Hope In What Endures - Sermon for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday After Pentecost (November 17, 2024)

Scripture Readings: Daniel 12:1–3 | Psalm 16 | Hebrews 10:11-25 | Mark 13:1–8

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23).

What does our hope rest upon?

Like many people around the world, in these past two weeks I’ve had to experience and come to grips with some serious disappointment and discouragement. I try not to talk to much about my own political positions from the pulpit… mostly because my views aren’t all that important in the grand scheme of things. 

We don’t gather here each week to listen to my opinions… or my grand pronouncements… but to try to listen together to God’s word to us all: to be transformed together by the Good News of Jesus Christ, shared with us throughout the Bible, and to worship Him alone… receiving the gift of His new life, in word and sacrament… His saving grace offered to us all, through faith in Him.

But in reflecting on our Scripture passages today, it seems to me that the events of these last few weeks… the results of the American election, and the reactions that many have had to it… are being addressed in a relevant and meaningful way, and might actually help us reflect on the bigger picture of what biblical hope is all about.

As I said, I was personally disappointed by the results of the American election. Specifically, how so many people chose to entrust such significant power and influence over the lives of millions of people, in their own country and around the world, to someone with such deeply suspect character, and openly self-serving plans and motives.
A great part of my disappointment comes from the fact that so many of our fellow Christian brothers and sisters have rallied around him… and seem to see him as chosen by God to bring about a “greater” and more “faithful” America.

To these kinds of claims, my mind goes to places like Matthew Chapter 7:15-20, and the words of our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord:

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-20).

Now before I start getting too self-righteous here, we need to remember: this is a warning for everyone… not just directed at those who we disagree with. These words apply to us all! And so, while we need to beware of people using our faith to lead us astray, we also must take care that we don’t find ourselves producing bad fruit of our own.

All this is to say that I, and a lot of people are disappointed by how the election turned out, and are also concerned about what this all will mean for the future of our world. But that should really be no surprise: after all every election leaves lots of people feeling disappointed. It’s kind of how democracy works: one party or candidate wins, and others lose. Every single time, someone’s dreams are dashed, and some are achieved. 

And this uncertain reality actually offers us a pretty good life lesson: Maybe the world's hopes… maybe our hopes shouldn’t be resting on something as changeable as the opinions of American voters.

Decisive moments in life, like elections, often shine a spotlight on where our hopes really rest... and thankfully, our Scripture readings today call us to reflect on where we have set our hopes… as well as inviting us to place our trust in what is… or who is truly unshakeable. 

In our reading today from the Gospel of St. Mark, we hear some challenging and perhaps frightening words from our Lord, that certainly shook His first followers, and has the power to keep doing so today. 

This passage is just a small part of a long section of Jesus’ teachings, found also in Matthew and Luke, that tend to activate a lot of our own hopes and fears about the fate of our world, and what the future holds for us all.

Those of us who have been taking part in our Bible Study on the Book of Revelation this Fall might remember that this passage has a deeply prophetic purpose and meaning within the story of Jesus, helping us see what He’s up to.

And these words remain very relevant for us today, but not as some collection of cryptic clues to be pulled out of context to help us try and puzzle out an exact roadmap for the events of the ‘end times’. Many still use Jesus’ words that way, and it tends to lead to some strange conclusions that often run counter to the Good News of Jesus Christ that we His followers have been entrusted with.  

This is why it's so important for us to try to understand what Jesus is speaking about in His own context long before we try to apply His words directly to our own day… trusting that this is how God’s Spirit sheds His light on our own situations.

And so, in this passage, we find Jesus preparing His followers for some dramatic events in their not-to-distant future… warning them about the dangers ahead, while also offering them hope. Not the hope that believers will somehow be whisked away from all the troubles of the world… but a hope that can help them, and you and I, to persevere when we must face those troubles.

In short: Jesus is challenging the false-hopes of His followers, so that we can place our hope in what will endure.

The passage begins with our Lord’s disciples admiring the grandeur and glory of the Holy Temple of the Lord, the Living God, in the heart of Jerusalem. This Temple was built by King Herod… a puppet king of the powerful Emperors in Rome… on the site of Solomon’s Temple, which had been destroyed long ago by Babylon.

King Herod built many wonderful buildings in his day, including the Temple, always eager to show off his power and greatness and win the admiration of others. In fact, Herod was not really known for his devotion… he used projects like rebuilding the Temple for political gain, and to win influence over his subjects… trying to buy their loyalty by giving them what they want, and making a show of supporting the faithful.

And like most of the people in their day, Jesus’ disciples were deeply impressed with what Herod had done, and for what it meant for the future of their people. After centuries of being kicked around by one empire after another after the Exile, they were now able to worship and practice their faith in ways that made sense to them. Their holy city was no longer a ruin, but was becoming a proud centre of life once again. How could they not look with wonder on the Temple… this tangible sign of God’s presence with them. How could they not get excited, especially now that the Messiah, their rabbi had come. Soon Jesus would set up His Kingdom in Jerusalem, and everything would be wonderful.

But as it turns out, even the disciples were looking for hope in the wrong places. 

Mark 13:1-2, “As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” (Mark 13:1-2).

Not. One. Stone. 
All will be thrown down.

