Sermon - The Third Sunday of the Kingdom

Kingdom 3

Daniel 12:1-3 Deliverance in Daniel’s apocalypse

(Hebrews 10:11-25) The new covenant in Christ blood

Mark 13:1-8 The beginning of Mark’s ‘little apocalypse’

Psalm 16

I remember the cartoons in the newspapers that had a man with a sandwich board that read the end of the world is nigh. And as I grew up with the third millennium approaching, I was certain that the world would end – I think that it is something about growing up – worrying that our time on earth may be cut short by nuclear war, a meteorite or a plague of killer tomatoes (something like that).

In my early teens I managed to persuade the man is the newly opened video shop (Betamax and VHS) that lending me 18 certificate films was not such a big deal – and I went on a spree of terrifying myself with terrible b-rated horror films. What made this worse was that I had read books about ancient prophesies (which were probably no more than flights of fancy) that told me that Armageddon was imminent. I used to think that as soon as I got a house, I would build a bomb shelter and buy tons of tinned food so that I could survive the disaster that was certain to happen.

It is, I think, part of human nature to worry about the future, and it is no surprise that although I was certain the game was up and the world would end, this ( I think) has happened in every generation since time began. It is only natural that we worry about plans that we are making – what is going to happen – will all our plans come to nothing?

And today, films and books still reflecting this part of human nature, Harry Potter fights the evil Voldemort – who is going to take over the world – the fight of good and evil fills the cinemas and our imaginations. Can you think of any more films on the ‘end of the world’ theme?

Judgement, good versus evil, the end of the world, and the sending of a messiah to save us all – these themes pass down the generations. It is no accident that the Bible readings for this morning are set against this concern of the world falling apart.

In Daniel and Mark we are told that this is the case, although we are not told when, we are told that we must change our behaviour to be ready for the judgement that is to come. Or are they?

Every generation who has read these passages has looked around at the world – perhaps seeing people and dying with poverty, war and disease, imprisonment and torture, injustices throughout the world, and then against this suffering have decided that things can’t get worse, this must be close to the end of the world.

In the book of Daniel though, rather than seeing the end of the world as a bad thing it is seen as positive, because finally all the suffering will stop and justice will reign. Daniel longs for a time when wisdom and freedom are a common sight in the world.

Even today, people tend to argue about what is right and tend to bury wisdom in the process. The biblical dream is of a time when WISDOM will be COMMON SENSE – a time when we won’t even argue about what is right, because it will be plain to see. We will all agree, and see what needs to be done in the world. And that is the reading from Daniel.

Back in Jerusalem two thousand years ago the Disciples of an upstart revolutionary from Galilee know this also. They are sat listening to Jesus on the Mount of Olives – they are looking across the valley to the temple. Jesus looks across at the temple and tells them that all those great buildings will be destroyed. “When Lord will this be” they ask?

At this point Jesus does something quite typical. He completely ignores them and starts to talk about how they should watch out for those who claim to be acting in His name when they are doing nothing of the sort. Jesus is not interested in their speculation about when the end of the world will be, he is just telling them to do their best until the time is right. Jesus is telling them to be ready.

This part of the Gospels is usually called “Mark’s little apocalypse” - A term I rather like!

However, unlike most apocalyptic literature, chapter 13 is NOT concerned with signs that provide clues to the timing of future events. When the disciples ask Jesus for "the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished," (v. 4), Jesus tells them of wars and natural disasters, but then says, "but the end is still to come" and "This is but the beginning of the birth pains" (vv. 7-8). In other words, these are NOT really signs of the end but are simply events that they must endure before the end comes. He cannot help them to know when these events will occur, because "about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father" (v. 32).

The Gospel commentator R. H. Lightfoot takes exception with scholars who label Mark 13 as "The Little Apocalypse," and proposes that this chapter functions in much the same way as the Parable of the Sower (Mark 4:1-20). That parable tells of much wasted seed − seed that falls on the path or among rocks and thorns. However, it concludes with the vision of good soil and a bountiful harvest − thirty and sixty and one hundred fold. It serves to encourage Christians who might otherwise focus on the waste and miss the blessing of the harvest.

Jesus is saying – Do not worry about the end times, but thank God for the harvest of good works taking place every day – extraordinary acts by ordinary people.

This is a great theme in the run up to Christmas – extraordinary works by ordinary people! I think that I will write my Christmas sermon on it. Throughout the history of Christianity, it really has been the small things that have made a difference. Building communities and churches is never about the buildings but the individual kindnesses that make links between people.

As the time of advent approaches and we prepare for the Great Feast of Christmas. (36 shopping days left by the way) I have been thinking a lot about these words of Jesus – How do we judge the health of a church community? How do we ensure that we are looking to the future, not with trepidation and anxiety, but with hope? How do we continue being a beacon of joy for our communities?

In the next month or so, I am sure that you will be looking at a Mission Action Plan – the means by which you can measure these things, and embrace the challenges the future may bring – even if we are invaded by killer tomatoes.

There is no better way of finishing this sermon other than by repeating the last few verses of the reading from the letter to the Hebrews and think about our own church as we hear the words. I have used the old translation…

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.