Anticipating Jesus-At the End of Time
12/03/06
Advent 1
Luke 21:25-36
Dear friends in Christ,
Last week I had preschool chapel with the children of All God’s Children preschool. We sang our chapel songs and then I began to talk with them about the next great holiday we celebrate, Christmas. I asked them, how many of you like Christmas? Boy did their eyes light up and smiles come across their little faces. They love Christmas. And then I asked why they loved it so much and, as you might expect, they talked about receiving presents. They can’t wait for Christmas so they can open presents and see what Santa brings them.
Well, young or old there is a child in each of us. We do anticipate Christmas, the birth of the Christ child, and all that goes along with that. But this season of the year we call Advent isn’t just about Christmas, at least not for believers. Advent is a Latin word which means “coming.” This is the time of year we remember how Christ has come, how Christ will come, and how Christ is coming among us even today through Word and sacrament. Advent is really a celebration of God’s presence with us
The season begins each year by having us think about God’s second coming, or second Advent, that is proclaimed and promised in scripture. This is a much debated topic among Christians as to just what it means and when it might happen. I found this quote from a very famous Christian that you should all know. I’ll read it and see if you can figure out who is being quoted.
“No one can deny me the right to believe that the last day is near at hand. These words and signs of Christ compel me to believe that such is the case. For the history of the centuries that have passed since the birth of Christ nowhere reveals conditions like those of the present. There has never been such building and planting in the world. There has never been such gluttonous and varied eating and drinking as now. Wearing apparel has reached its limit in costliness. Who has ever heard of such commerce as now encircles the earth? There have arisen all kinds of art and sculpture, embroidery and engraving, the like of which has not been seen during the whole Christian era. In addition men are so delving into the mysteries of things that today a boy of twenty knows more than twenty doctors formerly knew. There is such a knowledge of languages and all manner of wisdom that it must be confessed, the world has reached such great heights in the things that pertain to the body, or as Christ calls them, "cares of life", that every one must see and say either ruin or a change must come. There was never such keenness, understanding and judgment among Christians in bodily and temporal things as now - I speak of the new inventions, printing, fire-arms, and other implements of war...This compels me to believe that Christ will soon come to judgment...it must soon break in upon them.” Who said it? Martin Luther in his sermon on today’s Bible passage back in the 16th century. (Martin Luther, Sermon on Luke 21:25-36: THE SIGNS OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT). To this day people continue to wonder about Christ’s return.
This morning I want to talk about Jesus’ words in the gospel lesson about the end of time and make just these two points. First, Christ’s future coming will be a time of joy for believers, and second, we are to live alert for Christ’s future coming, in the righteousness we have already been given.
One approach to the second Advent is to be afraid. You can read this lesson and be afraid, if you choose. The gospel lesson begins with a picture of everything breaking loose in the world. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and earth, order was made out of chaos. Everything had clearly defined boundaries: heaven and earth, night and day, land and water. Creation was secure and dependable. But here, with these words of Jesus, all of that is reversed. Everything solid starts coming loose. It is like a movie running backwards. Signs appear in the sun and moon and stars. Nations are confused by the roaring of the seas. The once secure, changeless skies that arch over our earthly home
will be shaken. Everything solid is coming loose.
Jesus says that there will be two very different reactions to this. Some people will be caught by total surprise and faint with fear at what is happening. They will be down on the ground, trembling, afraid. But, he says to his disciples, you are to stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. You are not to cower in fear, you are to stand up, look up, be glad, for the one is coming who will save you from any further distress.
In the next verses Jesus shares the parable of the fig tree. Just as new leaves are a sign summer is near, so also there will be signs that “the kingdom of God is near.” The time and place when God rules the universe as King is almost at hand. There will be no other powers to compete with God. Not the power of sin, not the power of the devil, not the powers of nature that can be destructive, nothing will be left to compete with God.
