Redemption In Troubled Times
Notes
Transcript
Redemption In Troubled Times
Redemption In Troubled Times
Baby dedication today. A baby’s life highlights a situation we are all in. There is such promise in life. But there are certain hardships ahead. Struggles with things we don’t even yet know exist. Babies will have challenges in life they are entirely ill-equiped to handle, at least right now.
But there is help along the way as they grow. Our goal as parents is not to raise children, but to raise adults. Prepared, enabled by leading, teaching, and loving to handle the world.
Our scripture today is from a passage where Jesus is doing this same thing - having led by example for three years, He is nos educating and preparing His disciples to step out of the nest - out from His direct ministry - and handle to challenges of the world they could hardly imagine.
The challenge of this passage is not in seeing how it prepared His disciples, but in understanding the ultimate meaning of the prophetic aspects of it. We’ll take the plain meanings, explore the prophetic possibilities, and take comfort in the encouragement of our savior.
Pray
Context:
End of Jesus’ ministry, week before the cross
Disciples marvel at the magnificent temple building.
Jesus predicts it will be destroyed/thrown down and “not one stone left upon another”
Jesus tells of the deceivers who will claim to be the Messiah, of troubles, persecutions, and trial.
But He says these things are signs of the end of the age (That’s the way the Bible describes the end times)
But Jesus tells them they will have the Holy Spirit - God’s presence that lives in a follower of Jesus - to guide and direct them.
Jesus encourages them to endure to the end. The end of time? The end of their Lives? The end of persecution?
After these things, Jesus says this…
14 “But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
I hope you have SO MANY questions hearing this passage! I have been studying it for some time, and I am prepared today to at best give context to most of those questions. One aspect of faith is to be at peace not knowing all the answers. But there are a few certain things we can glean as examine this passage today.
It’s coming...
It’s coming...
Verse 14 gives us a warning - a particular thing, or person - that’s coming. What is this thing? The abomination of desolation? Well, it’s not what you’d want to bring for a house warming party! The name itself is foreboding. We know an abomination is not a good thing, and desolation means to be without. Some of your translations more accurately ‘abomination causing desolation’.
Let’s try and unravel this saying a little. Because this seems to be the marker that will move us from nearing the end, to the end of day.
This phrase comes from the prophet Daniel. (Bonus points if you’ve been able to join us on Wednesday nights as we have been studying Daniel. ) So to understand what’s coming, we must look back
Daniel was a prophet of God to the people a Israel when they were in captivity in Babylon. This was after Moses, the judges, David, Solomon, and all the kings. They had abandoned God as their One True God and continued after many generations worshiping the God’s of the nations. For them, desolation was coming. They had acted wickedly and rebelliously against God. They were taken our of the land, Jerusalem and the temple of God were destroyed. But there was a promise that they would return to the land God had given them. After 70 years of exile, they would return.
This is the context of Daniels ministry. And four times in the book of Daniel, the phrase ‘abomination of desolation’ or a phrase that mirrors that is used. They are used in some very specific ways, and at time in very seemingly cryptic ways. For Daniel, there was something coming.
We have the advantage of history to look back on. And so, we can see some of Daniels prophecies fulfilled.
They returned to Jerusalem and over a period of decades, rebuilt the city and the temple. Worship was restored. There are three events that Daniel clearly points to. And a third that seems far of and unclear.
Antiochus Epiphanies - 168BC. After the Babylonians/Persians, Greece took over. Peace at first. Then there was a push for every area to be Greek-afied. To purge the national and religious character from the Jews, they slaughter many, forbid worship according to the Law. Then he sacrificed a pig on the the alter in the temple of God and set up a statue to Zeus. Daniel points to this with very clear language using the term abomination of desolation.
The Coming Messiah - 70 weeks prophecy. A timeline that anticipated the coming of the savior. This is less obvious, but clear enough that the Jews of Jesus day knew to be looking for Him. This is also predicted in relation to the one who’s abomination would cause desolation - The Messiah being counterpoint to this adversary.
