Opening prayer
Father, we pray that you calm our minds and still our hearts so we can hear your voice strengthen our lives and inspire our spirits. Through your endless grace, may we come to know and serve you better.
Amen.
When people say, “things are getting so bad – I reckon the world is about to end, ” are you filled with dread because you fear for all the people you love, especially the young?
Do these images ever haunt your dreams – a massive comet, nuclear conflagration, global climate suicide?
But, have you also watched the constant stream of bad news and whispered to yourself, “oh please, Lord, make it stop; bring it all to an end?”
And do you ever dream of a world of peace and no suffering?
My message builds on Libby’s powerful sermon on the revolutionary Jesus. More particularly, I focus on the massing tribulations we face as co-workers in Christ’s revolution and the new heaven and earth that is the hope we have in Christ. Do not fear; I will not attempt to be a doomsday witness waving an ‘end is nigh’ date in your face. As it eloquently says in the King James version of Matthew 24:36:
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Instead, I will unpack what the readings may mean when seen prophetically for us and our world.
Now just a warning, Ruth usually reads over my sermons. However, she said she trusted me this week! (Didn’t she know my second name is Moriarty?)
No, I’m reasonably sure I will not make any heretical statements. But just in case I do, brothers and sisters, please note: the opinions and thoughts expressed in this message may not accord with those held by management.
Turning to Luke 21:5-19 first, it is about tribulation.
The narrative starts with the disciples talking about how wonderful the second temple in Jerusalem is, with its jewelled adornments. Akin to how many of us look at magnificent churches, beautiful shoes, or in my case, pretty motorcycles.
The disciples had their feet still in two worlds, like many Christians today.
Jesus wryly responds by telling his disciples that the temple will soon be rubble. He was right. In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the temple. For me, taken prophetically, Jesus was speaking about the finitude of human constructions. Stretching Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 & 3:20 out of context somewhat:
“Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher …What do people gain from all the toil at which they toil under the sun? …All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”
Jesus also pointed to cultural, economic, and political social systems. The temple in Jerusalem represents an entire way of life that passed away, as did the Roman world, the Middle Ages in Europe, the European Imperial Empires, the Third Reich, and the Soviet Union. The same applies now. Change in our lifetimes has been astronomical, perhaps best symbolised by galloping technological change. More broadly, the dominance of Christianity in the West has passed, and even democracy, the great jewel of modernity, is fraying at the edges.
Going back to the disciples and the 2nd temple, unsurprisingly, they ask Jesus (probably with alarm in their voices) when the destruction will begin; or how they will know it’s about to take place. In reply, what does Jesus say to the disciples and prophetically to us? Beware of those coming in my name, referring to the many messianic prophets of his time. And, of course, Christians have had to be wary of people spruiking dates down the centuries, including today. For example, I’ve heard of a church leader on the mainland telling his parishioners that the final day will come before the coronation of King Charles the Third!
Jesus then said, Do not be terrified when you hear of wars, insurrections, earthquakes, famine, and plagues, as this does not mean the end is immediate. As he prophesied, nations have risen against nations, kingdoms against kingdoms all down the ages, including the many wars raging across the globe today. We have also seen famines and plagues across every generation.
Jesus tells us we need not be terrified, but I admit to being apprehensive about the potential signs and portents coming together around climate change. For example, at the COP27 conference last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared that a lack of progress on climate change has the world speeding down a “highway to hell”.
So, things were grim in Jerusalem, and they are for us today. On top of this, Jesus told the disciples and prophetically all Christians down the centuries that we would be persecuted, imprisoned, betrayed, hated and murdered as we walk in his name.
Why is this? It is because influential people start exercising raw power wherever we spread Christ’s revolutionary message that the first will be last, the meek are blessed, and people should love their enemies. This power manifests most clearly when Christians calmly stand up to intolerance, authoritarian rule, and inequality.
And I suggest that if Christians effectively communicate Christ’s message about the emptiness of self-obsession, wealth, and fame, powerful economic interests would not be well pleased. Nothing like a viable threat to the values of economic growth, conspicuous consumption, and competition raises the ire more of those with a significant stake in economic affluence. And that’s not just the hyper-rich.
Nonetheless, Jesus tells us through the disciples that even though many will hate us and some of us will be killed because of his name, not a hair on our heads will perish. If we stand firm, he says, we will win life, or as translated in the NRSV, “by your endurance, you will gain your souls”.