For the believer, this is good news. This is a time of deliverance and joy. Many will react with fear and distress, but we should react with faith and joy. We should raise up our heads. Our redemption is drawing near. The kingdom is near. The Son of Man is coming.
You’ve probably all heard the saying, “Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.” It says that God hasn’t made us what we will one day be. Life is a process and we will continue to grow and change until that day when Christ brings us to our final completion.
Last summer we visited the national Wildlife Art Museum out in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One display I found very interesting was of an artist’s work from his first sketches from a wildlife photograph, to his completed, beautiful painting. You saw the process, how things changed and developed, until the final product. That’s true for us on our faith journey. We’re growing, changing, until; one day we will be complete upon Christ’s return.
And what’s true for us is also true for the world. God’s creation is growing and changing and in process. One day it will be complete and fulfilled. That day is Christ’s second Advent. The artist’s work is finally finished and it is a day of joy, not fear.
I read this rather amazing account of King Hussein, the former beloved King of Jordan who died back in 2000. Hussein was a good friend to the U.S. who once spent six months at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for cancer treatment. Afterward, he piloted his own plane back to Jordan.
His return was reported by the Associated Press. Bedouin tribesmen slaughtered sheep and camels along the roadsides to offer their thanks for Hussein’s safe return. There was dancing and singing in public parks. Hundreds of dignitaries joined more than 1 million people - one third of Jordan’s population - in the nationwide festivities. In Amman’s exclusive suburbs, buildings were adorned with huge Jordanian flags and strings of flashing lights. “Your return home is like the return of the soul to the body,” beamed one banner in the capital.
All of this celebration and joy was to welcome home an ordinary man, a human king, that later died of the cancer. Think how great our celebration should be to welcome back the King of Kings. Christ’s future coming is not to be feared by those who believe. It will be a day of victory and celebration, when God’s redemption will be complete.
The second point from today’s lesson is that we are to live alert for Christ’s future coming, in the righteousness we have already been given. In the first lesson from Jeremiah, there is the prophecy of the promised savior. Jesus is the fulfillment of those words. He will be called, “The Lord is our righteousness.” And so he is. We have been given the savior, made righteous by faith, and we are to live in his righteousness all of our days. In the second lesson, Paul says the same thing in a little different way. He offers a prayer for the people, “And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Paul prays for their holiness, so they will be ready for the coming of Christ. That is a prayer for all of us.
Jesus makes it clear that there are some things in life that can take our alertness away. There are some things that can cause us to become complacent. There are things that will let our guard down. The first is called dissipation in the lesson. “Be on guard so
that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation.” What that means is being scattered or pulled in too many directions. Dissipation is the opposite of focus. We get so scattered we lose our direction. Do you ever feel dissipated? Do you ever feel pulled in too many directions? Do you ever feel like you have too much to do in too little time? Is this especially true as you move towards Christmas? Jesus warns us to be careful. We may be so involved with so many things we fail to see the signs of his return.
Jesus mentions drunkenness. Having our minds dulled by alcohol or drugs is no way to get ready for his return. We need to be clear thinking, sharp, to see the signs. And then he mentions the “worries of this life.” We all worry about things. We’re human, we have human concerns. But we are not to be weighed down by this worry. Excessive worry shows a lack of faith. God knows us and loves us and cares about us. We place our life in God’s hands. When we overly worry, we’re not trusting God.
Jesus says there will be people caught by surprise, like in a trap, when he returns. They had no clue it was happening. Being pulled in too many different directions, drunkenness, and excessive worry are examples of things that can drop our guard. We are to be spiritually prepared for Christ’s coming every day, living in righteousness.
