The Readings
The Epistle
Hebrews 10:11-14 (15-18) 19-25
Every priest stands day after day at his service, offering again and again the same sacrifices that can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, “he sat down at the right hand of God,” and since then has been waiting “until his enemies would be made a footstool for his feet.” For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. [And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying,
“This is the covenant that I will make with them
after those days, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds,”
he also adds,
“I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”
Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.]
Therefore, my friends, since we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain (that is, through his flesh), and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us approach with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful. And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Mark 13:1-8
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. 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 birthpangs
The Sermon
“I will put my law in their hearts
and I will write them on their minds.
I will remember their sins and lawless
deeds no more.”
A covenant is like a contract and the
writer of Hebrews is telling us that the rules have changed because
of Jesus. There is no need to sacrifice animals to wash away our
sins. Jesus did that for us by sacrificing himself for our sakes.
Don't ask me to fully explain how this works because this mere mortal
does not fully understand it. Sometimes we just need to rely on
faith and trust.
Jesus out of his love for the human
race chose to sacrifice himself so that we would have a closer
relationship with God. Jesus said it needed to be done and he did
it. His sacrifice was not just for the people of his time, it was
for all of us. It was for you and me two thousand years after his
death on the cross.
There are so many things about our
lives and this universe and our God that I find impossible to figure
out. I do not understand the concept of eternity. Everything I know
has had a beginning and has ended or will have an end. God is
eternal. God did not begin. God will not end. I firmly believe
that and yet it is beyond my understanding.
Jesus said he had to make the ultimate
sacrifice for us by his death on the cross. He died for my failings,
my sins, even though I was two thousand years from being born. I do
not understand it and yet I believe.
I also believe God's covenant with man.
It is written on my heart and my mind. I can ask for forgiveness of
my sins and my sins are forgiven.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus told his
disciples there will be wars and rumors of wars and nation will rise
against nation. It is still happening. Last week we commemorated
the war to end all wars, the Great War or as we now refer to it, the
World War 1. I do not know when wars will end. I do not know when
the end times will arrive. A lot of people out there seem to think
they know.
Jesus is quoted as saying in Matthew
24:36, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the
angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
So, we live our lives. We show love and
kindness to each other and our God. Maybe heaven will come to us
when we do these things for our fellow man.
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