We pick up today’s story from Mark at a time when Jesus and his followers have had a few very busy days. It was only a couple of days ago that Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem as people laid leafy branches and their coats on the ground for the colt to step on as shouts of “hosanna” and “blessed is the one” rang through the air.
Mark tells us that by the time Jesus entered the temple that day it was late, so he and his followers leave Jerusalem and head for Bethany, a town that was maybe an hour’s walk away. The next morning Jesus and his followers return to Jerusalem, where upon entering the temple he sees how it’s been turned from a place of worship to a place where tradesmen hawk their wares for profit. This upsets him and he turns over their tables and drives out the buyers and sellers from what has become a marketplace.
The end of that day comes and Jesus and his followers once again leave the temple and head towards Bethany. The next morning as Jesus tries to enter the temple, the chief priests and scribes stop him at the door to inquire as to what authority Jesus has to teach in the temple. This begins a day where Jesus is tested over and over by those who profess themselves to be experts in either the law or religion.
The Pharisees, defenders of the traditional written Mosaic laws, ask him if it is lawful to pay taxes to the Emperor. Sadducees, who the great historian, Josephus, described as boorish and rude keepers of the law, asked Jesus about the resurrection, a subject they themselves did not believe in. The scribes, who copied down the laws and taught them to others, asked Jesus what was the first commandment from God.
Mark’s gospel goes to great lengths in chapter 12 to show us the hypocritical positions of those who were considered the temple experts, and he does so quite well. Those who are interrogating Jesus in the hopes to catch him in what we would call a “gotcha moment” in today’s vernacular, leave Jesus in the temple without so much as a reason for those who have gathered to be taught by the great Rabbi to doubt anything Jesus is teaching.
The chief priests, Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes each try to trap Jesus with their questions, and in the process only bring those who Jesus is teaching, the common people of Jerusalem, closer to understanding God’s truth about what the law is supposed to represent: God’s unconditional love for us and the hope that we would have this same unconditional love for others as well as ourselves.
This brings us to the end of another day – a long, grueling, difficult day for Jesus. It’s one of those days where one isn’t sure if any of what was done had a meaning; whether or not the words and actions which were said and done fulfilled a purpose.
Jesus must have been showing his unsureness from the day’s events. I’m sure he was showing at least some fatigue, having just been in grueling arguments with some of Jerusalem’s brightest minds for most of the day. I can just imagine as he and his followers come out of the temple after the day he just had when one of them, apparently trying to lift Jesus’ spirits tries to point out the beauty of the place they were just in.
“Teacher, look! What awesome stones and buildings!” he says to Jesus. He attempts to get Jesus to look at the great craftsmanship, to look at the exquisite stones used to build that place, to look at the artistic carvings each column and wall had to offer. “Look”, he says to Jesus, “look at the beauty of this place.” While thinking, “I wish I could somehow make Jesus feel better.”
If we’re true to Mark’s version of Jesus’ story we almost immediately see his eyes sadden and his head drop a little. He has just spent a full day teaching and repudiating attacks from others when one of his disciples, those who have followed him through every land and walked every path of this journey with him, those who should have understood Jesus the best by this point in the story, tries to cheer him up with something of material value.
That disciple might as well have said, “Don’t worry about speaking God’s truth to the people who need to hear it the most, look at the pretty walls.”
I can almost hear Jesus, tired from a long day, say in a slightly subdued voice, but still matter-of-factly in its tone, “Do you see these enormous buildings? Not even one stone will be left upon another. All will be demolished.”
It’s like Jesus saying to that disciple, “Really?! After the day I had you want to talk about things that don’t matter now, nor will again ever matter?” His disciples just don’t understand.
Jesus then finds a spot he can be alone with his thoughts. A place high atop a hill across the temple, probably with a great view of the buildings he just left. As his head contemplates the words which were spoken that day, and his heart lay heavy knowing that he doesn’t know how to reach the people he feels called by God to reach, he is approached by 4 of his followers – Peter, James, John, and Andrew.
They ask him a question, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What sign will show that all these things are about to come to an end?” It is a question Jesus never answers. You see, it isn’t important when or how or why the temple will be destroyed. It isn’t important what will bring the temple down. It really doesn’t matter who will be responsible for the stones of that great building being thrown down and demolished. The thing that is important is that from this point forward Jesus’ followers understand that things will become extremely difficult and that they hold on tightly to the words and actions Jesus has taught them along their journey together.
