Apocalypse Prep

Mark 13:1-8


Last weekend I had friends staying with me while they attended a science fiction writers and fans conference. She’s a doctor, he’s a writer, but at this conference they were part of the Zombie Squad – a commitment that involved walking the halls in specially designed zombie-defense riot gear to draw attention to their cause, and meeting convention-goers at an information table with flyers.

You see, the Zombie Squad is a national organization whose mission is “to educate the public about the importance of personal preparedness and self-reliance, to increase its readiness to respond to disasters such as earthquakes, floods or zombie outbreaks.”

“If you are prepared for zombies,” they say, “you’re prepared for anything.”

And they’re probably right.

I’m not prepared for zombies, myself, but the Zombie Squad gives some really good advice. They have a list of what you’ll need in your “Bug Out Bag” in case of evacuation or other emergency: water, food, first aid, batteries, duct tape, sunscreen, cash, toilet paper, can opener, etc. etc.  

It’s not much different from the list offered by the American Red Cross for non-zombie emergencies.

They suggest learning CPR and first aid skills, and knowing your evacuation route, just like the Red Cross – and they also emphasize forming a support system, paying attention to the news, and helping your community prepare through blood drives and food drives.

After all, if we’re ready for the zombie apocalypse, there’s not much a hurricane, earthquake, or flood can surprise us with.

It can be very appealing to be ready for anything. Knowing that we’re prepared for the end of the world gives us a sense of control in the face of chaos, and helps us manage our fear.  It’s just plain practical.

 I’ll bet that’s what Peter and James and John and Andrew were thinking when they took Jesus aside to pump him for information about disaster preparation.

It started when the disciples were admiring the Temple, the beauty and sturdy power of the building at the heart of their national and religious identity – and then Jesus announces that one day it will be destroyed so completely that not one stone will be left on another.

Yikes!

 So a few of them take him aside and ask – just exactly when will this be, and just exactly what’s supposed to happen then???  After all, if you know what and when, you can pack your bag, make your plans – you can be prepared.

But Jesus – as they might have expected after hanging out with him for a year or three – turns their hopes and questions upside down.

He never tells them when.  Eventually, he tells them that not even he knows that.  But he does give them an entirely different kind of preparedness lesson. 

You see, the Christian apocalypse doesn’t start and stop with disaster.  There are wars and earthquakes and chaos, even evacuations, but those are only incidental.

The word apocalypse means revelation, the lifting of the veil, and it’s the ultimate revelation of Christ, the return of the Messiah to bring the end of the age and the final reign of God, that Jesus is telling his disciples about, today.

For that, you don’t prepare to control the chaos.

For the apocalypse Jesus is talking about, you prepare to surf the chaos.

To ride through the upheaval of everything we’re used to, balanced in faith and trust.

For this apocalypse, you don’t manage the fear, you let go of the fear.  For this you don’t protect yourself, you take the risk of proclaiming good news – joy and hope and love – in the face of endings, chaos and fear.

We only heard the beginning of Jesus’ apocalypse preparedness lesson this morning.  It starts with what we heard: Watch out for false prophets.  Apparently there are going to be a lot of them, all claiming God’s authority.  (Have you noticed that happening?  I think some of them have TV shows now.)

There will be war and rumors of war, earthquake and famine – all things you and I have seen, more than once, in our lifetimes.  Jesus tells us not to be alarmed, because these are not really the end, only the beginning of the birth process.

Jesus goes on to predict that his followers will be hauled in front of governments and power brokers to testify. That the highest priority, the first thing, is that good news must be proclaimed in all nations. And to prepare for that, we come back to letting go of fear and anxiety, because the Holy Spirit does the speaking, through us. 

To let the Spirit work, we have to make our worry get out of the way.

The good news must be proclaimed most of all when it’s natural to worry, to be afraid; when it seems like the world is ending:

In little apocalypses like cancer, the ending of a marriage, the loss of a job and identity. 

Bigger disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes and global financial crisis. 

And most importantly, in the coming of the kingdom of God to overturn all our expectations and fill the world with God’s will.

Stay alert, Jesus says, because I have already told you everything.

I looked back through Mark’s gospel, and what Jesus has told us, over and over, is:
“Follow me” (1:17, 2:14, 10:21)

“Whoever wants to be first must be servant of all” (9:35, 10:44)

“Do not be afraid” (4:40, 5:36, 6:50)
“Go in peace, your faith has made you whole.” (5:34, 10:52)

And that’s what we need in the face of apocalypse.

Earthquakes and famine, flood and fire, are part of the end of the world, and part of the world we live in.  It wouldn’t hurt any of us to follow the example of my Zombie Squad friends and make sure we have supplies to keep our selves and our families safe.

But Jesus is preparing us for something completely different:

for following him into chaos that we ride in faith and trust,

letting go of fear and anxiety,

proclaiming good news that spreads

hope, joy, peace and wholeness.

If you’re going to pack a bag for that, you’ll need a few things that aren’t on the other list:

Courage.

Peace.

Faith, and trust in God.

Community.

Compassion.

Good news of joy and hope

You already have the instruction manual, Jesus tells us. “I have already told you everything.”

So pack your bag, or pack your heart: with courage, trust, love, and hope, and toss away all the fear.

The apocalypse – the revelation of the full-blown reign of God – is coming.

And if you’re ready for that,

you’re really ready for anything!