Rev. Chris Snow

North Hill Christian Church

March 17, 2024

Mark 13:1-8, 24-37

There has been much speculation about the second coming. There have even been many who have claimed to know exactly when it is going to take place, and then of course find themselves making excuses when their predictions fell short. All of these predictions when there is the constant statement from scripture, “Beware, keep alert, for you do not know when the time will come.” 

The texts that we have heard today, in various lectionaries would be heard in late November or early December. Causing us to focus entirely upon the second coming in preparation for celebrating the birth of our Savior, and yet we have these texts before us, a week before we celebrate Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We hear these words a week before we  take time to remember the passion narrative. The narrative of Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, the betrayal by Judas, the arrest, the denial by Peter, and finally the crucifixion. 

With the coming reminders at the forefront of our minds we hear these text pointing to what is going to happen…or what has already happened in a different light. Instead of looking forward to the birth, the beginning the start of something new. We find ourselves hesitantly awaiting the passion week, knowing Christ’s ministry is brought to a great crescendo before being handed over to the disciples. 

Before we go much further we need to do a bit of a dive into the historical context from which these texts arose. All of the gospels were written sometime after 70 CE, when a defining event within Israel took place. There had been a Jewish uprising against the Romans which in turn resulted in the literal destruction of the temple around 70 CE. The early readers and hearer’s of this and the other gospels that spoke of the destruction of the temple had this event fresh in their memory. 

Yet, as we recognize the historical significance of Jesus foretelling of the destruction of the temple, there is also a metaphorical meaning present in the words. As, we hear of Jesus talking about the stones being torn down, we know full well that he is about to be killed. A dual meaning behind the temple language. The physical temple that was still in use up until it’s destruction, and Jesus’ body as temple that contained the divine. 

We hear this temple language at the beginning of the chapter, and then the language at the end of the chapter might call to mind the time of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane, where we hear familiar language of keeping awake. A task that the disciples failed to do, perhaps because they didn’t understand the weight of the circumstance upon Jesus’ shoulders. 

However, what takes place in the midst of these two book end sections is Jesus instructing the disciples that life will continue to move on until the second coming. Even as both the physical and metaphorical temples are destroyed, God will continue to be with the people. Life will continue to move forward, even though it will not be easy. There will be persecutions. There will be war and destruction. Famine will come and go, just as earthquakes will happen. There will be great brokenness, and yet the work that the master has entrusted to the workers, remains.

It is so easy to get caught up in the language of looking forward towards the second coming. Making guesses and assumptions of when it will take place, that we become distracted from the work that we have been entrusted with. Work of preparation…

Preparation…a word that we tend to hear in advent hymns as we prepare for the birth of the savior. Preparation as we listen to John the Baptist’s cries in the wilderness leading up to Jesus’ ministry beginning. Preparation as Jesus told the parable of the wise bridesmaids who made appropriate preparations.

Preparation…a word that does not imply completion or perfection but rather what is necessary for the work to be completed or goal achieved at a later time. Something that cannot be undertaken if we are too busy looking out the window, looking up at the sky waiting for Christ’s eventual return. Instead preparation, implies that we are doing what we can to prepare for the fulfillment of the kingdom of God on earth. 

This past Friday I had a joyous conversation with a couple we met at a St. Patty’s day social choir. At first we thought the only thing that united us was experience with music and the husband being a familiar face as he works at my favorite hardware store. But as we got talking we learned we had a lot more in common. Mainly our faith traditions, while different congregations or denominations, there remained the overwhelming desire to make a difference in the world. To do what we can to make the world around us a better place. As we discussed how each of our congregations are engaged in ministry, it wasn’t about who is better or who is doing things the right way. But instead how are we using the resources at hand to address issues within our community. 

Right now for us that looks like empowering the volunteers of this congregation to work along side of those working towards their citizenship. Or delivering meals on wheels. Or bringing forth donations to help the Salish School. But also opening our building so others too may be uplifted by programs and ministries we may not directly be able to facilitate but our building can help in making those programs possible. 

It can be entirely too easy to find ourselves centered on the mindset that we are not doing enough. That we are not making a difference but I would contend that the hundreds of people a week that come through the doors of our church would disagree. In small or large groups we are making a difference in the lives of our community. 

But, we are encouraged to keep moving forward. Keep awake as we continue to put the resources that God has entrusted to us to work, in preparing our wider community for the Kingdom of God to become fully realized when Christ comes once more.