Mark was also being written in a time when many others who called themselves the true prophets of God roamed the towns and villages. We know this from Paul’s writings, which were written before Mark or any of the other Gospels. Paul warns the churches in Ephesians, Corinth, and Rome about such teachers and preachers. He reminds those churches about the importance of keeping their focus on the one who is truly sent from God to speak and teach God’s truth, Jesus our Christ.
Mark’s Gospel continues in today’s passage with that same idea. “Watch out” he says, “that no one deceives you. Many people will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the one!’ They will deceive many people.” Mark’s Gospel, by linking these two points – the destruction of the temple and the caution to stay true to the words of the one true Christ – warns his readers that regardless of how much the world around us falls apart, if we strongly hold on to the words and life of Christ we will break through whatever is hindering our journey.
On Friday evening, a small group of 7 men exploded bombs and shot innocent people in their misguided war against those who don’t agree with their ideologies. It’s an ideology which no rational human being can agree with. Ideologies which include the oppression of woman, the detachment of hands or feet for not doing as one is told, even death for any who will not swear allegiance to what these ideologists consider to be the one and only way.
My intention is not to defend another’s religion, or another’s way of life. My intention is to speak about how, even in the face of fear and terror, even in the face of imminent death and the destruction of all you believe, it is our faith which pulls us into the safety and security which the one Creator wishes for all people.
I don’t know how many of you were glued to the constant news cycle of the last few days; a cycle which spoke of how terrorists took almost 130 lives around the life-filled city of Paris, France. We heard witness accounts from survivors who spoke of people falling around them and how they feared for their own lives. We heard stories from France’s government swearing they will find whoever did this and bring them to justice. Yet, there seemed to be more questions than answers.
Within hours the world responded. France’s national colors began to light monuments across the world. While the Eiffel Tower sat in darkness, the arch over Wembley Stadium shined with the Blue, White, and Red. The sail-shaped canopies which cover the Opera House in Australia shined with the Blue, Red, and White. The Empire State Building in New York City; The CN Tower over Toronto, Ontario, Canada; the High Roller, a 550-foot Ferris Wheel in Las Vegas, and The White House all shined with the Blue, Red, and White to show solidarity with the people of France.
Of all the world’s monuments, however, the one that made me really stop and think, no, more than that, the one that brought truth to my heart was the Christ of the Redeemer, the 125-foot statue of Jesus Christ with his arms spread open, inviting all to him while at the same time keeping watch over the people of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Seeing our Christ shining with the light of solidarity, glowing with the light of unity, radiating with the light of harmony told me that all things will be fine.
It is in the light of Christ I found my peace. It is in the light of Christ I know the people of Paris will find theirs. It is in the light of Christ I hope you will find yours as well.
When people from around the world want to share something on social media they use what is called a hashtag. For those my age, or older, it’s the symbol on the push-button phone that looks like the symbol for number or pound. In fact, it used to be called the pound sign. In the past few days a hashtag has been created in order for the world to share their thoughts with the people of Paris. I’d like to share some of those with you now.
#PrayForParis: I will never understand what makes a person think they can take another life away. Life is precious and they have no right.When people turn against people and battle lines are drawn it begins to feel like our world is falling apart. Sometimes those things must happen in order for us to fully come to understand what Jesus’ life was truly about. Jesus asks us to hold tight to his words; words which shine brightly on our love of neighbor regardless of who they are; words which shine brightly on loving ourselves in the same way; and words which shine brightly on the love for a God whose own Light came into this world, not to condemn it, but so that all people might find the joy of peace through him.
#PrayForParis: can't stop thinking about little ones who woke up today with no mommy, no daddy, big brother or sister
#PrayForParis: Because of God we are: Found, Saved, Hopeful, Inspired, Forgiven, Blessed, Stronger, Optimistic, Loved.
#PrayForParis: "Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear..." -Is 58:8
#PrayForParis: "When the city of light goes dark, the rest of the world lights up for them"
All we have to do is share this Light as it shines brightly in our lives and in our hearts.
God is always with us. Amen.
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