“Not One Stone will be Left Here Upon Another”

Mark 13:1-8
As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” 2 Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” 3 When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” 5 Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. 6 Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.

“Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.” Whoa! That’s some text, isn’t it? I picture the disciples walking through Jerusalem as the city is hustling and bustling in preparation for Passover. I imagine it almost as if they’re on vacation, taking in the sights and atmosphere of the great city. Then they spy the Temple, and, even though they had just been in it, it still takes their breath away. The Temple was known as one of the most beautiful buildings in the Roman Empire and for good reason, too. It was constructed with walls of imposing masonry which enclosed a huge area. Topping these walls was an expansive platform, supported by massive piers, some as large as forty feet long, by twelve feet high, and eighteen feet wide.

The Royal Porch of the Temple had a row of Corinthian pillars each standing thirty-seven and a half feet high and made out of one solid block of marble a piece. From a distance, the Temple was said to look like snow since it was stark white in some places and gilt in glittering gold in others. It must have been a truly amazing sight to see.

So, with all this in mind, we hear of one of the disciples in naïve excitement pointing out this architectural wonder to Jesus, admiring the magnificent structure. However, Jesus’ response is not the one they were expecting. He’s not taken in by the imposing and impressive sight. Instead, Jesus tells them the great, towering Temple will be utterly destroyed. At this point, I can just see the disciples turning to stare at Jesus with mouths hanging wide open, complete shock enveloping their faces. How on earth could such a thing ever happen?

After the disciples have heard Jesus’ powerful words, they ask him to explain when all these things will happen and what the sign will be that all of this is taking place. Doesn’t that sound familiar? How often do we, like those first disciples, ask for signs or wish know that we’re making the right decision, or what will happen if we do certain things? I know this is especially true when I make major decisions in my life or when I’m standing at a crossroad and I imagine it’s the same for you as well. We want to know how things will turn out and what exactly is around the bend.

And what of the apocalyptic warnings in today’s reading? In the first centuries, early Christians believed that they were living in the last days. Examining the history, it’s not difficult to see why they believed this. The first few centuries of the Common Era were a period filled with strife, struggle and hardship. As Jesus had declared and Mark’s contemporaries experienced, there were wars between the Jews and Romans, and in 70 CE, the Romans burned the incredible Temple and then dismantled a great portion of it, stone by stone.

Playing off of peoples’ beliefs that Christ would be coming back very soon, there were many “pseudo-messiahs” and false teachers eager to step in to take Jesus’ place. In addition, the early church was plagued by internal conflicts over doctrine and right teaching, as well as by the external conflicts of persecution and even martyrdom. Life was not easy.

Things certainly looked bleak and that must have been exactly what the disciples were thinking, because Jesus tells them, “do not be alarmed.” Actually, this phrase in the original Greek can also mean “do not be frightened,” or “do not be troubled” or, even, “do not be disturbed.” In fact, the form of the verb used in the Greek implies “do not continue being frightened.” I hear in Jesus’ words incredible reassurance and hope. Moving from these words, however the next phrase is troubling again; Jesus says “but the end is still to come.” So, there is going to be an end, but the wars, false prophets, and the destruction of the Temple are not it. Jesus continues to explain that the earthquakes and famines aren’t the end either. No, Jesus states, all of these things – natural disasters, famines, wars, false teachers – are only the beginnings of the birth pangs.

I hear the last words in this passage and I recall The Wizard of Oz, my favorite movie as a child. The Scarecrow, while walking with his companions in the woods, utters one line that pops into my head when I hear Christ’s words to the disciples. The Scarecrow says, “of course, I don’t know, but I think it’ll get darker before it gets lighter.” In other words, things are going to get a lot worse before they get any better.

Just as birth pangs are a part of birth and necessary before a beautiful child enters the world, Jesus explains that trials and hardships will mark the disciples’ way before things become better. Patience, endurance, persistence and faith must mark their lives; they should not be troubled or distressed, or be thrown into panic when all the world seems a frightful mess.