The Next Desolation - There is also another desolation predicted by Daniel. It is at the end of the 70 weeks prophecy. There are a few ways to interpret this. This final week happened after Christ or will be fulfilled at the end of times.
The message from Daniel, though, is it’s coming.
A time of rebellion from God - it’s coming.
A time of destruction - it’s coming.
A time of loss of relationship and connection with God - it’s coming.
This is the context Jesus picks up in Mark 13. This time is coming. Jesus points purposefully to Daniel by His choice of language. But He doesn’t only allow Daniel to speak, Jesus brings some additional clarity. Jesus points forward to two events, while drawing from the events of the past to paint a picture of what is to come.
Within a generation of Jesus, the temple and the city of Jerusalem would be destroyed again. Not by Babylon like the last time, but by Rome.
Paul also speaks of this one who causes desolation
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, 2 not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.
AD70 - Once again, a foreign ruler would stand in the temple. He ended worship (stopped their ability to offer sacrifices), defiled the Holy spaces of God, and tore the temple to the ground. Jesus, like Daniel, validated their prophecy of an ultimate end by declaring a near fulfilment of it to terrifying detail.
But, also like Daniel, Jesus spoke of more than just what was fulfilled in AD70.
The message from Jesus...
The temple will fall - it’s coming.
The old worship will stop - It’s coming.
There will be persecution near term, and at the end times - It’s coming.
It’s crushing...
It’s crushing...
It came in 168BC. It came in AD70. And it’s coming still.
What’s coming is catastrophic. It’s frightening. And it’s heartbreaking.
Jesus spoke in detail of how it would be. That is coming again. The Kingdom of God is willing and purposeful submission to His authority and presence. But this world rebells. If one Kingdom rebells against another, there will be war. And this world wars against the goodness and holiness of God.
God calls us to join Him anyway. To place our allegiance in Him and against this world. Knowing that the result very well could be crushing oppression.
8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. 11 For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
What is it that this world can crush? Nothing but what will wilt away anyway. Whether Daniel, or Jesus, or Paul, or John in Revelation, we are told of the cost we might pay. But are we to count that as high a cost as abandoning our God who gave everything for us? Can we turn our back on Him?
There is a reward for those who remain faithful.
12 And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
What can one who crushes our bodies to to us? Jesus died to save our souls. And when He calls us home, a better and more glorious body He will give us.
So despite the pain and troubles caused by a world of sin, we can rest in this refrain - Yes, Jesus loves me. It might sound simple, but I promise you, it is enough!
Jesus is caring!
Jesus is caring!
Through all that was, that is, and that is to come, Jesus will be enough. His concern and care for His people - created to bear His Image - enough. Let’s take note of a few verses again.
20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
As we close, I want to acknowledge I don’t have all the answers to exactly how the end of days will look. I don’t know when. I’m not certain the order of events. Some people believe there will be a rapture of the church before the tribulation. I think, if you pressed me right now, I would think the church does not get called home before the time of trouble.
But what I am certain of is that Jesus cares, and that Jesus is enough. I think if we do not fall away when things get tough, we will know that. What Jesus warns against - both now and then - is to not buy into false saviors and prophets.
The implication here is that we will be looking for our savior. We will be looking for Jesus, looking to Jesus when things do get hard. That’s encouraging to me. That means the church will be desiring the presence and power of Jesus in the moments we need Him most.
If we will be looking to Jesus then, may we be looking to Jesus now. If He is sufficient then, He is sufficient now. If He comforts then, enjoy His comfort now. There is no better time to lean into a relationship with Jesus that firth now. Hear Him. Trust Him. Learn of Him and from Him. A friend of mine shared an exchange with Charles Spurgeon.
When asked: "Which is more important - reading God's word or prayer?"
His response: Which is more important - breathing in or breathing out?"
God cares in His personal, relational interaction with us.
God also cares by bringing an end to trials. ‘For the sake of the elect… He shortened the days’
There are times we will go through much hardship. I can do nothing bout encourage and speak of blessing, but if we don’t acknowledge the reality of loss, and injustice, and wickedness, we are much more likely to be led astray. By convincing ourselves God doesn’t care, or by seeing the prosperity of the wicked as evidence of God’s indifference.
