November 21 Worship Service

Our November 21 Sunday worship service is available on video through Facebook. You may view it without being a member of Facebook. We are excited to say that our Sunday 8 & 10:30 am services are open again for in-person worship. Services will continue to be streamed online.

Click on picture to view video

The November 28 Sunday worship service will be held with in-person attendance. We have returned to regular in-person worship services. With an upturn in county COVID cases, we recommend masks even for those who are vaccinated.

It is scheduled to be streamed live on the DeSoto Redeemer Facebook page. We will post a direct link to the recording here as soon as it is possible after the service.

We are glad to share our worship with you. Click on “Contact Us” above to find out more about our faith family and what we believe.

CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY
Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14 | Psalm 93
Revelation 1:4b-8 | John 18:33-37

Where has the time gone? It seems that the year has just flown by, and that in spite of all of the complications. Now, we have come to the close of the Church calendar. It is the end of the Church calendar already. But Christians are always supposed to be looking towards the end, anticipating the end, For, in our faith, the end is the beginning. We are always to be looking towards Christ the King Sunday, the day in which we end the Church year; and celebrate; and look forward to the culmination of Christ’s kingship and reign, now and yet to come. That is what all of the lessons this morning point to, and what we celebrate. All aim to the end of the age, when God’s kingdom will be completely established, and those who have been faithful will be vindicated. It all sounds very apocalyptic, like I said last week, but I prefer to look to the future in anticipation not apocalyptically, as fulfillment not obliteration, towards something new, not the old which has passed away.

We hear in Daniel today, “I saw one like a human being.” That “human being” in Hebrew is literally “Son of Man.” They changed the translation to “human being” in the NRSV. That is a shame, for we lose something that way. Son of Man, it is the title which Jesus most often applies to himself. Originally, in Hebrew, it did just mean a human being, but by the time we get down to Daniel’s book, it comes to mean God’s chosen Messiah. It is in that sense that Jesus used the title. And it is in that sense that his disciples understand it, as do we. The vision of Daniel looks forward to the time when the “Ancient One” (which used to be translated, “Ancient of Days”), that is God, gives to his chosen Messiah (Christ) the dominion of all of creation; glory and kingship over all of the nations. And, as the psalm reads and celebrates, it is a dominion which “will not pass away, nor the kingship be destroyed.” It is a kingdom which is not of this world, but which is eternal.

In the Gospel lesson, which also comes up during Holy Week, we have part of the trial scene of John’s Gospel, “Jesus’ trial before Pilate.” We have the representative of the most powerful kingdom/empire of the time asking questions of the king, if you will, of the most powerful of all, the Kingdom of God, which is coming. Pilate knows that there is something deeper going on. His wife has warned him about a dream that she had had about Jesus. Don’t underestimate dreams. And Pilate was curious, or unsure, about what was going on. Pilate had already questioned Jesus. He comes back and asks, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Remember, Jesus is a descendant of David, a prince of Israel. Most people, and good Christians often forget that part. He is occasionally addressed as “Son of David,” remember. Pilate is probably wondering why the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. This was not something that they normally did. “What have you done?” He knows that there is something else going on here. Something is up, but what it is, he doesn’t understand. But Pilate is only an earthly sort of ruler, a roman governor. Importantly, Jesus is later condemned on these questions, by Roman law, for insurrection, being a false king. “The King of the Jews” is what Pilate will put on the sign above Jesus on the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews.”

“My kingdom is not from this world.” Jesus answers, but doesn’t answer. He says that he is a king, but points to the coming kingdom, the Kingdom of God, which is here among us partially, here but not yet fulfilled. It is that fulfillment which all Christians hope for and look forward to. Pilate, probably, wasn’t satisfied with that answer. “Another world?,” probably, Pilate thought with this, that Jesus must be some kind of loony. Pilate was, after all, a very practical man, being a roman leader and all. But by that answer, Jesus did admit to being a king, which to the Romans was treason.
But, Jesus hadn’t finished the answer. He speaks of his purpose, “for this I came into the world.” To be crucified, to testify to the truth, and there is an indication of his kingdom. God’s kingdom is tied to the truth. A kingdom which is here, wherever Truth lives. It also shows us that contrary to what Pilate might believe; Jesus is actually in control of the trial. In John’s Gospel, Jesus is in control throughout. It is one of the things that makes John’s account different from the other three Gospels. “This is what I came for! This is why I was born! I am here to be crucified. You can’t stop it. That is what will complete my mission here on earth, the task which My Father has sent me to accomplish. Remember Jesus’ last three words from the cross in John? “It is finished.” He has completed his mission. That is the Truth. The Church, Christ’s followers, we testify to that truth. The Truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God: who came to die for our sins; was resurrected to glory; and even now, reigns over us; whose coming kingdom we wait for and anticipate. Ironically, in the next verse, which we don’t have in the lessons today, Pilate asks, “What is truth?” He is standing right in front of THE TRUTH, and missed it completely. The truth which is the love of God made manifest in His Son Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of all people. Pilate misses it completely, but earthly rulers usually do.

In the Revelation lesson, “To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, and made us to be a kingdom, priests (the idea of the priesthood of all believers), serving his God and Father.” It is a creedal statement of Jesus’ work. What Christ has done for us. The text points to the Return of Christ in glory, his 2nd Coming. What some groups call the Rapture, because they don’t know that the Greek word for it is the Paraousia. Christ’s return, which the whole Church looks forward to, the time of the final end of sin, death and all evil. When the faithful will be vindicated. When all shall be completed. When Christ shall rule all in righteousness, all of his enemies having been put under his feet. The king “who is and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” It is the same King Jesus Christ who claims us, and he whom we serve. It is he who we meet now at his table, in his Holy Supper, a likeness of the Heavenly Banquet at the end of the age, “a foretaste of the feast to come.” Christ our King is here.

