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This Week's Sermon THE LAST SUNDAY IN THE CHURCH YEAR 22 November 2009 "Gathered and Kept!" Mark 13:24-37 LSB Series B Pastor Philip G. Meyer Soli Deo Gloria!

In the final years of his life Martin Luther was increasingly convinced that the world was soon coming to an end. As he observed conditions that gradually seemed to grow worse and that the Church was beset by dangerous threats, Luther believed that he would live to experience the last day [Martin Brecht, The Preservation of the Church, 1532-1546, p. 333]. He was convinced that most of the signs of the end had been fulfilled. The Antichrist had been revealed and the world was getting worse. The world had largely forgotten Christ. In the face of all this, Luther did not fear the end of the world as most did in Medieval times. Rather, he longed for Christ's return. Interestingly, as he preached on texts about the end of the age, he didn't focus on cataclysmic events such as wars, earthquakes and other natural disasters, but on the fact that there was an unwillingness to repent in the face of it [Ibid, p. 333].

Speak about the end of the age-or the end of the world-it doesn't matter which term we use because they mean the same thing-and most people are filled with fear and foreboding, even hysteria. Lately a lot of people have been worried about the year 2012. It has been called a phenomenon. It says that cataclysmic events will happen in just three years. The History Channel has been running lots of programs about this, ranging from what they call "The Nostradamus Effect" to the Mayan Long Count calendar, which supposedly terminates on 21 or 23 December 2012. All of this hysteria is drawn from what is called archaeoastronomical speculation, interpretations of mythology, numerology, and alleged prophecies from extraterrestrial beings [Wikipedia, 2012 Phenomenon]. They claim support from Judaism, Christianity, Islam and other religions. Ironically, Mayanist scholars say that the year 2012 is irrelevant!

None of this has stopped various groups from seizing on this hysteria, to say nothing of Hollywood. Just a week ago Friday, the movie of the same name, "2012," opened in theaters nationwide. This 2 hour 38 minute "disaster" incorporates a lot of doomsday theories. The Discovery Channel has likewise jumped on the entertainment bandwagon by suggesting that massive solar storms, flipping of the magnetic poles, earthquakes, super volcanoes, and more may happen in 2012. The movie "2012" was written by Roland Emmerich, a man who has stated publicly that he dislikes all religions. Interestingly, he did not criticize Islam because he feared getting a fatwa, that is, a death sentence from Muslims. The movie stars a number of Hollywood leftists who hate Christianity, among them Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson. One movie reviewer said that aside from the special effects, the movie is much worse than other disaster movies.

Unfortunately, many people have fallen for the hype surrounding the date. Conspiracy theorists warn people that the mainstream media doesn't want you to know all the facts and that the government is complicit in the cover-up. These people gladly sell you their books about the so-called "truth!" The tabloids at the supermarket checkout shout these headlines.

Over against all of this handwringing hysteria stands our Lord Jesus Christ, who as Creator will also bring this age to a close. Because of who Christ is and what he has done for us, we are not among those who work themselves into a frenzy because of the signs of the times. Perhaps there is such fear because they haven't repented. They are afraid of God and his judgment. It used to be that cartoons had a guy carrying a sign saying, "Repent! The end is near." Nowadays, the sign just says, "The end is near." Nobody has thoughts of repentance.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Mark 13:31, ESV)

The accusations of God's Law do indeed strike deep into the human heart, even those who do not know Christ. The voice of conscience cannot be silenced. What accounts for this feeling of fear and dread except for guilt? [Romans 1.18-19] And so, like Adam and Eve after the Fall into sin, man lives in fear of God, fear of facing God's righteous judgment because he is guilty. Some deny it, but many know that there is an accounting.

Against all these date-setters, fantastic speculations and dire predictions stand these words of Jesus:

"But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." (Mark 13:32, ESV)

Ironically, in spite of our Lord's words, there are plenty of people who call themselves Christians but maintain that the date can be known by studying the Scriptures. These people are called Dispensationalists, those who believe that God has established chronologically successive epochs in which he deals differently with the world. So, you get the wild speculations of what history means and what the future holds, including the setting of dates for things that will never happen, such as the so-called Rapture and the literal 1,000 year reign of Christ on earth before the end. All of these groups, from the Mayans to the New Agers to the environmental handwringers to the Dispensationalists have this in common: they are all scared out of their wits because they see change and decay in the created order. It is the worst possible scenario.