The presence of trouble today doesn’t discount the love of God. If Jesus suffered unjustly, my suffering is no more unjust. Jesus didn’t endure the cross for the purpose of death, He chose it to bring life. Our suffering isn’t God’s purpose for us, but it is necessary as we let go of the things of this world and cling ever more to Him.
A third point of hope from this passage. Jesus cares by providing us the plan. He gave us the roadmap of history.
I have an uncle who lives on 40 acres in the mountains of Northern California. He’s at the end of a dirt road with a very large canyon behind him. When He first moved there, he had a neighbor who was less than friendly to unwelcome guest. The directions to his property went something like this…
Take the road 1/4 mile down from the post office/general store, over the bridge. Then take the first three right forks in the road, then a left. You’l get to a gate that says “No Trespassing”, “Caution, Land Mines”, “Trespassers will be shot”, etc. Go past that gate and around the bend. I haven’t had a change to grade the road since winter, so be careful of the deep ruts. We’ll be so glad to see you when you get here!
The challenges of the road are part of the journey. His peacefulness of His place would not be the same if the road was paved! But I was invited, and welcomed. He could have given me GPS coordinate and let me figure out how to get there myself. But his directions shoed he cared. God’s directions in warning us ahead of time are another way He cares for us. (By the way, that property with all those warning signs, my grandparents purchased it and made it another lovely and welcoming place!)
We have the opportunity to share God’s goodness and love. His forgiveness through Jesus taking our guilt punishment on Himself. We can share that by how we respond in hope and love to the troubling things on the horizon. We can share by how we respond to the crushing things around us. And we can share by telling of God’s roadmap to eternity. From the cross to God’s presence in Heaven.
And along the way, if we follow Jesus like He has asked us to, we might share in the process of redeeming some lives that had all sorts of warning signs on it. Warning, stay away, trespassers will not be tolerated. But there is hope - for us, and for them. When we first feel the love and forgiveness in Christ, then share it freely.
Prayer
We will sing a closing song was we normally do. But as we sing, can we have the children brought up to join us? After this song, I’ll ask Derek and Maggie to come up with Eleanor. We will have a time of prayer and dedication for this new member of their family.
Song
As God has laid out direction and purpose for us, He asks that we give direction and meaning for Eleanor. A Christian parent is not just preparing a child to be an adult, but directing them to the one path of salvation - Jesus Christ. I’m going to ask that you two commit, for your part, to raise her in in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
What is of highest importance to Jesus, should be of highest importance to us.
1 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2 And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3 and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me,
Parents receive a special gift from God when they are blessed with a baby.
Derek and Maggie,
will you commit to put your personal desires and needs aside, to seek direction and guidance from God, and to purpose to share your faith with Eleanor, praying for the day that your faith in Christ is hers as well?
Will you commit to encouraging Eleanor to seek meaning in God’s word, fellowship with God’s people, and to trust God for her ultimate good?
There is family here today as well. I will ask for your support as well.
Family, will you commit to encourage, support, and pray for Eleanor sharing first a love for God and also a love for family?
Will you encourage, support, and pray for Derek and Maggie, deferring to them the position of authority as parents, yet lending your own experiences and wisdom?
Church family, God has places us here together for strengthening and sharing with one another. That doesn’t mean we take the place of the parents, but it does mean we can be present and aware, guarding alongside Derek and Maggie.
Church, will you commit to caring for, protecting from any harm, guiding and teaching Eleanor - loving her as your own family?
Ask to hold Eleanor
Eleanor, you are too young to make commitments. You will have many days to grow, and learn, and struggle to find your path. But we will pray that you find the salvation offered through Jesus, and that your follow how He leads you.
Prayer of Blessing for Eleanor
Present Eleanor to Maggie. Present certificate and Bible to Derek.
Ask for help with tables. Invite people to stay for lunch. Pray (or ask…) for the meal.