Sermon Tone Analysis

What a difference a day makes!

“What a diff’rence a day makes!”

Hearing those words, many of us can close our eyes and hear Dinah Washington singing her 1959 version of this song.

The song was written first in Spanish in 1934 by Maria Grever, with the title, “Cuando Vuelvo a tu lado” - when I return to your side.

“The English lyrics were written by Stanley Adams, and was played by Harry Roy & his Orchestra.

It was published in late 1934.

The most successful early recording, in 1934, was by the Dorsey Brothers, although it was first recorded in English by Cleveland crooner Jimmie Ague.” - Wikipedia

Dinah Washington’s version earned her a 1959 Grammy as the Best Rhythm and Blues recording of the year.

Her version was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame is 1998.

For those of you who do not know, this was a love song.

Dinah Washington version

“What a difference a day made

Twenty-four little hours

Brought the sun and the flowers

Where there used to be rain

My yesterday was blue, dear

Today I'm a part of you, dear

My lonely nights are through, dear

Since you said you were mine

Lord, what a difference a day makes

There's a rainbow before me

Skies above can't be stormy

Since that moment of bliss

That thrilling kiss.”

Most if not all of us understand all too well what difference a day or a split second makes.

An oncoming vehicle on your side of the road

Police/law enforcement officers knock at your door in the middle of the night

ALS diagnosis

“We regret to inform you ...”

Canoeing far from shore when a nearby canoe capsizes even as we see neither of its occupants are wearing a flotation device.

There are no two ways about it, sometimes what life throws at us seems more than an avalanche or tsunami.

Those events rumbling toward us threaten to engulf and crush.

BUT sometimes the opposite is also true.

In the midst of what seems hopeless, the tied suddenly turns - what a difference a day, an hour or a moment brings.

In the aftermath of the bus crash when so many of the members of the Humboldt Broncos lost their lives, one set of parents who had been told that their son had died, were later informed that one of the survivors had been incorrectly identified.

ONE OF THE SURVIVORS IN THE HOSPITAL WAS THEIR SON!

in the aftermath of the bus crash when so many of the members of the Humboldt Broncos lost their live, one set of parents who had been told that their son had been, were later informed that one of the survivors had been incorrectly identified.

ONE OF THE SURVIVORS IN THE HOSPITAL WAS THEIR SON!

BUT THAT MEANT THAT ANOTHER SET OF PARENTS WHO HAD BEE TOLD THAT THEIR SON HAD SURVIVED NOW HAD TO BE INFORMED THAT THEIR SON HAD NOT SURVIVED THE CRASH.

In the portion of the Word of God that we open today, the events that Jesus explained would happen seemed to be going from bad to worse.

BUT jesus reminded them and encouraged them,

Jesus had explained to His disciples what would happen in the immediate future.

He went on to explain that events in the not so immediate future would be CATASTROPHIC!

Jesus explained that this would a time of severe, great, unmatched tribulation.

BUT the future tribulation - distress will be cut short by the Lord -

Abomination of desolation - ; ; ; ;

Abomination that causes desolation - cryptic phrase that Jesus took from Daniel.

Matthew noted that connection.

Word translated - abomination - refers to that which is detestable, foul, blasphemous and abhorrent to God.

Often used re idolatry and pagan worship practices - Solomon - , Is 44:18-19

Matt

Dan 11:

The portion in Daniel deals with a vision given to Daniel.

For an extended period he had been praying for his people.

Dan 9:

This vision covered a figurative 70 weeks for the people of Israel and Jerusalem.

Some suggest that this last week is 7 years.

As is obvious to all concerned, if the last week is seen as 7 years, the 70 weeks cannot all be sequential, that is follow one after the other.

Dan 9:

The same phrase for abomination was used to describe a later event.

The same phrase is used in 1 Macc 1:54 to describe Antiochus IV (Epiphanes), the Syrian general who outraged the Jews in 168 B.C. by erecting an altar to Zeus on the altar of burnt offering in the temple and sacrificing a sow on it.

The sacrilege of Antiochus in the Jerusalem temple became the dramatic provocation for the Maccabean Revolt, which against all odds earned Jews their only century of political self-rule between the fall of Jerusalem to Nebuchadnezzar in 586 B.C. and the formation of the State of Israel in 1948.

BUT Jesus referred this abomination as a future event that He explained was connected with traumatic universe events and the return of the Son of Man - those days - 13:24-26

Some suggest that for this to be fulfilled there would need to be a rebuilt temple and sacrificial system.

On the other hand, there might be a violation that will desolate or ruin what the Jewish people regard as sacred with regard to the Temple and where God is present.

Before we move on, we need to ask ourselves if there is another manifestation of God’s glory in these days.

Let the reader understand - 13:14

From the context there can be no question that the events referred would be at the end of the age - when all things would be accomplished - 13:4

Might have been an editorial comment referring to Mark’s future readers or Mark might have indirectly quoted what Gabriel explained to Daniel -

Pray that it will not happen in the winter - 13:18

The ensuing events will be so severe that the only option would be immediate full speed flight with no thought for valuables or extras that might be deemed part of survival

Compassion for those who are pregnant or caring for infants - fleeing more difficult.

Pray that not in winter - colder plus rainy making travel and crossing streams more difficult.

Severe events that will happen does not negate the need to pray.

While certain world events will happen God cares for those who pray

Greater tribulation than has or will occur - 13:19

Could not have applied to destruction of Jerusalem, any wars , the horrendous loss of life among non combatants, holocaust, genocides, plagues and natural disasters.

“Great” - Matt 24:21

Worst of all

Very similar to the events recorded in Revelations

Rev 6:12-

During this time of extreme calamity for some who come to faith in Christ.

Rev 7:

In those days there would also be planetary/stellar disruption and then the return of the Son of Man.

What Christ holds in place allowed to go astray

BUT for the elect sake shortened by the Lord - 13:20

Shortened - literally to dock, to cut off leaving a stump - something externally terminated that left unchecked would have continued

For the sake of the elect - whether Israel or believers - God the Lord intervened

Without that intervention all life would have been lost

Deception BUT be on guard - 13:21-23

False prophets, false prophets

In the midst of suffering and uncertainty people will long for deliverance and a deliverer

We cannot look into the hearts of other men and women.

If we are not believers - controlled by the Lord and His Spirit - we are controlled knowingly or unknowingly by Satan.

Jesus explained that.

Jn 8:

Signs and wonders - pseudo miracles

2. BUT in those days, they will see the Son of Man coming -

After that tribulation - 13:24-25

Verses 6-13 generally - verses 14-23 specifically