November 14 Worship Service

Our November 14 Sunday worship service is available on video through Facebook. You may view it without being a member of Facebook. We are excited to say that our Sunday 8 & 10:30 am services are open again for in-person worship. Services will continue to be streamed online.

Click on picture to view video

The November 21 Sunday worship service will be held with in-person attendance. We have returned to regular in-person worship services. With an upturn in county COVID cases, we recommend masks even for those who are vaccinated.

It is scheduled to be streamed live on the DeSoto Redeemer Facebook page. We will post a direct link to the recording here as soon as it is possible after the service.

We are glad to share our worship with you. Click on “Contact Us” above to find out more about our faith family and what we believe.

Daniel 12:1-3 | Psalm 16
Hebrews 10:11-14 [15-18] 19-25 | Mark 13:1-8

The Gospel lesson is called the “Little Apocalypse of Mark.” It deals with a prediction of the end of time, or at least, the end of the age, and the beginning of something new. It is not just a word of judgment; it also contains a word of hope. The hope is for those who remain faithful. They will be vindicated. That is the hope of all apocalyptic literature in the Bible, such as the text from Daniel, and Revelation.

This is the fourth, and the last time that Jesus is in the Temple in Jerusalem in Mark’s Gospel. He is leaving, perhaps disgusted with the religiosity, and pomposity, of the Jewish leaders.

As he and the disciples leave the Temple, they are impressed by the beauty and the grandeur of the building. And they should be, after Herod the Great’s 42 years of improvements, it was considered one of the wonders of the world. They were impressed by the outward appearance of the building complex. The stones used to erect the building were huge; we can still see some of the foundation on television, when they show the “Wailing Wall.” But, Jesus isn’t impressed. This was just a building. He was more concerned with the situation of the people, and their plight, both physically but also spiritually. The Temple itself had become a place of oppression. He did not see it as a place of worship anymore, or a house of salvation. It was now, as he had said, “become a den of thieves.”

“Do you see these great building? Not one stone will be left here upon another, all will be thrown down.” Within 40 years of making this statement, and about the same time that Mark wrote down this Gospel, these words had taken place. The Romans destroyed the magnificent Temple. They filled the Temple with all the wood in the area, and it burned for three weeks, consuming almost everything.

Later, while sitting on the Mount of Olives, Peter, James, John and Andrew ask Jesus privately about what he had said. Basically, it amounts to, “What now?” Jesus warns of things to come. He warns of false Messiahs and false teachers – and there have been many over the centuries. People who would claim to be the Savior, and sent by God, but would only lead people astray. We still see some once in a while on the evening news. My favorite false teacher right now is some person who calls themselves “Q.” Doesn’t even let out their true identity! Yet, lots of people believe the person. It reminds me of the “Q Continuum” in Star Trek: the Next Generation. And, the Q in that television series was entertaining, and terribly inept. The present “Q” loves to push conspiracy theories. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy a good conspiracy theory. I don’t believe them. But they are entertaining, and can give an interesting alternate reality. And unfortunately, people believe them, and without any proof! No proof whatsoever! And many are incredibly illogical.

Here’s a good one. Some people believe an anti-vaccine conspiracy theory that the government is putting trackers in the vaccine, so that they know where you are. And people believe it, and won’t get vaccinated for Covid because of it. Here’s the trouble with that train of thought. The technology to build a tracker small enough to go through that little narrow needle doesn’t exist! It is impossible. I’ve had three vaccine injections. I’ve looked at the needle every time. It can’t be done. Second, if you have a cellphone, the phone company knows where you are within a 2×2 foot space already. You may lose your phone, but the phone company knows exactly where it is. The government, if they want to know your whereabouts, only has to ask the phone company where you are. And they do. And the phone company will give them your records. Why would the government spend billions of dollars to put microscopic trackers in a vaccine to know where you are, when the phone company is already doing it, and we are paying for the privilege with our data plans? Come on, give me a good conspiracy theory! I think that Q is a 12 years old kid with a computer who watches too much television.

Jesus warns of wars, and earthquakes and famines yet to come. And again, we are faced with wars, and earthquakes and famines all of the time, not to mention volcanos and global warming. Dreadful things to come. I noticed that Jesus didn’t mention pestilence, since we are in a pandemic. So, hopefully, Covid is not a portent of things to come.
But, and I mean but, these are actually heralds of things to come. Jesus tells the disciples not to be alarmed or worried by these events. They are not things to be afraid of. When they happen, he tells them, remain faithful. They aren’t harbingers of impending doom, but really things to give the faithful hope. “These are just the beginning of the birth pangs.” Birth pangs, that means a new birth. There is going to be a new creation, and on a grand scale. What is being brought forth? Something new that is from God. Something new, and greater is taking place, and we are to look forward to it, indeed we are to participate in it.

The Kingdom of God, a totally new creation, free of sin, is breaking forth into the world. Because of its coming, there is no need of the Temple. There is a new Temple where sacrifice is offered. It is the Temple of Christ himself, and his kingdom, who offered himself for us, once and for all. The Hebrews lesson today tells us that it is not just “new,” but also that it “will not grow old.” He justifies and sanctifies us in his blood. All of the old things are passing away, and the new is coming into being. Jesus tells us that it will be a long, and upsetting process (to many). But we are to watch, and wait, be faithful, and fulfill the task of mission. That is how we participate in this new creation. The mission of proclaiming the coming of this Kingdom, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and even celebrating the old passing away.

In this way, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. It in itself is a sign of the end of the age. It is a foretaste of the feast to come. The Kingdom is here, and not yet. “For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death, until he comes again.” Until he comes again. He will come again.
Pastor Rose