So is this passage just about Jesus telling his disciples to hang in there when things are difficult in the beginning centuries of the church? I don’t think so. I think it is appropriate that we hear this text as the days grow shorter and colder, when the landscape is beginning to look bleak and barren. Simultaneously, however, this is also the time leading up to Advent when we will await the coming light of Christ shining in the darkness to illumine our way. Therefore, I hear Christ’s words as encouragement for our lives today. In the midst of a recession, dealing with high unemployment rates, with wars and violence around the world, and other struggles, Jesus’ words are incredibly timeless. Like the first disciples, we are to be persistent and full of faith, not fearing anything the world might throw at us, but trusting that God is in control, no matter how out of control the world seems to spin. God is far bigger than all that might threaten us. It is in these times of trial that our faith is tried and sometimes shaken, but it is also through these difficult times that we have some of the most amazing opportunities for spiritual growth.

In these times, when our faith is shaken and we can’t seem to see the next step, we stand at the foot of the cross and call on God. For me, some of the most difficult, frustrating and painful things I have encountered in my life have driven me to God’s arms and strengthened my faith in ways times of comfort could not have. In the most strenuous times, it’s as if all pretense is stripped away and I am able to be most honest with God, which draws me nearer to Him.

Although all the splendid things we have – cars, houses, money, electronics – will fade away or crumble like the Temple, in Christ, the living, indestructible temple, we have something solid to which to cling. In the crucified and resurrected Christ, we can look forward expectantly to the coming kingdom and reign of God, even in the midst of all our trials and pains.

This promise is made especially clear to us in baptism in which we die with and are raised again to new life in Jesus Christ. Through baptism, we who are fallen, sinful and broken, much like the Temple, have been redeemed and made whole. In baptism, we receive God’s amazing promise that the Holy Spirit will sustain us and we are marked with the cross of Christ, sealing us as God’s children forever. Through baptism into the body of Christ, we become the new Temple, the place in which God dwells. In this new baptismal identity, we are encouraged and strengthened to take up our cross and follow Christ.

It is with the promises of God made to us in baptism, recalled daily, and nourished through Holy Communion that we face the trials of this world. As we encounter these difficulties head on, we look forward with anticipation to the day when the kingdom of God will break onto the scene, ushering in a new age of mercy, peace and justice. Whereas today we may only catch fleeting glimpses of this kingdom in the kindness of friends and strangers, in joyful communion with those around us, or in incredible stories of generosity and love, the day is coming when these glimpses will be the norm.

So when we find ourselves in difficult situations or when we are faced with obstacles that seem insurmountable, we can recall the promises God has made to us in baptism and the comforting words of Jesus to the disciples: “do not be troubled.” Yes, there will be troubles, pain and suffering – there always have been. However, it is important to remember that before pain and death were, God was. One day, the kingdom of God will be realized, bringing with it magnificent joy and a splendor far greater than any man-made Temple could offer. Looking forward to that day, then, may we remember the word of life and the word of hope that God gives to us each and every day. Amen.

© 2009. Annabelle Peake. All rights reserved.

Hymn: “Lead On, O King Eternal”:

Whole Souls

This is a wee bit out of order seeing as I just finished up Summer Greek, but I thought it was important anyway! In our first week of Greek, we learned the verb “to save” (it’s σῴζω for all those interested). We also learned that while this verb is often translated as “to save,” it can also have the broader meanings of “to heal” or “to make whole” in the original Greek.

This brought to mind the frequent healings Jesus performs in the New Testament. In Mark 2:17 we read, “on hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’” The full story is found in Mark 2:13-17, Matthew 9:9-13 and Luke 5:27-32. In this statement, Jesus Himself draws the parallel between being sick and being a sinner. Just as those who are ill need doctors, those who sin need to be made righteous.

In addition, when Jesus heals the paralytic in Matthew 9:1-8, He not only heals him of his physical ailment, but forgives him of his sins, linking the two ideas of health or wholeness and redemption together:

Jesus Heals a Paralytic
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”
3At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”
4Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7And the man got up and went home. 8When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men.

Therefore, Jesus as Savior also acts as the Great Physician, the healer of our physical and spiritual ills. When we are forgiven of our sins, we are healed and made whole again. Like the once-paralyzed man, we are ready to pick up our mats and walk upright with God again. I find it fascinating that the Greek could unite such ideas into one short word.

