[To Spread the Gospel]
Pastor Seol Jang-hoon
Mark 13:1-13
I once dreamed of being a successful missionary in India, but now I am a modest one. While preparing for the sermon, I shed tears of resentment, instead of tears of repentance, because I could not interpret the word properly. That was why my fancy temple had to fall down and be crushed. Then I could see Jesus from the fallen site. I pray that you too look at Jesus from the desolated ground.
First, all have to fall down.
Jesus said that this temple had to fall. He was saying that this glorious and strong temple of Jerusalem was going to fall. This temple was everything that represented the identity of the Israelites. The disciples must have been dumbfounded when they heard that this temple had to fall. In reality, a Roman general named Titus destroyed the temple in 70 CE to punish the Jews for rebelling against the empire. Since each stone used to build the temple was embroidered with a jewel, people broke every stone to find the jewels. The word was fulfilled indeed. For me, the glorious temple was being a successful Indian missionary. But in the end, I was diagnosed with cancer and came back to Korea.
Second, we have to admit that it should happen.
Peter, James, John, and Andrew were curious what Jesus was saying. And they asked when this would happen. But it seems that they did not understand Jesus. Jesus was talking about the spiritual part of Israel, but they only cared about times and signs. Jesus was worried and warned the disciple not to be deceived by other things. Deception indicates leading one to sin or to leave God. We have so many things to be deceived even though we are Christians. We are deceived by money, beauty, education, brands, children, etc., from time to time. And in times of suffering, we are more vulnerable to the deceptions. So what is important for us in times of suffering is to be with the faith community and to interpret the suffering by the word. At the time I had cancer, I was without the faith community and I was deceived. I had three children and I was worried about making a living. Rather than repenting and restoring my spirit, I tried to rebuild what was destroyed on my own. Without the word of redemption and faith community, it is not easy to block the deception. Jesus told the disciples not to be afraid of rumors of chaos. Fear comes when the center of our heart is us, not God. After many surgeries, chemotherapies, and despair, I came to Wooridle Church. And I began to listen to the word and have training through the word. I interpreted my life one by one. And this year, I was appointed to serve as a small group leader by grace.
Third, we have to endure till the end.
Jesus said that the gospel should be spread through all the nations. Then the true end will come. I recently sent English QTins to a missionary who helped the Ukraine refugees, and I heard about the circumstances. Even in the despair of the war, they were comforted by the QTin and the testimonies in it. I think this QT ministry is what we really need in wars, famines, and sufferings. A few weeks ago, I sent another English QTin to my Indian student. He is a local who had a conversion. After the conversion, he wanted to be a pastor. When he got the book, he told me why I gave him the book only now. And I got in contact with two other young adults in India. They now have two kids together. I am going to send them QTins for their children as well. I thought my mission in India was done when my temple had fallen, but God is giving me a new mission in Korea. We will be hated when we speak of the name of Jesus, but we must accept that it should happen and endure till the end.
Recently, I led a funeral service for a deaconess mother-in-law. The deaconess husband had a son out of wedlock, and her mother-in-law defended her son. Three years ago, at the funeral of the deaconess, the mother-in-law still resented her, causing the son to have affairs. So it was hard for the deaconess to make up her mind to attend the funeral of such a mother-in-law. She asked for prayers only to reveal the Lord and to endure for the salvation of the family. At the funeral service, she said that she accepted this had to happen for her and her familys sanctification. And she asked for forgiveness for not serving her husband and her mother-in-law well enough. This was the moment when the disputes in the family became a dispute of the Holy Spirit.
In conclusion, to spread the gospel, the fancy Jerusalem Temple in us should fall down. And we have to accept that it should happen for our salvation. Please endure till the end despite any hatred. I pray that you would look up to the Lord in whatever suffering.