Advent is a time to celebrate Christ’s coming. Today, we remember the prophecy of Christ’s final return. We do not approach it with fear, but rather with joy and heads raised. For we know that then God’s redemptive work will be complete. And as we wait, we do so in the righteousness that is ours through Christ, setting aside dissipation,
drunkenness and worry. May God strengthen our hearts in holiness, so we may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints. Amen
Luke 21:25-36
Dear friends in Christ,
Last week I had preschool chapel with the children of All God’s Children preschool. We sang our chapel songs and then I began to talk with them about the next great holiday we celebrate, Christmas. I asked them, how many of you like Christmas? Boy did their eyes light up and smiles come across their little faces. They love Christmas. And then I asked why they loved it so much and, as you might expect, they talked about receiving presents. They can’t wait for Christmas so they can open presents and see what Santa brings them.
Well, young or old there is a child in each of us. We do anticipate Christmas, the birth of the Christ child, and all that goes along with that. But this season of the year we call Advent isn’t just about Christmas, at least not for believers. Advent is a Latin word which means “coming.” This is the time of year we remember how Christ has come, how Christ will come, and how Christ is coming among us even today through Word and sacrament. Advent is really a celebration of God’s presence with us
The season begins each year by having us think about God’s second coming, or second Advent, that is proclaimed and promised in scripture. This is a much debated topic among Christians as to just what it means and when it might happen. I found this quote from a very famous Christian that you should all know. I’ll read it and see if you can figure out who is being quoted.
“No one can deny me the right to believe that the last day is near at hand. These words and signs of Christ compel me to believe that such is the case. For the history of the centuries that have passed since the birth of Christ nowhere reveals conditions like those of the present. There has never been such building and planting in the world. There has never been such gluttonous and varied eating and drinking as now. Wearing apparel has reached its limit in costliness. Who has ever heard of such commerce as now encircles the earth? There have arisen all kinds of art and sculpture, embroidery and engraving, the like of which has not been seen during the whole Christian era. In addition men are so delving into the mysteries of things that today a boy of twenty knows more than twenty doctors formerly knew. There is such a knowledge of languages and all manner of wisdom that it must be confessed, the world has reached such great heights in the things that pertain to the body, or as Christ calls them, "cares of life", that every one must see and say either ruin or a change must come. There was never such keenness, understanding and judgment among Christians in bodily and temporal things as now - I speak of the new inventions, printing, fire-arms, and other implements of war...This compels me to believe that Christ will soon come to judgment...it must soon break in upon them.” Who said it? Martin Luther in his sermon on today’s Bible passage back in the 16th century. (Martin Luther, Sermon on Luke 21:25-36: THE SIGNS OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT). To this day people continue to wonder about Christ’s return.
This morning I want to talk about Jesus’ words in the gospel lesson about the end of time and make just these two points. First, Christ’s future coming will be a time of joy for believers, and second, we are to live alert for Christ’s future coming, in the righteousness we have already been given.
One approach to the second Advent is to be afraid. You can read this lesson and be afraid, if you choose. The gospel lesson begins with a picture of everything breaking loose in the world. In the beginning, when God created the heavens and earth, order was made out of chaos. Everything had clearly defined boundaries: heaven and earth, night and day, land and water. Creation was secure and dependable. But here, with these words of Jesus, all of that is reversed. Everything solid starts coming loose. It is like a movie running backwards. Signs appear in the sun and moon and stars. Nations are confused by the roaring of the seas. The once secure, changeless skies that arch over our earthly home
will be shaken. Everything solid is coming loose.
Jesus says that there will be two very different reactions to this. Some people will be caught by total surprise and faint with fear at what is happening. They will be down on the ground, trembling, afraid. But, he says to his disciples, you are to stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. You are not to cower in fear, you are to stand up, look up, be glad, for the one is coming who will save you from any further distress.
In the next verses Jesus shares the parable of the fig tree. Just as new leaves are a sign summer is near, so also there will be signs that “the kingdom of God is near.” The time and place when God rules the universe as King is almost at hand. There will be no other powers to compete with God. Not the power of sin, not the power of the devil, not the powers of nature that can be destructive, nothing will be left to compete with God.
For the believer, this is good news. This is a time of deliverance and joy. Many will react with fear and distress, but we should react with faith and joy. We should raise up our heads. Our redemption is drawing near. The kingdom is near. The Son of Man is coming.