Likewise, verb θεραπεύω can mean “to heal” or “to serve.” This struck me as odd until I started thinking about it a bit. Could this word be connecting the theme of healing through serving? I’ve read about the concept of a “wounded healer” – the idea that one who has experienced great pain or sorrow can use those experiences in serving others. For example, someone who has experienced loss in the past can provide comfort and an excellent listening ear to one going through loss and grief. This arrangement not only benefits the recipient of such “therapy,” but also the “therapist.” One can finally begin to heal through reaching out to someone else – they can use something painful and turn it into a positive, powerful healing tool for multiple people.

People have often said that focusing on someone else’s troubles or pains instead of their own has helped them not to wallow in self-pity or get stuck in a rut. I wonder if this Greek word is another way of thinking about how we heal. We can reach out from our own painful situations to heal others, thus helping not only the recipient of our outreach, but also our own hearts. When we’re focused on others’ needs, I think we begin to broaden our own perspectives and it’s near impossible to become stuck in self-pity.

I also think that this word speaks to the importance of service in our lives. Maybe if we focused on loving and serving others, we would be able to heal some of the pain we hear so much about in the news. Just a thought…

© 2009. Annabelle Peake. All rights reserved.

Summer Greek, makes me feel fine…

Well, now it does A few short hours ago, I was not singing that tune (like “Summer breeze, makes me feel fine…”)! Although Greek was intense (half of a textbook in 11 days!), I really enjoyed it, and I think I may have even managed to learn something besides Greek in the past two weeks.

What else have learned besides declensions, conjugations, tenses and Greek vocabulary? I believe I’ve learned more about the importance and value of community and fellowship. This may sound like a given, but I don’t know if I really realized how important it is to struggle and rejoice side by side with others until Summer Greek.

Each day we’ve had a quiz or a test (or multiple quizzes), a few hours of class, homework, chapel and lunch together. We’ve been helping each other not only by working in class together, but also by supporting, encouraging and listening to one another.

When quizzes went poorly, or stress and sleep deprivation became too much for someone, the community has been there to pray with and for the person. When loved ones and friends were on our minds and in our hearts, the community has lifted up their names and concerns together in prayer.

I feel great comfort knowing that others are feeling the same things and struggling with the same doubts and fears that I have. At the same time, spending so much time together, I’ve rejoiced hearing others’ victories and joys, feeling like they are victories and joys in my own life.

I feel this summer session has been a sort of snapshot of 1 Thessalonians 5:11: “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”

I’ve really enjoyed learning about and living in this sense of community and I look forward to strengthening these bonds throughout my four years of seminary. In fact, I may just be starting to think that the Summer Greek experience is more of an exercise in teaching us to work and live together in community rather than a class solely about Koine Greek… It’s at least interesting to ponder! In any case, congratulations to all my fellow classmates!

© 2009. Annabelle Peake. All rights reserved.

LTSG Summer Greek 2009

“To Faith…or not to Faith?!”

Friday was my first day in Greek class at LTSG (Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg) and, toward the end of the class, while we were learning about verb endings, our professor went over the vocabulary for the upcoming chapter. One of the words was πιστεύω, which means “to believe.” Interestingly enough, it can also be translated as “to faith.”

In English, we simply say “I have faith” and we do not have a verb for “faithing.” Our professor pointed this out, using the example of holding faith in our hands and then dropping it. We all laughed to think of such a silly thing, but as he explained further, the Greeks did not often say “I have faith” but rather used the “I faith” or “I am faithing” form instead. To them, faith was an action – something to be pursued, worked at and continued. It was not seen as something you could have and then drop or lose.

The more I thought about this, the more I liked it. People often talk about losing faith; when you seem to have lost it, it does seem to be very difficult to find again. You find yourself thinking, “how can I get back to that place of comfort and certainty?” I believe the answer lies in actively continuing to pray and continuing to hope and strive for that joy, comfort and peace. As the author of Hebrews 11:1 writes, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The very acts of continuing to pray, to worship, and to hope are the “faithing” – the active verb.

You might not be able to see faith or to grasp it, but you can actively pursue it and participate in it. Perhaps that is why people speak about their “faith journeys.” Faith is not something that you can swing by and pick up at Target or Wal-Mart. It’s something that you wrestle and struggle with, find comfort in, and work at, that it may grow stronger over time. It’s like kindling a fire; you may start with just a match, but if you tend the fire carefully, it will grow stronger and brighter.

© 2009. Annabelle Peake. All rights reserved.