November 15, 2015
Sunday

Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Mark 13:5 – 8

“Here is my paraphrase of what Jesus would say today, “Everyone needs to relax. Quite a few terrible things happen in life. I know it is scary, but you should see the opportunity to serve others. Don’t be led astray by leaders who offer easy and simplistic answer and blame other people for our problems. Pull together in the hard times, that is how you get through. I’ll be with you too, and I will show you the way. Things will get difficult, but stick together and remember what is important in life – to love one another.” I also want to say a few words about the context of the first readers of the Gospel. They read this episode after the Temple had been destroyed by Roman armies in 70 AD, just a generation after Jesus had said these words. I read the account by Josephus, the Jewish historian who was present at the destruction of the Temple and sack of Jerusalem. The Roman soldiers were so frustrated by the tenacious defenders of the Temple, that when they finally gained the upper hand, the troops went wild and killed everyone, raping and pillaging, much to the embarrassment of Titus, the commanding general. Josephus said Titus tried to restrain the slaughter and the burning of the Temple, but he was too late to stop the atrocity. The world was probably appalled, much like we were when we heard stories about “My Lai” coming out of the Vietnam War. When Titus was offered the traditional wreath of victory by the Roman Senate, he reportedly refused it and said, “There is no glory in destroying a people whose God has forsaken them”. I believe Mark’s Gospel was written right after this terrible atrocity, so it is no wonder that he has the sharpest contrast between Jesus and the Temple Priests. Mark is making clear that Christians had nothing to do the Jewish rebellion that lead to the destruction of the Temple. In fact, they were oppressed by the Temple aristocracy as well. Jesus warned them and see what they did to him. Mark is saying to Rome, “We aren’t them, so don’t kill us too.” Luke is writing later and is more circumspect. His message is to not lose heart or be lead astray during terrible times, for Jesus will guide you through. Don’t be impressed by wealth or grandeur because it does not last, but also don’t be overwhelmed by tragedy, because that will not last either.” (Blooming cactus website, November 12, 2012 “Not A Stone Left”, Mark 13:1-8)

There is a beginning to the birth pangs, but there will also be an end. There will be a beginning to wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes, but they all eventually stop. Even if this text from the gospel of Mark was written soon after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD, they would have been living in a time where they were learning how to live in a post-Temple world. The destruction was over, the healing was ongoing, and they were still able to worship the living G*d. And Jesus would want us to find a way, just like those living in a post-Temple world, to find a way to get on with life, to get on with worshipping G*d, and to continue to show all people love, mercy and grace.

Our world has a lot of birth pangs – and the birth pangs we live with seem as if they will never end. But they will. It may not be in my lifetime, but we will one day see that love will win the day. There will come a day when the reign of Christ will project the love of G*d in all circumstances; because the love of G*d is patient, kind, not jealous, not arrogant, believes all things and hopes all things, and is the perfecter of all things.

Pastor Dave