“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
It could almost be a quote from our newspapers if it weren’t from our Bible Reading today. How does it make you feel? Frightened? Concerned? Let’s look at it in a different light.
If the Bible is correct in its assessment of the world then surely it is also correct throughout when it comes to our response to the world situation. If you were wanting to promote a religion for people to follow wouldn’t you be more inclined to push a more positive spin on the world to look forward to? Wouldn’t you want to offer something that leads to a better life outcome?
Prior to becoming a Pastor I attended dozens of self help seminars through my employer that all focused on how I could become a better person and lead a better life through positive thinking and behaviour. But Jesus seems to speak things opposite to that. In fact, Jesus said in our reading – You will be hated by all because of my name. And think back to last week’s Gospel reading if you were here. Jesus said – Blessed are you WHEN people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. It matches what he said elsewhere when he said – “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first.
So what is all this about? It’s not very “positive thinking”, is it? Why does Jesus promote something that seemingly is not very attractive or inviting? As we head to an election in the next couple of weeks could you imagine if our candidates took this approach? Would you vote for the candidate that was offering a negative outcome if you voted for them?
To start – let’s look at the context. The disciples were trying to put their hope and security in physical things – Our Gospel reading says they were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, So what is the purpose of Jesus telling us this? Interestingly it is about mission. Jesus says that as we face these cataclysmic events, this will give you an opportunity to testify. And I know that when we go through these things it’s often hard to find the right words. When someone is going through a time of suffering or grief we find that it’s easy to say the wrong thing to them. We try to put a positive spin on their situation – trust God – God knows what you’re going through – God works good in all things to those who love him. But we find that these don’t often work and quite often leaves the person upset and hurt with this God who allows suffering – or sometimes we may even suggest that God sends suffering for a purpose.
But look what Jesus says: Make up your minds NOT to prepare your defence in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. When the world around us is falling apart, as many believe it is now, we may feel like putting our heads in the sand or building our bunkers to keeper ourselves safe. But Jesus calls us to do just the opposite: Speak up! Tell the truth! Proclaim Christ crucified and risen!
Amidst all the end time language we hear in today’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching us something essential about what it means to be Christians. When things get hard; when the census results say that Christianity is failing; when the National Church Life Survey paints a bleak future for ageing and dwindling congregations, when people try to silence and ridicule the church, keep on speaking! Keep on telling the world about Jesus! Keep on telling the truth!
This is the essential mission of the Church: to stand tall in the chaos and confusion of the world and keep being an example of faith: This is who we are. This is what we have been called to do and be. God is faithful even when everything around us is falling apart.
Our mission is to keep telling that truth—to keep living that truth—because when all is said and done, it’s the only truth that matters in our world today. What we need to remember is that this is nothing new. A decaying world has been a part of human existence from the beginning of time.
What we are going through in our present age is nothing new, no matter what the media tells us – there are no glory days to look back to or forward to. In fact we have been through far worse. Just ask those who remember the Great Depression of the 1930s or the horrors of the World Wars and the Holocaust. There is no age and no place on earth that is immune from the consequences of a sinful world. It is all part and parcel of our fallen nature as God explained to Adam – “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat food from it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.
Throughout the Old Testament we see wars, famines, earthquakes, droughts, floods. These are signs, not of human contribution but of human sin. They cannot be undone or reversed by what we do. We cannot point to a better worldly future but a better heavenly future where there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth as the old order of things passes away and Christ makes all things new. So Jesus says to you – do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.
The world’s narrative is we can make this a better place if we all just do our bit. The end will come and I know we want it soon but remember what St Peter says –
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Friends, use these times to bring a message of hope. These are indeed worrying times for many but Jesus assures us to not worry but to keep pointing people to the one whom the wind and the waves must obey. Don’t let these times frighten you but remind you that there is a New Heaven and a New Earth on its way where we will live with God and never again experience what we experience here so that we don’t lose heart until that day.
Until that day may the peace of God that surpasses understanding keep your hearts and minds forever in Christ Jesus. Amen.