You’ve probably all heard the saying, “Please be patient with me, God isn’t finished with me yet.” It says that God hasn’t made us what we will one day be. Life is a process and we will continue to grow and change until that day when Christ brings us to our final completion.
Last summer we visited the national Wildlife Art Museum out in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. One display I found very interesting was of an artist’s work from his first sketches from a wildlife photograph, to his completed, beautiful painting. You saw the process, how things changed and developed, until the final product. That’s true for us on our faith journey. We’re growing, changing, until; one day we will be complete upon Christ’s return.
And what’s true for us is also true for the world. God’s creation is growing and changing and in process. One day it will be complete and fulfilled. That day is Christ’s second Advent. The artist’s work is finally finished and it is a day of joy, not fear.
I read this rather amazing account of King Hussein, the former beloved King of Jordan who died back in 2000. Hussein was a good friend to the U.S. who once spent six months at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester for cancer treatment. Afterward, he piloted his own plane back to Jordan.
His return was reported by the Associated Press. Bedouin tribesmen slaughtered sheep and camels along the roadsides to offer their thanks for Hussein’s safe return. There was dancing and singing in public parks. Hundreds of dignitaries joined more than 1 million people - one third of Jordan’s population - in the nationwide festivities. In Amman’s exclusive suburbs, buildings were adorned with huge Jordanian flags and strings of flashing lights. “Your return home is like the return of the soul to the body,” beamed one banner in the capital.
All of this celebration and joy was to welcome home an ordinary man, a human king, that later died of the cancer. Think how great our celebration should be to welcome back the King of Kings. Christ’s future coming is not to be feared by those who believe. It will be a day of victory and celebration, when God’s redemption will be complete.
The second point from today’s lesson is that we are to live alert for Christ’s future coming, in the righteousness we have already been given. In the first lesson from Jeremiah, there is the prophecy of the promised savior. Jesus is the fulfillment of those words. He will be called, “The Lord is our righteousness.” And so he is. We have been given the savior, made righteous by faith, and we are to live in his righteousness all of our days. In the second lesson, Paul says the same thing in a little different way. He offers a prayer for the people, “And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all his saints.” Paul prays for their holiness, so they will be ready for the coming of Christ. That is a prayer for all of us.
Jesus makes it clear that there are some things in life that can take our alertness away. There are some things that can cause us to become complacent. There are things that will let our guard down. The first is called dissipation in the lesson. “Be on guard so
that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation.” What that means is being scattered or pulled in too many directions. Dissipation is the opposite of focus. We get so scattered we lose our direction. Do you ever feel dissipated? Do you ever feel pulled in too many directions? Do you ever feel like you have too much to do in too little time? Is this especially true as you move towards Christmas? Jesus warns us to be careful. We may be so involved with so many things we fail to see the signs of his return.
Jesus mentions drunkenness. Having our minds dulled by alcohol or drugs is no way to get ready for his return. We need to be clear thinking, sharp, to see the signs. And then he mentions the “worries of this life.” We all worry about things. We’re human, we have human concerns. But we are not to be weighed down by this worry. Excessive worry shows a lack of faith. God knows us and loves us and cares about us. We place our life in God’s hands. When we overly worry, we’re not trusting God.
Jesus says there will be people caught by surprise, like in a trap, when he returns. They had no clue it was happening. Being pulled in too many different directions, drunkenness, and excessive worry are examples of things that can drop our guard. We are to be spiritually prepared for Christ’s coming every day, living in righteousness.
Advent is a time to celebrate Christ’s coming. Today, we remember the prophecy of Christ’s final return. We do not approach it with fear, but rather with joy and heads raised. For we know that then God’s redemptive work will be complete. And as we wait, we do so in the righteousness that is ours through Christ, setting aside dissipation,
drunkenness and worry. May God strengthen our hearts in holiness, so we may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all the saints. Amen