Mark 13:5-11 [Reformation Sunday—CWS B]
Pastor Ron Koehler
Grace—Benson/Vail, AZ
November 4, 2018
Dear Friends in Christ, Last Sunday, I mentioned that sometimes we suffer because of dumb things that we do; we bring it on ourselves. Sometimes we suffer simply because we live in a sinful world that affects us. And sometimes we suffer because the devil is real and active and has Christians in his sights. Suffering means that whatever is afflicting you costs you something. It costs you your health. You pay the price in a damaged or lost relationship. You pay the penalty or the fine. Sometimes the consequences catch us off guard, but sometimes we do something, knowing full well that we will pay a price. Even though we know that, we’re willing to do it anyway. This morning we’re going to consider something that sometimes costs us something—and I hope you consider the price worth paying. I’m talking about the fact that 1. It did for Jesus
FAITH COMES AT A COST 2. It did for the Reformers
3. It does for Us
Jesus spoke the words before us today during Holy Week—Tuesday actually. Just 2 days before his Last Supper with the disciples and his betrayal in the Garden of Gethsemane, just 3 days before being beaten, whipped, spit upon and nailed to a cross where he died. You understand then if I tell you that Jesus had a lot on his mind and even more on his heart as he thought about your sins and your soul on that Tuesday. He had been teaching at the temple in Jerusalem and was now leaving with his disciples. They asked him questions on the walk out to the Mount of Olives. They reached the other side of the Kidron Valley and while gazing back across the valley at the temple they had just left, his followers asked Jesus about signs that would precede the end of the world. Jesus gave them some—false Christs, wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes and famine. Just as birth pains announce the impending birth of a child, these signs in the church and in the government and in nature announce the end of this created world. Jesus wanted his followers to be prepared as they saw these things happening. He wanted them to not be caught off guard or to be pulled away from faith in him because of any of this…and there was something else—there would be a personal price to be paid for their faith and for witnessing Jesus to the world. The same is true for you and me as we await Christ’s return. But before we get to that, it is necessary for us to review the price Jesus paid so that you and I would have a reason for hope beyond life in this world—a place where people deceive and nations go to war and even nature feels the effects of sin on it. Did our faith COME AT A COST to Jesus? Consider this—Jesus is true God from all eternity. That means he’s perfect and holy and lives in a heaven of perfection. Although the comparison pales mightily, you might think of it this way: you know how good your bed feels on a Saturday morning or on a day off—especially if it’s that rare Tucson cold or rainy morning? You know how good it feels to just curl up all warm and comfy? You don’t want to get out of that bed unless you have to!