Proper 28B (Pentecost 26 2024)

Text: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

“One of the things religious people have done relatively badly— especially in recent years— is they have failed to delineate the relationship between faith and courage” (Peterson, Jordan. “Jordan Peterson— How to Destroy Your Negative Beliefs.” Chris Williamson (YouTube Channel). November 27, 2023).

That is what I hope to remedy today.

How optimistic do you feel right now? Knowing many of you, I suspect that you feel more positive than you did a few weeks ago. I’m very happy for that. At the same time, how far should that go? In the days leading up to the election, my social media feeds were filled with people who were quoting Psalm 146:3, “3 Put not your trust in princes.…” That’s still true. The psalm does not say, “Put not your trust in princes with a ‘D’ behind their name.” It says, “Trust not in princes,” because, “4 When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:4). How much more true is that when you add in our election cycle? There is nothing that can be done in one administration which can not be undone in the next.

I am not telling you whether you should be more or less optimistic because of the results of the recent election. I am cautioning you against putting too much faith in it. We were reminded just four years ago that there are threats which are beyond the capacity of our elected officials to handle. And is the world more stable now or is it less stable?

Again, I am not telling you whether you should be more optimistic or less optimistic because of the recent election. The point is that the end is coming— whenever that might be and whatever form it might take— and, “13 the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

Or let us assume that the recent election really has ‘fixed’ our country. How optimistic do you feel about our congregation? We are roughly a year and a half away from celebrating this congregation’s 150th anniversary. How likely is it that we will be able to celebrate our 175th? Our 200th? Our 250th? Our 300th? Many of you have seen the list of names and faces here change dramatically during your lifetime. Will we be able to endure the next Covid? What other crises are out there on the horizon? What are the chances that we will simply wither away?

I’m sure you have heard many different solutions from people about what we need to do or what we need to change to be the church we should be. We need to change our worship style; we need to reorganize our church governance to make us more ‘mission-minded’; we need a better pastor. I would suggest to you that there are always areas where we can improve in each of those areas, but can you really guarantee that your changes can ensure another 25 years— or 50 years, or 150 years?

This morning is not about predicting that life span or diagnosing whatever problem we may have. The point is that the end is coming— whenever that might be and whatever form it might take— and, “13 the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

Or let us assume that this congregation will stand for centuries more. How optimistic do you feel about your own life? Many of you are well established. We tend to be fairly secure, fairly comfortable. But think about the best possible outcome. The best that any one of us can hope for is to ensure that, when your end comes, your children are well established and that the wealth and property you have built up are disposed of in the way that you would prefer. That is the best that any one of us can hope for. Again, that is the best that you can hope for. There is no guarantee that your future does not hold something far less than ideal.

Whether we are talking about our nation, our community, or your own life, the point is that the end is coming— whenever that might be and whatever form it might take— and, “13 the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

Have I cheered you up yet?

It’s depressing, to say the least. Then you add in all of the things that Jesus warned you about in the Gospel reading— false teachers deceiving God’s people and leading them to their destruction; wars and rumors of wars, nation rising against nation; earthquakes, famines, and plagues. Then, as if that were not enough, you, as God’s people, have even more to look forward to: suffering and persecution and betrayal by those closest to you for Jesus’ sake.

The end is coming. And “13 the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13). How in the world, does your faith give you courage to face all of that? How in the world does your faith give you the courage to endure?

The answer, of course, is Jesus.

How many of you wondered about the picture at the bottom of the second page in your bulletin? The picture of the man with the white beard, wearing a robe, holding a sign that says, “The end is near!” A runner is approaching him with his hand up, ready to give the man with the sign a high five. That is the picture I hope that you carry with you from this week’s service and next week’s.

When we talk about the end of the world it is usually a discussion filled with fear. Normally, when you picture that man with the white beard, wearing a robe, holding the sign that says, “The end is near!” the message that is conveyed is one of fire and brimstone. And that is the message for those who do not believe: Repent. The day of judgment is coming; it is closer than you think. Repent and trust that the One who will return on that day— crowned with glory, honor, power, and majesty— who will come to judge all of humanity is also the one who still bears the scars from the crown of thorns, the scars from the nails that held Him to the cross, the scar from the spear that confirmed His death. Repent and believe that those scars are for you. They mark the full payment for the judgment that you deserve.

But for you, as believers, the message that “The end is near!” has an added meaning— the meaning illustrated so beautifully in the picture. Your faith gives you the courage to endure because of Jesus.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the end is coming. Christ will soon return. Believing that firmly, holding firmly to that faith, “1 Let us… lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted” (Hebrews 12:1–3).

Laying aside the sin which clings so closely is no small battle. There will be some who fail to obtain the grace of God, some because the root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble and by it they become defied. Others will fail to obtain the grace of God when they trade their birthright for a few moments of sexual immorality. They may find no chance to repent, even though they seek it with tears (Hebrews 12:15-16). Do not give up the fight against sin. It’s true that, “4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:4). But you fight that battle in the power of Jesus’ blood.

Yes, there will be trials. There will be wars and rumors of wars, there will be natural disasters, there will be persecution and suffering. But, “5 have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:5–11).

The end is near. Jesus is coming soon. “12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:12–14). Because “13 the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).