Monday, November 18, 2019

Sermon - 23rd Sunday after Pentecost - Luke 21:5-36

Luke 21:5-36
 “Your Redemption is Drawing Near”

We mentioned last week that these last few Sundays of the church year, before we begin Advent in December – focus our attention on the last things, or what we call, “eschatology”. Last week we focused particularly on one aspect of that – the resurrection of the body.  We Christians will, on that day, rise from the dead, and live, body and soul, with God forever. But you might think of the end, and Scripture certainly also speaks of it in other terms:  as judgment day, the day of destruction, the second coming of Christ, or the day of redemption and the beginning of the kingdom yet to come.

No matter what you call that day and its events, talk about the end gets people – even Christians – a little nervous. Maybe a lot nervous. Will there be gloom and doom and destruction and plagues and suffering and cataclysmic disasters? Or more personally, will I, myself, have to stand before the throne of God and answer for all my sins? How will I be judged on that day of judgment? These are the sorts of questions that make people want to read some other passage of the Bible. Let's just no think about it.

And some of what Jesus says today might bring us fear. For while he speaks, on the one hand about the end of days, he also weaves it together with predictions about the fall of Jerusalem. And still, he manages to include us and all believers in his warnings – and his promises – about the things to come.

Jesus knew it would be tough for his disciples, and for you. He knew that there would be all sorts of troubles and temptations. Persecution and pitfalls. He warns them, and us – of the difficulties – not just of living in this world, but as one of his disciples. The difficulty of avoiding false teachers who come in his name. The dangers posed by authorities who are hostile to his teaching and his people. There's a lot going against us. It could make us hang our heads.

But there is hope.

For Christians living in this world, there is hardship, trouble, grief, pain.... but all these things are temporary.

Even the most permanent things in this world will melt away. The great and mighty temple of Herod, with huge stones built high and magnificent – that would be torn down not 40 years from Jesus' departure.


Here’s a little history review:  Most of this we know from the Jewish historian turned Roman sympathizer Josephus.  It was 70 AD when the Romans finally had enough of Jewish rebellion, and Roman General Titus, son of the emperor Vespasian, laid siege to Jerusalem.  It was a horrible event.  The Romans circled the city.  Josephus describes starvation, mass crucifixions, and a death toll of around 1 million people.  They set fire to, and destroyed the city and its monumental temple, which was knocked down.  They left only the western wall (which stands to this day) as a testament to how great the city was that they had destroyed.  They Jews call it the Wailing Wall.

Now Jesus said almost as much.  But he said “not one of these stones will be left upon another”.  So was he wrong?  No, because he wasn’t only speaking of the historical events of 70 AD, but also of the termination of history itself.  The end of this world and the beginning of the world to come.  In a way, all these kinds of catastrophes and disasters of man-made or natural origin – all of them are a sign of the impending doom of all creation.  Then, Jesus’ warnings of destruction will come true in the fullest sense.  And woe to the ones who are outside of his protection in that day.  A stern warning to the ungodly.

But also a strong promise to the faithful.  For we know that no matter how bad things get here, there is an end.  No matter the suffering and trouble, the persecution or danger or sword – all of it will amount to nothing in the end, for Christ gains the victory, and we with him.  So the fact that all of this is temporary is also good news for the Christian.  Because it’s all corrupt, and it must go to make way for the new heavens and new earth.

And then there's our very life. Yes, we know we will die. This corrupted body won't last – it can't. Sin takes its toll. Its wages come due. And the grave waits for us all. Whether it comes through sickness or accident or because someone takes our life away – no matter. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples, who were, almost to a person – to die a martyr’s death.  Crucified upside down (Peter), stoned and clubbed to death (James), stabbed (Matthew), burned (Matthias), and beheaded (Paul).  The early Christian martyrs were thrown to the lions and tortured and killed in all manner and fashion.  And yet Jesus says, “not a hair of your head will be harmed”.

So too, our earthly life may be taken, but our eternal life is secure. Our body may be destroyed, but not a hair on our head is harmed – not according to his promise. For we shall rise at the end, and stand-  hair and head and hands and feet and heart - and live in perfected and glorified bodies – living with our Lord and all his people forever.  Even more, God makes death his own servant – as in Christ we are buried in baptism, and as bodily death becomes the gate to eternal life.  And he even uses death itself to conquer death, by the death of Jesus on the cross.

None of the troubles of this world will last forever. Even death itself is on the clock. But Christ says his words WILL endure forever. And we believe it by his grace!

All that terror and destruction the Bible describes – all the horrors of the end – are all consequences of sin. And while we bear them in part, even now, and while we may bear them more fully as the birth pangs of creation increase and the end hastens – only one bore all the suffering for sin. Jesus Christ.

His cross is the end of sin's hold on this world, and on you. His sacrifice there is the death of death, the source of your life. And the words he speaks, even there, will endure forever: “It is finished”. Sin, death, the power of the Devil – all are finished at the cross. Salvation is accomplished there on Calvary. It is confirmed at the empty tomb of his resurrection. And it will be completely fulfilled on the day that he has appointed. For the world, and for you.

We don't know when it will be. But we see the signs. All around us we see the things Jesus is talking about – wars and rumors of wars. Earthquakes, famines, and pestilence. Persecution of Christians – we may even feel we are under siege like ancient Jerusalem. We look around and the world seems so messed up, our country is in turmoil, and our own personal lives are a disaster.  We could hang our heads low in despair.  We can only see the trouble that is before us.  We might think all hope is lost.  But Jesus says,

“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Straighten up!  Raise your heads!  Stop looking down in despair, but stand tall, look up in hope.  Your redemption is drawing near. It's a sure word of hope in the midst of all that is tumbling down around us. It's a sure word of promise that gets us through the dark days into that bright tomorrow of forever.
You have been redeemed by the blood and death of Jesus.  And you will see the fulfillment of that redemption when he comes again in glory.  Here are words to hold onto when the world is crashing down around us, stone after stone.  When you’re fainting with fear and foreboding and the heavens themselves are shaking – here’s a firm place to stand – in your baptism,  under the cross of Jesus.

They can take away our life, goods, fame, child and wife – but the kingdom ours remaineth. His word fells the adversary. And though this whole world and everything in it will pass away, His promise never goes away. We belong to Jesus – that's the eternal truth that will never change, yesterday, today, tomorrow – even at the end. Amen.

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