The rest of chapter 21 covers similar ground. Two compelling statements by Jesus are in verses 21:33 and 21: 27:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
&
At that time (as the end draws near), they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
There is also the perplexing statement Christ makes to the disciples in Luke 21 “this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen”. That is a rabbit hole that I can’t go down today, other than to follow NT Wright, who points out that one of the best-known explanations here is the ‘now-and-not-yet’ understanding of God’s reign. The revolution begins with the death and resurrection of Christ and has been slowly growing ever since. God’s reign will reach its ultimate goal in the new heaven and earth.
This brings me to Isiah 65:17-25. There are passages in the New Testament that describe the New Heaven and Earth. (e.g., 2 Peter 3-13 & Revelation 21:1-4) but I’m glad Ruth chose the prophet Isiah’s description. I find it so evocative. Can I suggest you rise early one morning and breathe in the verses? Please don’t see them as scientific predictions. Instead, focus on Isiah’s use of prophetic poetry to picture a radically new world.
The picture is of heaven and earth where suffering, war, and death are no more. Nor will non-human animals face horrifying violence and death. It is a place of peace where God and people will rejoice and delight each other. I also imagine it’s a world where the Father’s glory is everywhere, the Spirit illuminates all the darkness, and the Son repeats the words, “it is finished”, but with much joy.
In light of all this, what are we Christians to do amidst the rising tribulations and persecutions?
Karl Marx, a revolutionary of a different stripe, wrote passionately: “Workers of the World, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your chains!” Marx’s analysis of the economic forces of history and capitalism has great explanatory power. Unfortunately, he had no time for Christianity, arguing “(t)he social principles of Christianity preach cowardice, self-contempt, abasement, submissiveness, and humbleness”….”all the qualities of the lowest orders of people collectively, the rabble, and the vulgar”. Moreover, some of his later followers (e.g., Vladimir Lenin) created a political party led by zealous revolutionaries, which led to the communist revolution. That didn’t end well – some historians say at least 10,000.000 people died during the Russian revolution.
Christ, as a revolutionary, asks us to pursue a profoundly different path. He asks us to be His light so that the world can see. But not a light projecting a need for popular movements to grab control and exercise coercive power. We are to eschew violent and manipulative force and prioritise love for God, neighbours and enemies, as well as forgiveness and, amongst other things, poverty, mourning, humility, justice, mercy, purity, and peacemaking.
If we achieve this in Christ’s name, as I said earlier, we should not be surprised when we face hostility, intimidation, or death. However, this won’t be a bad thing in the sweep of lives that bloom in the new heaven and earth. Moreover, it will allow us to bear testimony to Christ. And we need not worry beforehand about how we will defend ourselves from vindictive judgement. Through the Spirit, Christ will give us wisdom that none of our adversaries can contradict. We may face mortal death, but we have everlasting life.
Let me conclude with some speculation. In the years ahead, I fear growing inequality brought on by greed, climate change and alienation will increase violence and oppression in our world. In this context, we will need to stand up even more for peace, and we will have to open our doors to the marginalised, the poor, and the grieving, including climate refugees and victims of domestic, local, and global violence.
We must also tell people about God’s grace and the good news that is our hope in Christ.
Finally, let me finish with advice from our Bible study last Wednesday.
First, Janet told us of being blessed by seeing her grandson fascinated with spiders constructing their webs. Several of us instinctively shuddered because of our mild arachnophobia. But Rena explained that if we understood the life of spiders, we would lose our fear and love their beauty. After all, most are not dangerous. They are just radically different to us. Then Kathryn said (I’m paraphrasing here), “isn’t this a bit like how we could think about the people we fear, especially strangers and enemies”? It was an insight-filling moment for me – if you strive to understand those who are very different to you, you will learn better how to love them.
Second, Marlene gave us a quote from the Talmud, which is, for me, very helpful.
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now, love mercy, now. You are not obligated to complete the work. But neither are you free to abandon it.
Let us finish in prayer.
Lord, thank you for your wisdom and the inspired words of Isiah and Luke. Please help us not make the things of this fallen world idols. Help us to increasingly focus on you and strengthen us to lovingly and humbly stand against all the loveless power and hatred in this world.
Amen