that have lived since the creation of the world may seem as small and insignificant as the offering of the widow - the two small coins that make just a penny - like the offering of the widow, that one life was more than all other offerings. For it was given in the most beautiful faith and love. With perfect faith in His Father, and with perfect love for you. And like the widow, Jesus should have been receiving offerings, not giving them - not because of His poverty, but because of His majesty and glory as the Son of God! But you mattered to Him. So He came. And He gave Himself for you.

For when our inward and our outward don’t agree. Which, at least for me, happens more than I care to admit. And this can happen in two ways: first, when my faith isn’t shown in my life; and second, when I look good on the outside but am filled with ugliness and sin on the inside. 

Maybe you, too, struggle with this. First, when I know what I should do, what my faith and God’s Word are telling me to do, and really what I want to do as a child of God . . . and yet I don’t. The inward doesn’t become outward. Instead I act selfishly; I’d rather be lazy than put myself out for others. I say words that hurt, or I don’t say words that would help - maybe because I’m scared to do so, or don’t want to get involved. I don’t pray as I should or for who I should. Have you ever done that? Told someone you’d pray for them and then forget? Instead of apologizing or repenting to someone, I put it off and hope that time will make it better. Or that they’ll just forget it. Maybe you, too? Or am I the only one? All the good things I know I should do but don’t. My inward and outward don’t agree.

But then I can also be that second way, too - when I make myself look good on the outside, but am filled with ugliness and sin on the inside. When I smile at someone while judging and criticizing them in my heart. When like the scribes I pray with my lips but not my heart. When I act one way at church or around other Christians, but at work or school or home I look completely different. Maybe you too? My inward and outward don’t agree.

What a mixed-up, jumbled up, confused, scrambled person I am! And yet Jesus, whose inward and outward perfectly agree, said: Yup. I want them. I want that pastor and all those sinners gathered at Saint Athanasius [or Hope] to be my own. I don’t want them to be spiritual widows; I want them as My Bride. So He came and laid down His life for us. Gave all He had for us. Not coins, big or small. But His blood. For without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins (Hebrews 9:22).

But with the shedding of blood - and not just any blood, but the blood of the Lamb of God - there is forgiveness. With the shedding of His blood, Jesus takes away the sin of the world. One sacrifice for all sin. One sacrifice for all time. That the blood from His one cross now fill every Font, every sermon, every absolution, every chalice, with His forgiveness. To make us right again. To fix our brokenness. That our inward and our outward agree. 

Because when the inward and outward don’t agree and we aren’t in sync, it’s no good. You can take your car to the car wash and get it all cleaned and waxed and detailed and looking great on the outside . . . but if inside the engine’s shot, what good is it? Or the opposite, too. You can have your house redone, remodeled. New paint, new floors, new furniture and appliances . . . but if you have holes in the roof or broken windows, if the outside is shot, what good is it? 

That’s what sin has done to us. We’re out of sync. And not just with ourselves, our inward and outward, but with each other, and with God.

So Jesus came and gave all He had for us. He put us back in sync with God with the forgiveness of our sins. Yes! But . . . He has also come to put us back in sync with each other. His forgiveness is what our broken homes, our out of sync marriages, our strained friendships, need. Not just to change those with disagree with, because they’re obviously stupid and wrong, right? But to change me. To fix me. That I can be at peace. And then I can spread that peace to others with my love and forgiveness. Not whether or not they deserve it; but because Jesus lives in me.

And you know, it might not seem to matter . . . the little I can do in my little life. Because there’s so much sin in our world, right? We’ve just come out of another bitter election. There are wars and crime. We have big problems in our world and society. And we need people to address these problems. Big, important people. Educated, knowledgeable people. People who can contribute great things to the world. Large bags of solutions for large problems.

And you and me? With our penny of forgiveness? What difference does it make? Really? 

But hey, Jesus says, look at Jackie! Look at Ray! Look at Liana! Look at each of you. Maybe no one else notices you, in your regular clothes, with your regular job, with your regular life, not solving world hunger or creating world peace, but feeding your family, helping the poor, forgiving those who sin against you. But Jesus does. Be like that, He says. 

And sometimes, just doing those things is giving all you have, isn’t it? It’s not easy. And maybe you don’t get the thanks you deserve, or the best seats in the synagogues, or the places of honor at feasts. But that’s not why you do it. You do it because you know who had the best seat and the place of honor in heaven, and gave it up for you. And one day - and I pray, soon! - He’s going to come and take you there to His place and give it to you. And you’re going to be like: No! I don’t deserve this seat. If I even deserve to be here at all, it’s waaaay down there! But Jesus is going to say, nope. I don’t make mistakes. This is your seat. I noticed you and your faith. This is for you.

And until that day - and I pray it is soon! - Jesus gives you a seat at His Table here. THIS is for you now. His Body and Blood. His forgiveness. His life. So we can live synced up lives; lives of peace. Peace with God and peace with one another. And while it’s just a little piece of bread, a little sip of wine . . . two little things to the eye, to our faith, nothing could be bigger. All Jesus and all His gifts. All we need to live on. 

So these last few weeks of the Church Year, as we wait for the end, for Jesus to come as He promised, as we wait to get to the end, Jesus has brought the end here. A foretaste of the feast, and the peace, to come. Until that day, take the peace and forgiveness you receive here and give it to others. They may not notice. They may not care. They may even laugh and take advantage of you. But Jesus knows, and notices. And a little forgiveness is a big offering to Him. 

In the Name of the Father, and of the (+) Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.