Sermon November 15, 2009 "Focus" Mark 13:1-8
Let's read today's text.
(Read)
You'll notice that today's scripture immediately follows last weeks scripture. We just pick up where we left off. And where did we leave off? Oh yeah, the scribes were strutting around in their pretty robes while taking financial advantage of the poor widows. Then as a final indictment on the scribes, a poor widow gives the last few coins she has left in the world. The scribes have everything. The widow has nothing. And each one believes they are serving God. One of them has integrity, one of them is a hypocrite.
With this story fresh in our minds, Jesus leaves the temple. This opening verse to today's text is important. "As he was leaving the temple..." This too, is an indictment on the scribes. God is leaving their institution. Jesus, the Son of God, was walking out the door on their hypocrisy. And he never walked back in. That was it. Jesus had had enough of the show that was being put on by those in charge. They had no sincerity. They did not care about the poor. They cared about themselves. And they did it in the name of God. In God's mind, that is the most serious of sin. Pompous charades in the name of God. And so Jesus leaves. Jesus knows when to draw the line. He will only put up with so much.
As he leaves the temple, one of his disciples comments on the magnificence of the temple. Not surprising they would do that, giving that they were fishermen by trade, and probably lived in humble dwellings. They were not used to seeing such grandeur and they were impressed.
Jesus, however, is not impressed by the building or the people who run it. Jesus then says that this beautiful building will be destroyed. Aren't there many people today who are caught up in the beauty of the church building? Jesus' prediction of destruction is a stern warning against getting caught up in loving the building more than loving people. Those who fall in love with the building may be destroyed along with that which they love so much. Jesus' prediction was fulfilled within the lifetime of his followers. God destroyed their idol: the temple.
Upon hearing of the destruction of the temple, the disciples are curious and want to know a sign, when will it happen? They are typically Jewish, by asking for a sign.
Jesus' response is unexpected. Instead of giving them the exact year or diving into the signs, the first thing he says is for them to watch out, so that no one deceives you. So, what he is saying is that the sign of his second coming is that many will come saying that they are the messiah. Well, many did come after Jesus, claiming that they were the messiah.
Jesus is saying that when he comes again, things will be really bad. Things will be as bad as they are right at Jesus' time. The church is a joke. The caretakers of the church are only caring for the building and not for the people.
There will be hypocritical Christians all over the place. There will be many who try to deceive the church. A couple of worldviews come to mind. One is the view that in order to follow Christ, one just has to act like a Christian. That is, if I just give some money to the church, then that is good enough. I don't have to really believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven, I don't have to regularly attend church; Jesus was just about service. Help people out every once and awhile and you are Christian: wham-mo. This is the view adopted by a surprising amount of people. This is a false gospel, but a very popular one, because you don't have to be sorry for your sins.
Another popular gospel is the Prosperity Gospel. If you give to God, God will give to you. Unfortunately most people think of this one in terms of money. Kind of like God is an investment. If you give God $1,000, in 5 years he will give you $2,000. That's called using God. People are then surprised when they give money to the church and their bank account doesn't double. The Bible verses that point to the Prosperity Gospel have been misunderstood. God is saying, give to me and I will take care of your needs. I will change you from the inside. Spiritual blessings will be poured upon your head. That kind of Prosperity Gospel I believe in. Not the one where God says he will double your money. God wants to bless you, however the blessings may come in ways that you do not easily recognize. He will increase your patience, maturity, peace & happiness. Your checking account may or may not go up.
Nations will rise against nation, there will be earthquakes and famines. Historically in the Bible these signs point towards judgment. God will execute judgment one day - upon those who do not dedicate themselves to Jesus. We call those people non-Christians. He will also come upon many that call themselves Christians but God is not in them. If you're worried about whether you will be saved or not when Jesus comes, then chances are you are indeed saved. Your concern is a sign that God is in you. God will bring judgment upon the scribes of this world; the ones that are in church for the wrong reasons.
Jesus' prediction of the signs of the end of the age is not meant to be a tool for predicting the exact date of Jesus' return. Please don't get caught up in that. Many have throughout history. That is not his intention. If God wanted us to know when, he would've told us. The key here is to stay focused on what we're all about: loving people. Not the building. Not the prosperity gospel: If I give to God, he will double my money. We aren't here to use God; God is here to use us. Amen.
