+ 23rd Sunday after Pentecost – November 17th, 2019 +
Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Milton, WA
Series C: Malachi 4; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-13; Luke 21:5-28
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
If ever we’ve thought of Jesus as our buddy, homeboy, or BFF, Luke 21 might sound like a jarring subwoofer in our ears. Jesus’ words are a little like the Kool-Aid Man, Wreck-It-Ralph, or Godzilla, where he smash to pieces our silly notions of a docile, cute, cuddly Jesus. As Jesus teaches us and his disciples about the Last Days we live in until his return, we’re reminded that Jesus is not a tame God.
There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
Add some shocking pictures, a few gruesome headlines, and some viral videos on YouTube, and Jesus could have just as easily spoken those words in the 21st century as he did in the 1st century.
The fact is, all is not right with this world; but one day it will be. That’s what Jesus prepares us for in today’s Gospel reading. The Last Day. The signs are all around us. Wars and rumors of war. Earthquakes. Persecution. Violence. Famine.
“Come quickly, Lord Jesus,” we pray. We long for our Lord’s return. We look for the new heavens and the new earth. And so we wait, watch, and pray, all the while knowing that our hope is found, not in the rulers of this world – for kings and kingdoms come and go – but in our crucified, risen, and ascended King, whose kingdom has no end.
This world is fallen, broken, and in need of rescue. That’s exactly why Jesus came and why he will come again. In this world you will have trouble, Jesus said, but fear not I have overcome the world. Jesus came to redeem us from this horrible mess that we’ve made of his creation. And one day Jesus will return to rescue us and make the new heavens and the new earth we long to see.
And so in the midst of his warnings about the Last Days, Jesus gives us a promise.
When you see these things take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
In these Last Days, God calls us to live as those who are his baptized beloved children. We live a life no longer controlled by the lusts and compulsions of our sinful nature.
In these Last Days, we stand on holy ground; we eat a holy meal; you are washed with holy water; you hear holy words. The church has faced numerous challenges before, endured far dark days. Christ’s Church has withstood hostile empires, wicked kings, persecution, sword, and martyrdom and yet Jesus promises the gates of hell will not prevail against his bride the Church.
In these Last Days, fix your eyes on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, He who is the Light of the World, the Light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus is with you as surely as he was with his disciples, teaching us and preparing us for his return.
See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them.
Perhaps we’re tempted to join Peter in declaring “Even though they all will fall away; I will not.” And yet we do. All we like sheep have gone astray, each to our own way. Our most dangerous enemies are not political. They’re spiritual. “Devil, world, and flesh, as the catechism teaches us. We’re always looking for someone else to blame for sin in the world or our own. But as Christian author, G.K. Chesterton once said, “What’s wrong with the world? I am.”
This is why Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow him. For Jesus’ cross is what gives us hope in a fallen world. Hope in the face of the devil’s temptations. Hope in spite of our sinful flesh. Our Christian faith centers on Jesus and him crucified for you. And that means hope, come what may.
There’s an old saying from the Cistercian monks: Stat crux dum volvitor orbis. The cross is steady while the world is turning.
So often, our lives in this fallen world feel unsteady, unstable, like they’re one step away, one phone call, doctor’s report, or moment away from coming everything unraveled. The cross is steady while the world is turning.
We’re baptized into Jesus’ cross and resurrection. We’re forgiven because of Jesus’ cross. We’re fed Jesus’ Body and Blood from the cross to his table. We arise and go to sleep and do everything in between under the sign of the cross. Christianity isn’t so much a way of life as it is a way of death, a daily dying and rising in Jesus. As St. Paul says, we are dead to sin but alive in Christ Jesus, who took up his cross and denied himself for you. The cross is steady while the world is turning.
To be sure, living under Jesus’ cross, as God’s baptized children, means we’ll stick out in our culture. The disciples and early Christians did. They were persecuted, imprisoned, brought before kings and governors, handed over by family and friends, and many were put to death.
A sobering reminder that these Last Days are days for us to boldly confess our faith; not with the latest fads, trends, and lukewarm platitudes: but with the faith once and for all delivered to the saint: Jesus Crucified for you for the forgiveness of all your sin.
This will be your opportunity to bear witness, Jesus says. Thankfully, we’re not called to convert the culture, but to speak the Gospel with those God places in our lives in our daily callings – our families, friends, or coworkers. One person, one friend, one neighbor at a time.
Jesus promises to be with you as he was with the disciples: I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. All of this happens when Jesus’ body and blood fills our mouth. When Jesus’ word fills your ears, hearts, and minds. This is the wisdom of the cross: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. For you.
That’s our hope. Even though Jesus promises, You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.
Yet, not a hair of your head will perish. Oh yes, some of his disciples were crucified, beheaded or fed to the lions, but not a hair on their head will perish. Jesus may not be a tame God, but he is good and gracious. The cross is steady while the world is turning.
That’s the hidden comfort in these Last Days we live in. For when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.”
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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