“Journey to the Cross: A View from the Top”

Scripture: Mark 13:3-23

Jesus has traveled all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. It’s been a long 3 years, with people constantly clamoring to reach him. Some come for healing; some come to hear his teaching and to learn about this new way; some come out of curiosity; and some come to find fault and to condemn him. He has given the best that God has to give, but for some, it still isn’t enough. But the time is at hand when he will not only give the world his best, but will give them his all.
He approaches the city, and once again, the clamor rises up.

Read Luke 19:38-44

Some will think that the Lord’s tears are for the trials that he is facing, or over the pending destruction of this holy city of his people. But the truth is that the tears are not for himself, and they are for not just for Israel – they are for the world. “If you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes … because you did not recognize the time of God‘s coming to you.”
Jesus is about to bring glory into the lives of the world, but only those who will believe in him will get to experience it. For many, they will be deceived into believing that Jesus was a lie – that he was heresy – that his words carried nothing of importance - and for these, it will be too late. And God’s sorrow over their failure to accept him breaks his heart.
The coming week will continue to get stranger and stranger, to say the least. The praises of this day will become the condemnation of tomorrow. The wonderful teaching that had amazed so many will become dark and foreboding and barely comprehensible. Some will continue their journey with him, but most will not.

Jesus had been at the temple, teaching the people and confronting the defenders of Orthodox Judaism. He had taught about the power of faithful prayer; he had overturned the tables of the dishonest merchants in the temple courts; he had answered questions; he told parables; he had spoken of the day of resurrection and the effects of following the false teachers. And as he left the temple grounds this day, he turned to the east, crossed the Kidron Valley, and proceeded to walk up the steep slope that lead him to the Mount of Olives.
He had spent a lot of time here in meditation, in reflection, and in prayer, and now he would spend some time teaching his friends about the things to come. But the tone of the teaching has changed. Instead of teaching as a great and inspired Rabbi, he now teaches only what God can know, and in a way that only God can.

Read Mark 13:3-8

Jesus had told the disciples that all the great buildings in Jerusalem would be torn down and not one stone would stand on another. And they asked Jesus what signs would precede this great catastrophe, so they could be prepared. Jesus then begins to tell them what will come.
For many, this dissertation is about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70AD, but I believe that it is about the destruction of false faith – it is about the end times. And this first Divine teaching is about deception. He tells them “Many will claim that they are me, and others will claim to have the answers, but don’t fall for any of it!”. And as he tells them about the deception that will run rampant in the world, he also tells them that while it is a sign of his return, it is not his return itself.
These are only the beginning of birth pains. Now I will be the first to admit that I have no firsthand knowledge of this subject, even though I was with Diane at the beginning of the birth of both of our sons. I know that the pain is extreme and unique, but I have never felt it. But when these first pangs of birth hit us, I will begin to understand. Jesus wants us to know that it isn’t something to fear – it is something to rejoice over. These pains will be the beginning of something brand new!
But why would anyone want to deceive the world about this great event, to drive us all away from this glorious beginning? It will not only be a time of God’s re-creative work, but, unfortunately, it will also the most active time for Satan. He will be doing his worst to keep any more people from putting their lives in Christ, and he will do everything he can to deceive the world into believing that he is their only hope.
But this is just the beginning.

Read Mark 13:9-13

And he tells us about the struggles that will come in that day. Those who are not deceived, for those who stand firm in Christ, there will be unmitigated persecution. The harassment and hounding that the faithful of today must endure will be nothing compared to what will be handed out in those days. Christians will be hunted down with the same intensity that the early church experienced, and no one will be safe.
But the Lord also says that the proclaiming of the gospel must never be interrupted! Not only will these days be defined by the hatred and deception and persecution of the Church, but it will also be a time of great evangelizing! Many will fall for the lies of worldly forces, but many will also hear of the hope that can only come through the love of Jesus Christ. And the sharing won’t come from only a few. Every believer must be involved in this sharing of Jesus with the world. Don’t worry about what you will say – the Holy Spirit will give you the words.
Think about this – every one of us will be expected to live Jesus to the fullest, and the Spirit will show us just how we are to do that! Does that surprise anyone? Is that something new to anyone? It shouldn’t be! The Spirit has been working in and through the Church since that first day of Christian Pentecost, and he has never stopped working in her! But just as Jesus experienced limitations when the people wouldn’t believe, the same is true of the Spirit. God will never force himself on anyone, but at the same time, will never deprive anyone who seeks his strength. In the 4th chapter of Philippians (4:12-13), Paul writes “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” The Lord doesn’t take us out of our troubles, but he does give us the ability to not only get through them, but to rejoice in the process.
So why wait? Let’s get started now! Give the Spirit a chance to begin preparing us for those times, by seeking his power and strength and wisdom today! Give 1, or 2, or 3 more people the hope of eternity today, and don’t make them wait until tomorrow!

Read Mark 13:14-23

And he tells us about the urgency of faith. The question that many have is concerned with the words “the abomination that causes desolation” when it is seen where it does not belong. What or who is this abomination? Some commentaries will imply that it may be referring to the statue of Caligula that was placed in the temple – an abomination that was standing where it did not belong. Others will give other opinions as to who it is referring to. For me, the abomination is Satan’s presence, those times when that overpowering darkness is felt in our lives. He does not belong here, and he wants to be the disgrace of our lives. And Jesus’ recommendation when it happens? Flee! Run for the hills! Get as far away from him as you possibly can!
Good advice, especially for today. When we feel the tempter’s presence, we can’t stay where we are, or keep doing what we are doing. Let it go! Get away fast!

And again, the Lord warns us of the terrible days that will be coming when the Satan appears to do his dirty work – not to frighten us, but to prepare us; not to cause us harm, but to put us on our guard. And he reminds us that, for our benefit, he has told us everything ahead of time. No one can offer the excuse that they didn’t know.

Palm Sunday was the day when Jesus made that grand entry into Jerusalem, and everyone thought that this was the beginning of the end to Roman oppression. Jesus would be seen as the mighty king that God had sent to free them; he would be the warrior who could not be defeated; he would be the one who would restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory.
Little did they know that while their words would have a ring of truth to them, their intent and expectations were nowhere near to Jesus’ true purpose. He is the King who Almighty God has sent to free us – not from the world, though, but from our sin. He is the Warrior around who the battles for salvation will whirl. He is the one who will bring glory to his new Kingdom, and power to those who choose to follow him. And there will be a war unlike any other, but also unlike others, the outcome has already been decided. Jesus will be the Victor, and the Satan will be the defeated.

After all these warnings, are you still walking with Jesus on his journey to the cross? The road is getting narrower and rougher and steeper, and it is leading to a time of great struggles. The deceivers have begun their hateful work, the struggles are getting harder and harder to endure, and the time of urgency is upon us all. But our journey with the Lord will make a huge difference in our lives - it will bring us the ability to survive the struggle, while others will not.

The cross is coming into view now, and we can see that it not only has Jesus’ name on it, ours is on it, too. It is an ugly picture, to be sure. It is one of brutality and hatefulness, and is filled with betrayal and abandonment. But on the other side of the trials, we can see that new joy and new glory and new life and new purpose await us.

One day at a time, one step at a time, one breath at a time, remembering all the way that the Holy Spirit is with us – giving words of encouragement, giving us words of witness, providing the strength to stand tall and firm, walking with us every moment of every day. And reminding us that Jesus’ day of glory is on its way! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Hosanna to the King of kings!