16th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 313

• 16^th Sunday after Trinity
• 10.45am Thursday Morning Prayer
• 10^th October 2019

Prayer to start       

May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION

“Don’t touch that!! It’s hot and you’ll burn your hand!”

 “Don’t eat that! It’s been on the ground!”

“You better button your jacket up or else you’ll get a cold!”

 “Oh and don’t forget to look both ways when you cross the road – we don’t want you getting hit by a car!!”

Warnings – we’ve all had them – as a child – from our parents – our family – and now as grown-ups – from our friends and loved ones – warnings from people who are concerned about our welfare –

And when we think about it – most of them seem like common-sense, or at least they should be.

But the warning that came from Jesus to his disciples was far from straight forward –

Point 1 Warning from Jesus

‘Learn a lesson from the Fig tree.  When its tender shoots appear and are breaking into leaf – you know that summer is near –

In the same way, when you see all this happening, you may know that the end is near, at the very door.’

Our reading from Mark’s gospel comes at a time just before the passion and the death of Jesus in Jerusalem – when he sends out a warning to His disciples and to everyone who could hear  – to keep awake – keep alert to the changes – around them – and what they will mean for their readiness and salvation –

Jesus starts by making some predictions about the future – both near and far – about the fall of Jerusalem – and about His second coming at the end of time –

The first level of meaning – is about the imminent destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem

He uses the parable of the fig tree to warn them that there will be crucial events – or signs – that will occur – when God takes back His ‘vineyard’ as He described in ‘the parable of the wicked tenants’ – [which was our reading last week ]-

God the vineyard owner is waiting at a distance – He sees His vineyard producing wild grapes-

So He sends His servants – the prophets – to warn them to put things right – but they beat them – and ignore His requests –

Then He sends His Son – ‘They will respect Him’ – he thought – but they seize and kill Him – and fling His body out of the vineyard –

Jesus will soon fulfill this prophecy – when they crucify Him – outside the city walls –

So what was the owner to do? – He will come and put the tenants to death – and give the vineyard to others-

The others in the first instance – will be the foreign armies – who will come and trample down the vineyard – and when this happens the end is not far away –

The generation that rejects the Son’s message – will be the generation on whom the end will fall –

His word will stand – but all else will pass away –

The temple authorities and its laws – who had opposed and crucified Jesus – will feel the wrath of God – through the destruction of the temple building and the temple way of life –

The precise day or hour will be the owner’s decision –

And the distress that will be caused – the climax of it all – and the destruction of the temple – can only be spoken of in prophetic words – 

‘The sun will be darkened – the moon will not give her light – the stars will come falling from the sky – the celestial powers will be shaken’

How else could someone explain – what history – has now recorded – of untold hardship and misery on those that were left in the city – people starved – Jews killing Jews just for a few scraps of food –

Deceivers running riot – leading many astray – promising rescue – and wonders – just to get a following – but all would come to nothing –

In the same year violence – murder and civil war would be inflicted on Rome – Four Emperors would be murdered – and thousands of Jews crucified –

Many in Jerusalem would think – or wish it was the end of the world – but the fall of the temple will be the sign to the world – that God has vindicated Jesus as the true Messiah – the image of Jesus on a cloud – is Jesus coming to God  – after His suffering – 

He will sit at God’s right hand – and for those who acknowledge Him and follow His ways – there will be a new beginning – and His word will reach out to the Gentile world – offering salvation for all –

Point 2        Warnings about the dangers of sin

Our OT reading is also about warnings – warnings of sin –

Ezekiel whose name means strengthened by God, was among the second group of Jewish Christians captives taken from the northern Kingdom of Israel and taken to Babylon-

He was appointed by God as the watchman of the people of Israel – a watchman is someone who stood upon a wall or a watch tower to guard a city against external and internal threats – God would use him as a prophet to warn the exiles of their impending doom –

As the watchman he must be alert to the situations around him – to hear the word of God whenever it came – and to speak it to the people – He would become the mouthpiece of God –

God’s message would be about the seriousness and consequences of sin – and both the wicked and the righteous would need to be warned –

Sin can harm us – and we need to be warned of the destruction that our sins can bring into our lives – and to those around us – we can become trapped and entangled –they can control us – and only God that can break their grip –

The way to Freedom – is through responding to the love and truth of Jesus Christ – admitting our mistakes to Him and to ourselves – accepting His forgiveness – and changing direction.

Point 3        Jesus’ second coming

And so we look at our third type of warning – warning about the future – a message about Jesus’ second coming-

the same words that Jesus spoke apply – but the vineyard is now the whole world – there will be no one after Him to give a warning.  The generation that offends will be the generation that suffers – and – like the destruction of the temple – when it happens people will realise its significance –

‘ Yet about the day or hour no one knows – not even the angels in heaven – not even the Son – no one but the Father’

His message for us – like the first century Christians – is to keep watch – for the signs – and to stay awake – ‘for we do not know when the master of the house will come’ –

A tourist visiting the shores of Lake Como in northern Italy – came across a castle – and a friendly old gardener – who opened the gate and let him in

He showed him the grounds which he kept in perfect condition

‘When had the owner of the castle last been here?’ he asked – 12 years ago – said the old man –

Does he ever write? – No

Who gives you your instructions-then?  – Oh his agent in Milan

Does he come? – never!

Who comes here then? – I’m always here – said the gardener – and once and a while a tourist comes

But you look as if you keep this garden in such fine condition – that you expect him to come tomorrow –

Today Sir, Today!

Regardless of how we solve the mystery of signs and timing – Jesus urges us to keep His dwelling place – ourselves – in tip top condition – expecting His return –

Ending        what it means for us

God doesn’t expect us to be perfect – but He does want us to offer – our hearts – and lives – to Him – so He can reshape us and make us His own –

We are approaching a season that is dark and cold – and we need to turn it into a time of light and warmth – by keeping Jesus close –

Biblical interpretations of the last days – can stir up peoples imaginations- particularly when storms and violent events are beginning to seem like an everyday occurrence – or where there instances of war and terrorism in the news –

But Jesus shows us how to keep a balance by being properly informed and obedient to His instructions –

a fig tree has the fewest leaves in winter – so its obvious when the season is changing – in the same way Jesus tells us that the signs will be obvious –we just have to heed His warnings  – and live faithfully in His love – today –  tomorrow and forever –             AMEN