11/5/06 - Reformation - Mark 13:5-11

THE GOSPEL MUST BE PREACHED
- Before the end comes
- By its witnesses

The gospel must be preached. That’s not so much an encouragement as it is a fact. The gospel must be preached - it is necessary for the gospel to be preached - to all nations before Judgment Day can come. Just like it was necessary for Jesus to be born of a virgin. Just like it was necessary for him to be handed over to his enemies. Just like it was necessary for him to suffer for our sins. Just like it was necessary for him to rise from the dead on the third day. All those things had to happen. It was necessary for them to happen because God said they would. So also the gospel must be preached. It’s not an option. There is no choice. Somehow, somewhere, by someone, the gospel will be preached to all nations before Judgment Day. Because in our text today Jesus says that’s the way it has to be. So the question is: how close are we? How close are we to this prophecy being fulfilled so that Christ will come again? Well, let’s take a look at some of the other prophecies Jesus makes in our text first and see how close we really are.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, claiming, “I am he,” and will deceive many.’” This is a prophecy from Christ himself that has to happen before he comes again. Has it happened? Have there been people claiming to be the Lord? Sun Myung Moon, born in 1920 in Korea claims that he is none other than Christ himself. Matayoshi Mitsuo, born in 1944 in Japan claims that he is “God Jesus Christ.” Ted Kurts, a 47 year old American, runs a website promoting himself as “Ted Jesus Christ God.” A news blurb from a Massachusetts’ newspaper, dated last month on October 2nd, 2006 reports that Jose Luis de Jesus Miranda leads four congregations in that state because he believes he is the second-coming of Christ. That’s just a sample of the false Christ’s you can find. There have been many people claiming “I am he,” and they have deceived many.
Jesus also, “There will be earthquakes in various places and famines.” How many earthquakes do you think happened in the last seven days around the world? 158. Some minor, some major, but earthquakes nonetheless. And in “various places” just like Jesus said would have to happen. And how about famines? You can’t tell me you haven’t seen all those commercials on t.v. about the famines in Africa. There have been famines there for years. There have famines a lot of places for years. That hasn’t changed and it won’t until Christ comes again.
Another prophecy Jesus made, “When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.” I don’t think we have to talk a whole lot about war nowadays. Israelis, Palestinians, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan, the list could go on and on. And what about the rumors of war with North Korea - testing nuclear weapons? There are wars and rumors of wars constantly on every level. But again, Jesus says that these things have to happen. It is necessary for these things to happen before he comes again. And they’re happening right now.
And since they all are happening as we speak, we can be sure that Judgment Day is near. We are very close. “But pastor,” you might be thinking, “all of these things have been happening for centuries! Why should we think Judgment Day is close now when it hasn’t happened for hundreds of years before this?” I say that because of what Jesus says in verse 10, “the gospel must first be preached to all nations.”
That hasn’t really happened before in history. Since Jesus’ time the gospel hasn’t really been able to spread to all nations in every part of the world. Yes, there have been missionaries in the past. Yes, there have been efforts by past Christians to penetrate areas in which the gospel has never been heard before. But there has never been a situation like there is today in which the gospel is able to be preached to all nations so effectively. And there are really three main reasons why this is true.
First of all, the mission work we are able to do today. The Wisconsin Synod itself is doing extensive mission work in over 30 different countries right now. That is incredible! When has a church body ever had the resources and the motivation to reach out to so many people across the world? Second of all, transportation. Never before have we been able to travel to distance lands in less than a day like we have in the last few decades. In fact, Seminary professors regularly travel to foreign countries for two week spans, teaching people and helping the missions stay on level ground. And along with that, we are now able to send Bibles, supplies, and other resources overseas without much difficulty at all and relatively fast. Thirdly, the internet. Never before have we been able to send so much information to so many people so often - and all at once. Because of that technological tool, we are reaching thousands upon thousands more people than we could before. People who don’t know Christ. People who have never been to the United States. People who need the gospel. “The gospel must first be preached to all nations,” Jesus said. And it is possible right now. Right now we have all the means necessary like never before.