Far from being a sign of God's favour, Jesus says the Temple built by Herod was bound for destruction. It would all come crashing down, shattering all hopes of a return of the glory days of King David… or a seamless, painless transition into the eternal Messianic Kingdom. And far from sharing in their hopes, Jesus seemed to be pointing towards a return to their people’s worst nightmare: a return to the horrors of Exile.

At one of the lowest points in the story of God’s people, the armies of Babylon had defeated Jerusalem, centuries before… leveling the grand Temple that King Solomon had built, and devastating the city. At that time, it seemed like all hope was lost for Israel.

But even in that lowest moment, the Living God did not abandon His covenant people, even though their unfaithfulness and folly had brought the Exile upon them. And God had kept hope alive for those in Exile through faithful prophets like Daniel, who had to learn how to live under the power of proud and ungodly rulers, while staying true to the LORD. Learning how to be faithful to the Living God, even when that put them in harms way.

And in His mercy, God brought His people through this time of Exile, and brought them back home again to the land He had promised them… something they could never have achieved on their own.

And now… after centuries of struggle, and rebuilding, and waiting for God’s Messiah and Kingdom to come… expectations were high that God’s final victory over their enemies must be drawing near at last.  

But rather than feeding these hopes, Jesus points instead to a time soon to come when His followers would see the Temple, the Holy City Jerusalem, and all that seemed so sure and promising brought low again.

Not. One. Stone. 
All will be thrown down.
 
Mark 13:4-8, “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.”

And Jesus will go on to speak of armies surrounding Jerusalem… and that all those who could flee should do so without delay. He speaks of terrible suffering… and tragic circumstances… including the persistent persecution of His followers… and warning of deep betrayals, tearing families apart because of Him. Mark 13:12-13, “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Mark 13:12-13).

Did you hear that last part? The one who endures to the end will be saved. The hope is not in avoidance… but endurance… in remaining faithful, no matter what comes. 

And all these things did come about: Jerusalem fell to Roman armies, and the Temple was destroyed mere decades after Jesus said these words.

Just as He said, other charismatic would-be Messiahs called for armed uprisings against Rome, and after a few years of rebellion, Caesar sent in his legions to completely crush Jerusalem.

Now if Christ’s disciples had placed their hopes on a building… however sacred it may have seemed… their hopes would have been completely crushed.

And if His disciples had placed their hopes in the establishment of a stable and secure society, shaped by leaders claiming to be in line with the will of God, they would have been put to shame.

In His mercy, Jesus challenges the false-hopes that even His followers had: He knew God's Kingdom was not going to arrive in the way that they had hoped… and perhaps, the way that you and I would have hoped.

Instead, Jesus invites us all to place our hope in Him… He says to us: ‘trust in Me… be faithful to Me, even when everything else is falling apart… place your hope in what I am up to… what I am doing… and if you do, you will truly get to see God's glory!’

At another decisive moment in Jesus' story, He would stand before the High Priest Caiaphas, and the Jewish Elders. He would be falsely accused of many things… but one charge stands out: some claimed that Jesus said He would destroy the Temple that Herod built, and rebuild it in three days. To those in charge, Jesus was seen as a challenge to how their whole society and faith operated. The things that Jesus was saying and doing was threatening everything that they had hoped to preserve… especially their way of life centred around the Temple. 

But Jesus had not been speaking about the Temple that Herod had built… Jesus meant the Temple of His own body… the Truest Meeting Place between Heaven and Earth. Jesus knew His own people would reject Him… publicly shame Him… and execute Him as someone apparently accursed by God. Jesus knew that those who opposed Him would destroy His body… would cast it down and crush it at the cross… devastating the dreams of everyone who loved and followed Him.

But He also knew that three days later, He would rise again! He knew that in Him, God's unshakable Kingdom could never be overthrown.

The Good News of Jesus, the Crucified and Resurrected Saviour of our world, calls into question so many false hopes… but it offers us something far greater: God’s eternal life, which Jesus has already won for us.

He is our great High Priest, who has dealt with our sins and failures once and for all through His atoning sacrifice. He is the true meeting place, the Temple where we can encounter the life-changing love of God, and be filled with the power of His own Holy Spirit. 

In a world full of false hopes, and tempting voices trying to lead us astray… Jesus Christ alone is our hope. He is the One who holds our future… and He is the One who holds us today… helping us to endure, whatever comes.

So, where have we placed our hope? 

Are their still some false hopes we have been holding onto, trusting in people or things that will not endure? 

Our buildings and institutions will not last forever. But God's Kingdom will.

Our leaders and society will all one day be shaken. But our fellowship in the Holy Spirit is truly unstoppable.

Our careers, our homes, our hobbies, our families, even our lives will all one day come to an end. But in Jesus, the Crucified and Resurrected King of Kings, we have the promise of eternal life, and an invitation to share in His glory without end.

Jesus Christ is our only Lord. The only One who we can truly place all our hopes in, and not be put to shame. 

What he did for us all, once and for all, at the cross has set the course and destiny of our world. Nations will rage, and evil may run rampant for a time… but their end will come. And His victory… the victory of God’s saving love won at the cross will be made complete.

Until then, we are called to remain true to Jesus, our Saviour King. To place our faith, and love, and hope in Him… whatever comes.

I’ll close now with a passage from our reading from the Letter to the Hebrews (10:19-25):

“Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Amen.