The Good News About the End of the World

There is a phrase in the middle of Mark 13 that instantly catches the attention of the careful Bible reader.  The phrase is, "let the reader understand" (Mark 13:14).  It is the only time in the entire book of Mark that the author specifically addresses his readers.  Mark's original readers all nodded with understanding, while today we shrug our shoulders at the meaning.  This was an important point of contact Mark had with his first readers that has been lost on today's audience.  The best interpretative guess I have heard on "the abomination that causes desolation" that Mark points too (Mark 13:14) is that it is a coded reference to the Roman general Titus who after conquering the rebel Jewish armies who had captured Jerusalem, commanded the final assault on the temple and took possession of the ruined site in A.D. 70.  The destruction of temple in Jerusalem was not the end; it was but a beginning of yet another series of horrible crises. 

"Let the reader understand."  What would Mark want us to understand today?  The cotton candy Christianity I described this morning will not produce disciples who can stand in the face of difficulties.  Rather, it produces Christians with a shallow root system.  This is not a new problem as Isaac Watts penned the following words in the middle of the 19th century:

Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
He answers his question in another verse:

Sure I must fight if I would reign;
Increase my courage, Lord.
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word.
(Am I A Solider of the Cross)

Disciples of Jesus have never been promised a life of financial security or physical protection.  When we read Mark's Gospel we are told just the opposite!  However, we are promised that we will be given exactly what we need to bear up under any trials that come our way.  May God make ALL of us into the kind of spiritually hearty, robust disciples who can keep our focus on the darkest of nights and can continue to love and serve when all around us are in a panic.  That is picture of Jesus from the Garden to the cross and that is what the Spirit will produce in us if we let him. 

When Less Equals More

The best part of the sermon had to be my interview with Erika. 
Byron: What would you think if you saw someone putting this big pile of bills in the collection basket?
Erika: That they really love Jesus!
Byron:  Yeah, that's a lot of money.  What would you think of a person who only put in the two penny's?
Erika: Well, that depends.
Byron: Depends on what?
Erika: Like, maybe if it was a homeless person that would show that they really loved Jesus too.
Perhaps I should have just stopped preaching right there.

The thing that really bothers me about this text is not that Jesus commends the widow; it's that he ignores those who put in the large amounts of money!  I've always been a tither; even when money got tight at home I never neglected my tithe.  I'm convinced God has blessed my family in multiple ways because of that.  However, this text ignores the tithers.  Mark tells us that there were many rich people putting large amounts of money in the temple treasury.  My guess is that they were all faithful tithers.  They were simply doing what they were supposed to do.  The truth is, they still had plenty left over.  The widow put in all she had and even though it was a minuscule amount; Jesus called attention to her gift.  "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on." (Mark 12:43-44)

I'm worried for a church that makes widows like this feel like they're a "ministry" and puts rich young rulers in positions of leadership!  This text causes me no little discomfort. 

Religion or Relationship?

 As I began working on the sermon for this week I was fascinated by reading online quotes concerning religion; almost all of which were negative.  One definition of religion is: "a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects."   It is not this definition that causes such a negative reaction from people, but the arrogance, hypocrisy, smugness, and hatred that is so often characteristic of those who hold deeply to their religion. 

Jesus answered the religious leader's question concerning what is most important by going straight to the heart of the matter.  As important as "beliefs and practices" are; they are no where near what Jesus defined as most important.  How would people describe us if we took Jesus seriously?  What if our first objective was to "love our neighbor" rather than convince our neighbor of the truth of our positions?  What if we were more aware of how far we fall short of the command to love God with all of our being than we are of the failings of others?  What if love for God and love for neighbor became the first priority of our lives above every other command of God?  These were some of the questions I think of as I reflect on today's sermon.

The Intersection of Hope and Fear

Daniel's baptism was the perfect exclamation point for the sermon this morning!  As Daniel stood in the baptistry with his arm extended to heaven, I was reminded of Jesus' baptism, his prayer, the dove, and the proclamation, "This is my son".  Baptism places us in solidarity with Jesus and everyone who has ever followed him.  It is an awesome expression of faith as we put aside our puny efforts at making life work and surrender to the one who promises to partner with us to move mountains. 

I think I said something in the sermon about hope and fear being emotions.  Upon reflection I would reclassify them as beliefs.  Both are very real (and inescapable by the way).  Both have the power to control our lives in ways that can be good and bad.  When dreams fail and fear takes hold of a person bad things are almost always the result.  The solution, Jesus said, is to put our faith in God. 

May God teach us how to hope again and may God keep us from obeying our fears.  Baptism is a perfect picture of this: we die to old life (the old dreams) and accept Jesus' resurrection life.  We pledge our lives to follow him come what may.  May we follow him all the way to the cross, trusting God for resurrection.  As the old song says, "Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come.  His grace has brought me safe thus far; and grace will lead me home."  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus!

Knowing Christ in 2011

I love it when the Bible authors reduce godliness into something compact and easy to grasp like the ten commandments, the beatitudes, and the Christian graces (2 Peter 1:5-7 for those not familiar with this one).  Jesus summarized the entire law of God by saying we should love God and love people.  There is certainly a need to examine and follow the entire word of the Lord.  It's just that we so often get overwhelmed and need a focal point.  That was the purpose of today's sermon; to give us focus for the coming year. 

What God desires most is being in relationship with his people  Being in any relationship involves certain standards of behavior and proper treatment of one another.  However, thinking that one will grow closer to another simply by following a list of do's and dont's is bound to fail.  To be a better husband I must focus on knowing my wife better and allowing that knowledge to dictate my speech and actions.  To be a better father I must focus on knowing my children.  To be a better neighbor I must focus on truly knowing my neighbors.

Coming to know God is a daunting task.  He is so . . . well, BIG!  Thankfully, he took the initiative and allowed himself to be known in the person of Jesus.  Growing in our relationship to Jesus moves us from performance based religion to developing a deeper love and appreciation for our Lord.  As our love for him grows we become what the law, in itself, was powerless to create.  By focusing our attention on knowing Christ our Lord we become the reflection of our affection.