Hope in difficult Times

January 29 Week 1 Hope

Series: Places where we can meet God

Title: Hope in difficult times

Theme: God with us

Text: Mark 13:24-37

Goal: Meeting God with hope in difficult times

ME: ORIENTATION: FIND COMMON GROUND WITH THE AUDIENCE

The First Sunday in Advent.

New church calendar year we are moving from A to B today

The journey of His coming

WE: IDENTIFICATION (MAKE IT CLEAR THAT YOU STRUGGLE)

If you Cough, people notice. Especially if they don’t know you, they look with suspicion wondering whether you have the virus. There is all the frustration of all we have been doing to protect ourselves from the virus. The two are clashing with the need for relief. Nothing makes that rumble to the surface like holidays.

I am very frustrated with this myself. You add on top politics, which I attempt to avoid these days, and frustration builds. So how can we work through this time?

Places where we can meet God.

If God is with us where is he now?

GOD: ILLUMINATION (THE GOAL IS TO RESOLVE THE TENSION

I. What was the world like?

A. Times of the Disciples

The famine (Gk. limos) which severely affected Judaea in the principate of Claudius (c. ad 46–47) is attested in other records: thus Josephus tells how Queen Helena of Adiabene bought grain in Egypt and figs in Cyprus for the relief of hard-pressed Judaeans (Ant. 20.51f.). This famine figures in Acts as the occasion for the first instance of inter-church aid: when it was foretold by Agabus in the church of Syrian Antioch, that church collected a sum of money for the relief of the Jerusalem church (Acts 11:27–30).

The proclamation of Rev. 6:6 indicates that food prices would be up to ten times as high as in normal times.

In 2 Cor. 11:27 ‘hunger’ (limos) is due to absence of food; ‘without food’ (nēsteia) implies voluntary fasting.

Martyrdom of Paul (65-67AD)

Martyrdom of Peter (64 AD)

Gospel of Mark Written 62-68 AD

Matthew. 60’s

Luke 64-70AD

John last of first Century early second Century, some are saying before 70AD because nothing is mentioned about the destruction of the temple.

Nero 54-68AD

He was like a Hitler in the death and genecide of people of the faith.

Global Pandemic

Antonine Plague 165 AD

Cyprian plague 249AD North Africa 20 years

25% of the Empire died. If this was the USA population 82 million would die out of 328 Million.

B. Gospel of Mark

Mark is to defend Jesus universal call to discipleship.Fellowship with Jesus is the mark’s the heart of a disciples life, this fellowship includes trusting him , confessing him, taking notes of his conduct, following his teaching, and being shaped by a relationship to him. Be ready to face the rejection Jesus did.

ἐκλεκτός (eklektos). adj. chosen. Chosen or worthy of choice (excellent).

This is an adjective derived from the verb ἐκλέγομαι (eklegomai, “to choose”) and means “chosen.” Like Greek adjectives in general, it can be used as a noun meaning “chosen one”; it is the usual translation in the Septuagint of the Hebrew בָּחִיר (bāḥîr, “chosen one”). Outside the nt, eklektos can refer to things or people chosen by humans, but the nt uses it only for people (and angels) chosen by God; thus, in the nt it primarily refers to believers in Jesus (e.g., 1 Pet 1:1; Rev 17:14). In the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew, eklektos refers to those who have been brought into the kingdom of God as outsiders, in contrast to those who were invited and did not come (Matt 22:14). The tribulation that follows the “abomination of desolation” is said to be cut short on account of the elect (eklektos) (Matt 24:22–31; Mark 13:20–27)

II. The Coming Of the Son Of Man

A. Text before the Gospel Lesson

the tribulation that follows the “abomination of desolation” is said to be cut short on account of the elect (eklektos) (Matt 24:22–31; Mark 13:20–27)

the abomination of desolation standing where he should not” means. This indicates that it will require some thinking on their part to recognize the present realization of the event referred to as the abomination of desolation in Dan. 9:27; 11:31; 12:11 (cf. 1 Macc. 1:54, 59), for the meaning of the expression lies below the surface level (France 2002: 524)

The “abomination of desolation” must be recognizable enough that those living in Judea could flee to safety.

The “abomination of desolation” must occur before the Roman armies advanced toward the city of Jerusalem and laid siege to it, for once that occurred, flight for those in Judea would no longer be possible.

Mark 13:19-20

19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mk 13:19–20). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

B. The coming of the Son of Man

Mark 13:24-27

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mk 13:24–27). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

* Apocalyptic, as a recognizable genre of literary expression, has significant characteristics.

*There is a keen sense of the battle between good and evil, pessimism about that process working out well in natural terms, a conviction that things will end in crisis, and the need for God to put everything right in and through the crisis.

* The language is often vivid and full of imagery, the content ascribed to the visions of the writer. A typical Old Testament example is the book of Daniel, significantly quoted three times in Mark 13 (14, 19, 26).1

*With this passage we see the death resurrection of Christ, then we move through persecutions to the distruction up the temple with all the persecutions and we move off to future, judgement and eternity

C. Fig Tree

13:1–4 Warning about the temple.

13:5–13 The continuing experience of hardship by disciples.

13:14–23 The destruction of Jerusalem.

13:24–27 The end of all things.

13:28–37 Watchfulness during the entire end time—i.e. from now onward

Mark 13:28-31 (ESV)

28 “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mk 13:28–31). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Train traveling down the track from Christ’s death, resurrection and assention. chuga chuga speading the Gospel and persecution… desolation of abominations and destruction and past that. After which the tracks and train fade off into the clouds where we see the second coming.

I have heard people speak about this during the Virus, is this God’s judgement? Is God attempting to show us something? Maybe revival?

D. No One Knows the Day nor Hour

Mark 13:32-37

32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mk 13:32–37). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

A. Guessing game know one knows. If we say here and are wrong why would you follow their advice in the future?

B. Be on guard, keep awake. 13:33

This in turn provides the ground (for, γάρ, gar) for the double exhortation “Watch out, be alert!” The duplication of the exhortation places added emphasis on the importance of being on guard and not letting the parousia catch one unprepared. Jesus’s followers are to be vigilant.

Stein, R. H. (2008). Mark (p. 624). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.

III. Take Away

A.Christians are not immune from suffering and sickness.

B. Suffering can be a reminder of eternity and our hope in Christ’s return.

C. Life is more than what we have here on earth.

D. Our living hope is to be with Jesus.

E. God is with us

YOU: APPLICATION (TELL PEOPLE WHAT TO DO AND WHAT THEY HAVE HEARD)

Conclusion:

God is with us

Look for opportunities, places where you meet God.

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