Jesus uses three synonyms to describe how we live: "Watch," "be on the alert," "keep awake." For those who are in Christ through Holy Baptism, there is a different view of the end of the age. One does not want to be found asleep at the coming of Christ. Here, being asleep equates to unbelief. Staying awake equates to being in faith in Christ.

Know this, that you are alive in Christ and have been gathered by God into his people. Take your cue from Luther's explanation of the Third Article of the Creed.

What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.
In the same way he calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.
In this Christian Church he daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the last day he will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.
This is most certainly true.

Indeed, you have been gathered to God's holy people. In Holy Baptism God has called you to be his, enlightened you with his gifts, forgiven you all your sins because of Christ. He became true man to be your sin-bearer, and the sin-bearer for every human being who has ever lived or ever will live. His perfect life and death are the only payment for human sin that can be made. His death is eternally effective for you. The work of God the Holy Spirit is to take what is Christ's and distribute it to the world.

In Holy Baptism God the Holy Spirit distributed Christ to you. He called you by name and made you his forever. He put his mark upon you, the sign of the holy cross. He gathered you into the people of God, into the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints. As Isaiah said before Christ came, speaking of Holy Baptism:

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine." (Isaiah 43:1, ESV)

Fear not because you have been redeemed by Christ. You are safe with him. He has called you by name. He is yours and you are his. You do not fear his reappearing because your life is safely hidden in the life of Christ.

Everything revolves around Christ. The last day is all about Jesus, but the unbelieving world cannot see it. The minds of unbelievers are darkened. They cannot see the Light. They do not repent, and thus, they are filled with fear.

Isaiah records [OT reading]:

""Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed." (Isaiah 51:4-6, ESV)

God's people, however, do see the light and they look for their final salvation to be revealed when Christ comes in glory.

In this time of great distress God keeps you with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. He sustains your faith, he nourishes it, he feeds it. How does God the Holy Spirit keep you in Christ to your end? Word and Sacrament. Jesus assures our hearts when he says:

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away." (Mark 13:31, ESV)

What tremendous comfort Jesus gives us! All of the cataclysmic predictions of those who watch them cannot unnerve the Christian because there is something that lasts beyond them, the Word of our Lord. The old logo of Concordia Publishing House built on this: Around that familiar logo of the open Bible there is a circle with a torch in the center. The Latin motto read: "The Word of the Lord endures for eternity." It will not be destroyed in spite of all human attempts to do so. The Word which began our world and universe is the same Word which became incarnate in the Virgin Mary and is the same Word which is with us now and is the same Word that will be at the close of the age. That same Word nourishes and sustains us in all the circumstances of this world, whether they be cataclysms in the created order or whether they be disasters in one's personal life. So, the Christian waits with calm confidence because his life is hidden in this eternal Word, Jesus Christ.

You all know Henry Lyte's hymn, Abide with Me. Some historians say he wrote this hymn just months before his own death in November of 1847. In it are these wonderful words: [LSB 878 Abide with Me]

3 Come not in terrors, as the King of kings,
But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;
Tears for all woes, a heart for ev'ry plea.
Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with me.

4 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day;
Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

Text and Music: Public domain
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

And Jesus does abide with us! Here in the Divine Service he is Immanuel, God-with-us, coming to sinners in his Word and especially in his Supper. Here he gives us himself. As you heard last week, the early Christians received the Sacrament daily to be prepared for the end. They kept on receiving Christ so that he would keep them ready, prepared for that last day and last hour. So too, we. Here, week after week, God the Holy Spirit is keeping us, preserving us in the true faith. Reflect on these words spoken once all have received Christ in the Sacrament:

"The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart + in peace."

Preserved-kept-sustained-guarded. Depart in peace! Whether your departure is today or next week or next year, or whether you are alive when our Lord returns in glory, you depart in peace, gathered to the heavenly feast. Minutes before he died, Luther spoke with confidence the same words you sing after you have received the Sacrament, these words of ancient Simeon who held the Christ Child in his arms,

""Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel."" (Luke 2:29-32, ESV)

We face the end unafraid, unfazed by the hysteria of those who cannot understand the signs and who misinterpret them. We learn from the fig tree that the end is now nearer than when we first believed [Romans 13.11]. Instead of wringing our hands and living in dread, we lift up our heads and say, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" [Rev. 22.20b]

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.