The gospel must be preached to all nations before Jesus comes again. But who is going to preach it? You are. You are. Because you are witnesses to the gospel. Jesus said, “On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.” That is exactly what happened to Martin Luther. He had to stand in front of governors and emperors and the leaders of his day as a witnesses to them. And the same will happen to you. The Lord will see to it that you have opportunities. Whether you like it or not. Whether you are looking for them or not. You will have opportunities to be witnesses to the gospel. To people in high positions and to people who are homeless. At your job and in your home. Across the street and across the country. The Lord will give you many opportunities to witness to many different people throughout your life. In fact, he already has.
Have you taken advantage of all those opportunities the Lord has afforded you? I doubt that you have. I haven’t. I’ll admit right now that I have yet to invite my neighbor - whom I talk to 2-3 times a week - I have yet to invite him to church. Why? Well, I could give you all sorts of reasons, all sorts of excuses, and many of them you would find legitimate, you would completely understand. But is there really a legitimate reason not to tell someone about their Savior? Is there really ever a bad time to invite them to hear the gospel? I have to reevaluate my own actions and my own reasons for what I’m not doing. I am a witness to the gospel. Why wouldn’t I take advantage of this opportunity the Lord has placed in front of me?
Who is that particular person in your life? Who do you see every day or talk to on a regular basis or run into on more than one occasion? What’s holding you back from being a witness to them? And I know you have reasons, I know you have legitimate reasons why you have not witnessed to them as often as you could. But is there really a legitimate reason not to preach the gospel? You have to reevaluate your own actions and your own reasons for what you’re not doing. Because neglecting to offer somebody the gospel is a sin.
And don’t think that it’s hard to do. Preaching the gospel doesn’t mean you actually preach a sermon to them. Preaching the gospel means that you invite them to church, or Bible class, or talk to them about their life and give them the comfort you have in your Savior. Because when you do those things you are offering them the very same forgiveness that you received. Admit to them that you too have sinned. Admit to them that you have the same struggles. Admit to them that Jesus died for their sins as well as yours. You know that gospel. You are witnesses to it. You know that Christ has forgiven your sins of neglecting to tell people about his gospel! Yes, we have sinned. But let’s not repeat our offenses! Let’s take that forgiveness Christ won for us on the cross and run with it! Run with it to those you know and love and care for. Give them that pure, simple, powerful message, or invite them to church, or invite them to Bible class with you - do something to take advantage of the opportunity the Lord has given you.
And I know that many of you with certain people just don’t know what to say. They don’t want to hear about it and you don’t know how to bring up the subject. Listen to Jesus, “Do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.” That must have been an incredibly comforting passage to Martin Luther. He had to debate with the leading theologians of that time. He had to stand in front of people who wanted to take his life. He must have come back to this passage in Mark again and again as he struggled with witnesses to the truth. This is an incredibly comforting passage to me, too. Because when I read it I know that I don’t have to worry about saying exactly the right words every time to every person. Because the Holy Spirit is really the one speaking through those words. The gospel is his. And it’s the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. So this can be an incredibly comforting passage to you as well. Don’t worry about what to say to people. Just say whatever is given you at the time because it is not you speaking but the Holy Spirit. Let that power loose. Let the Holy Spirit speak. Let him do the work for you. Take advantage of every opportunity to share that good news because the gospel must be preached.
I don’t want this to sound like I’m forcing you to do something. I’m not. It’s just that this text has such a sense of urgency to it. You know that Judgment Day is very near. You know that the gospel must be preached. And you know you are witnesses to that gospel. Don’t hesitate any longer. Don’t put it off. Don’t wait for the “right time” to bring up that subject with those you love. Because the time is now. “Now is the time of God’s favor,” Paul says, “now is the day of salvation.” Take that to heart. Ponder that. Because as you continue to see wars erupt, false Christ’s appear, famines devastate, and earthquakes destroy, you know that the end is near. But these things must happen. And the gospel must be preached.
Amen.

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” - Rev. 22:20