The End of the Age Devotional

March 29th, 2020

Devotional

“End of the Age”

Mark 13: 1-8, 24-37

Keep the sermon topic and Biblical text preaching all week by following Pastor Michelle on twitter @tinypastor and reading her sermon blog www.revmichelle.blogspot.com

Monday: “Look” - Mark 13:1

  Have you ever seen the signs that say that things are not as they appear? Jesus is trying to wave one of those sings in front of his disciples in this evening’s passage. Jesus and his disciples are leaving the temple, probably after a time of Jesus teaching, and one of the disciples tries to point out to the group the beauty of the place they just came from. Maybe he was really stuck by the outward beauty of the temple or maybe he was just trying to start a conversation, but either way his observations were cut short as Jesus gestures to all of the great buildings around them, including the temple, and saying that the time will come when they are no longer standing - no longer considered to be great. 

Isn’t this true in our lives as well? That things are not always as we think that they appear.  What seems to be the most solid may not last and what seems like an ending is only a beginning. We, like Jesus’s disciples, sometimes get too caught up in outward appearances. We get caught up in rumors and gossip. We get caught up in the limited way that we see things, when Jesus is trying to open up our eyes, the disciple’s eyes, to the much larger picture of what is going on. 

How do we sometimes get caught up in the outward appearance of things?

Prayer: God, we confess that sometimes we get swept up in the appearance of the world around us. We have failed to see with your eyes. We have failed to discern with your heart. Forgive us, O Lord. Give us your eyes to see and your ears to hear so we can see with the heart of Jesus. Amen. 

Tuesday: “Not One Stone” - Mark 13: 2-4

It is believed that the gospel of Mark was written around 70AD, right around the time that the temple of Jerusalem was seized and destroyed. When Mark looked out of his window at the ruins of the temple, did he remember these words of Jesus about not a stone being left upon a stone? 

The disciples interest is now peaked. Tell us when these things will happen. Tell us how to know that they are coming. Just like us, the disciples seem to want to know the future. But instead of directly answering their questions, Jesus instead gave them advice and wisdom that they would need to carry on the purposes of the Kingdom of God in his absence. He warned them that if they spent too much time trying to predict the future, they would end up being deceived and led astray. 

Why do people try to predict the future?

Prayer: Lord, stop us from being caught up in the future. We, like the disciples, are curious about what is to come and when. Let it not distract us from the mission you have laid before us, we pray. Amen. 

Wednesday: “Birth Pains” - Mark 13: 5-8

When I was in college I took a class on New Religious Movements and Cults. Something that I was struck by again and again as we studied each religious movement was the more that folks tried to predict the end times, the more they tried to decipher a set date when Jesus would reappear, the farther they moved away from the heart of the gospel message. And then when their predictions ended up being wrong they would simply say that was God’s will and set about trying to predict it again. 

  But Jesus, as he is teaching his disciples isn’t looking for signs - he is looking for teachings that will sustain them in his absence. He is looking for them to be so grounded in the gospel message that they will not be deceived by false teachings and promises. 

What is Jesus trying to teach his disciples?

Prayer: Almighty God, as frightening as what we read about in your Word is, we also know that these are the birth pains that allow for something new to come forth. Open up our spirits in anticipation of what you are doing in the world. Amen. 

Thursday: “My Words” - Mark 13: 24-31

Our goal isn’t to become an expert in the end times, but instead to live as Christ’s faithful disciples here and now. Christ is looking for day to day faithfulness. Not faithfulness just on the big things, but faithfulness in every aspect of our lives. Faithfulness that will lead others to know the good news of the gospel. Because at the end of the day we are vessels for God’s message. Note, however that we are striving for faithfulness in our own lives. We can become equally distracted when we start to judge the faithfulness of others. In fact, often when we start to judge the faithfulness of others its because we don’t want to look into our own hearts to examine our own motives. 

Further, we need to be discerning. The point of being discerning, however, is not to try to predict when Jesus will come back. The point is to keep ourselves from being led astray by false teachings. 

For years, I used to teach Bible Studies at local universities. Every few years a group of students would ask to study Revelation, which often led to a conversation about why they wanted to study the book of Revelation. The first answer was always the same “so we can prepare ourselves for the end times.” I would often ask students when we entered into this study to be there every single week, and usually over the course of an entire school year, we would slowly work our way through the book, until at the end they world declare “this wasn’t what I thought it was at all.” The book of Revelation instead of teaching them how to know the signs of the end times, often taught them instead how to be faithful and discerning Christians here and now. 

What does it look like in your life to be faithful and discerning?

Prayer: God of Grace, thank you for calling us to a life of faithfulness, a life that seeks after you. Equip us to share your truth and love with the world, we pray. Amen. 

Friday: “No One Knows” - Mark 13: 32-37

  Believers must also be patient. Jesus described some awful things that were going to take place in this world and described them simply as birth pangs. As I write this sermon, I have two dear friends who are in the process of giving birth. The first has been having contractions on and off for the last month. However, her doctor has helped her to realize that these aren’t contractions that will lead to her son’s birth, but instead are simply ones to prepare her body for what is to come. She needs to be patient.

  We too, need to learn to be patient. Changes don’t happen in people’s hearts over night. We aren’t called to simply share the gospel message once and then have a friend or family member or stranger come to accept the Lord. If that happens, it is wonderful. But often in takes 15-20 positive interactions with Christians who care about them before they even step foot in a church building, let alone accept the Lord. We need to be patient and keep being faithful in sharing the gospel message, no matter what.

And perhaps it is that no matter what part that is the most difficult. Jesus lists these frightening things that are going to take place but then asks us to continue to witness to the good news which is about hope. For Christians there is always hope, no matter how things appear. How can be we be a people marked by hope as we go about witnessing to the gospel message?

Prayer: God, give us hearts of patience that actively wait for your return. Let us be watchful, we pray. Amen. 

Saturday: Preparing for the Word

You are invited to read and pray this week’s text and topic to prepare for worship: “Triumphal Entry” - Mark 11: 1-11