Do Not Be Deceived
Listen.November 15th, 2009
Rev. Dr. Craig A. Wagner
Introduction
The commercials are graphic and somewhat frightening for the new movie that was just released last Friday, “2012: Who will survive?” This is an epic adventure about global cataclysm and those who struggle to survive. The date has been predicted by many religions and scientists, according to the movie producers. John Cusack stars in this dramatic account of the end of the world. These kinds of movies and the end of the world predictions serve as great and thrilling entertainment. We sit in rapt attention and most of us realize they are simply entertainment; but some people literally believe them and view world events as leading to this sort of annihilation. The future can be a scary place since we don’t know what is going to happen.
Of course, end of the world predictions have been around perhaps since the beginning of the world. We know that there are apocalyptic statements in scripture that people have tried to read and interpret when the world will end. In fact, if Martin Luther had been correct in his interpretation of scripture in reflection about the natural events of his day, accompanied by his understanding of the anti-Christ, then, folks we would not be sitting here in worship today.
It appears that every age has its disasters, wars, and natural phenomenon’s that could serve to bring people to think that the end is near! This morning our reading from the gospel of Mark has been interpreted in terms of the end of the world. Chapter 13 in Mark is what some have called the Markan Apocalypse.
The focus is on Jesus
There are two basic scenes in this scholastic dialog: the first is Jesus and his disciples come out of the temple and the disciples marvel at the size of the stones and the enormity of the building. This allows Jesus the opportunity to speak about the temple destruction and how the stones will be thrown down and the temple lay in ruins.
The next scene finds Jesus and the disciples sitting on the Mount of Olives and the disciples are still pondering his prediction concerning the temple. When will this take place; what will be the sign that all this will be accomplished? He answers: there will be wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation and there will be earthquakes and famine – the birth pangs of the end are beginning.
Dire warnings, are they not? They certainly are – but do they refer to the end of world and the sings associated with the return of the son of Man? No, they do not. Let’s look a bit closer at what Jesus is predicting in this text. We recall from history that Israel was controlled by Rome. Israel was an occupied country and subject to the laws of Imperial Rome. It was not always easy living as subjugated, oppressed people. The Israeli people revolted against Rome. In response to that first revolt, Rome came down hard on them without mercy and destroyed the temple in 70 A.D. Destruction of the temple was not easy – with the large stones and the monumental size – but with a fierceness unimaginable, they worked at it until it was accomplished.
Jesus is warning his disciples that the destruction would happen and that as it approached there would be wars and rumors of wars – earthquakes referred to the complete disaster of war and famines were prevalent when war was declared as crops of your enemies were destroyed. Then the Roman army would move in and destroy the temple.
This would be a desperate time for the people of Israel. As the enemy approached and time grew short, people would rise up and claim to be the savior – “Follow me and I will overthrow Rome and be victorious for the people of Israel.” Watch out for these pretenders; they are not the Christ! There were many who rose up to lead the people and whose leadership fell short. Rome would be victorious. We can readily see how the people would have wanted someone with military might, charisma to attract the people and bravado to lead people into battle!
How completely different than the type of Messiahship that Jesus lived out: He was a savior who would suffer and die; yet his kingdom rules all. What we have in this Markan Apocalypse is the historical reference to the Jewish war against Rome. These things have happened – they are but the beginning.
Do not be deceived!
We need to read this text not in terms of the end of the world, but in terms of our focus on Christ rather than on messianic pretenders. We would be ill-advised to focus on temporal events, try to read into the current events of wars and rumors of wars and predict 2012 as the year. Our focus is on Christ Jesus – we need to stand firm in the faith and look to Jesus to sustain us.
There are many in society and the world that pretend to be our salvation. They come in all forms and all shapes. Who are the current ones? Just think of what is happening in today’s world. What do we fear?
We keep hearing about the H1N1 flu virus. It appears to be sweeping across the world as a pandemic. Does our salvation come in the form of the vaccine, the researchers who developed it, the nurses who provide the inoculations or the doctors who can diagnose and perhaps cure it? Are we looking for a savior who can cure the body, but what of the soul? This is not the ultimate thing in life, is it?
We are afraid of terrorists and other violent evil human beings – is our savior more police and law enforcement individuals? This is not the ultimate answer to life, is it?
The economy is difficult and hardship surrounds us. Does our savior become the bank who can help us keep our house, the government who can give us stimulus money? Once again this would be placing our faith and trust in a messianic pretender, because this isn’t the ultimate answer to our life.
I officiated at a funeral not long ago. The picture boards at the funeral home depicted a person whose life evolved around the Dallas Cowboy football team. Is this the ultimate answer to life’s deepest yearnings? I hope not; at least he wasn’t a Bears’ fan!
We ultimately find that all of the problems we face will end one way or another; only to be replaced by other problems and fears. In whom do we place our trust and who is truly savior in our life? We look to Jesus for the ultimate in life giving, and eternal promises. The problems we face; the fears we struggle with; the natural and man-made disasters should be a wake up call to focus more intently on Jesus, the true and only Christ.
Peanuts cartoon: Snoopy and Woodstock are sitting on the dog house. They are looking up at the sky. Snoopy says, “There’s no use getting our hopes up…we’re the lowest of the low…Old Santa Claus couldn’t care less about creatures like us…we don’t count for anything. Next Frame: presents shower down from the sky with a note: “Merry Christmas from the new and improved Santa Claus.!” We search and search for saviors and often miss the one that has true and abundant life – Jesus the Christ! We need not fear, we need no other! Do not be deceived!
Only Jesus
There are false Messiah’s around today. However, our challenge is to focus on Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life – no one comes to the Father or into the kingdom except through him. This appears to be rather exclusive, doesn’t it? Many of us like to think that God is universal in salvation, but Jesus reminds us that it is through him we are saved and brought into the kingdom.
We pray for others, for those who are not yet Christian, but Jesus’ claims stand. Do not be deceived by other claims and the thoughts that “well we’re all trying for the same place!”
In Jesus there is life. In the midst of all the uncertainties and the hardships and the struggles in life, there is one who rises above it all and draws people to himself; Jesus the Messiah of the world. Jesus is the suffering servant who taught his disciples to be ready for the things that come, but reminding them that there is no other Christ than he. God’s grace and love come through Jesus and into or lives making it possible for us to hope in the midst of struggles and hardships and heartaches. We know there is more than what this world offers.
Jesus is the way. In whom do we place our trust and our confidence? Who provides life and hope and love? As we place our faith and trust in the Christ of the world, we see things differently, don’t we? We view others and situations and event in life through the eyes of Jesus – who loved his people so much that he gave up his life voluntarily. How much different is than that other false Messiahs who often desert their people when things go badly. Do not be deceived by the empty promises of others….look to Jesus.
Conclusion
There are times in life when we fail to focus on Jesus and begin to look at other saviors; those who promise of new and improved life, wealth, success and power. Yet, I have found that in those situations, the more we have, the more we want.
Many of you know this about me: when I ride my bicycle, I keep track of the mileage. I’ve done this for many years. It’s also true that I compete with myself (I do win). If I ride a hundred miles in three weeks, I feel that I can ride another 50 or 60 by the end of the month. Whenever I achieve a goal that I’ve set, I move it. There is always the anticipation of one more mile, one more ride this month, one more this year – I seem not to be satisfied until the weather is bad or the end of the year approaches.
Do not be deceived other false Messiah’s will arrive and compete for your attention and your life…but their promises are empty. Jesus brings us life now and whenever the end comes. Amen.