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Posted At: 11:02am by Brent Kuhlman
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First Sunday in Advent Trinity Lutheran Church 27
November 2005 Murdock, NE
+ Jesu Juva +
Mark 13:(32)33-37
Advent. The word means: "coming." These first two Sundays in Advent the focus is on Jesus' coming in glory on the Last Day. Judgment Day. When will that take place? When will Jesus return for all to see on the Last Day?
Bunches of religious folks pretend to know. They write books. Have TV and radio shows. They're celebrities. Millionaires. I've told the board of elders (with my tongue firmly planted in my cheek) that if you ever decide to get rid of me by not paying me, I'll just start writing prophecy books. I'll be a millionaire too and you'll be stuck with me for a long time. You may have read some or all of the "Left Behind" books or watched the DVDs. I know the teenage and not so teenage girls love the DVDs because Kirk Cameron is the star. But there's loads of naughty teaching about the last days and the Last Day with the "Left Behind" propaganda. And that includes the problem of setting a date or timetable for the Lord's final return.
For those of you who are still in the mood to play a version of Last Day Date Setting Poker Royale, let me tell you that the Lord has a couple of pocket aces. And that's: "No one knows about that day or hour." What part of "no one knows about that day or hour" don't you get? He's not bluffing. He's serious. "No one" means no one. Pocket Aces I said. What's that? You think I'm a liar and that the Lord only bluffs? You want to raise Him? You still believe that you can set a date or time for the Last Day? What have you got? Pocket Deuces? All right. So the game continues.
We see the flop. Nothing there. And then the turn card. It's an ace. You think you have an unbeatable hand. A two of date setting and a two of timetables with an Ace kicker. But the Turn Card Ace is that not even the angels in heaven know when the Last Day will take place. You're nervously confident. Willing to take a big risk. You've got to prove that you're the man! A Phil Helmuth moment. You're all in. You look for help from the River Card. You stare Jesus down. Egg Him on. Taunt Him. He'll fold and the pot will be yours. Date setting is a piece of cake. Easy money.
Jesus sighs and calmly calls. The river card? Another Ace! That Ace is: "I don't even know when the Last Day will be!" Four of a kind. Four Aces. The pocket Aces of "No one knows." The angels don't know Turn Card Ace. And then the clincher: Even Jesus in His humanity doesn't know when the Last Day will be River Card. Date setting game over. Knock it off. Give it up will you?! So now what? Better listen to the Man with the Four Aces. "Only my Father knows!" Just the Father in heaven knows the day and hour. And He's not going to leak it to the press, to you, or to anyone.
The religious Americans who claim to know the day and hour are charlatans. Frauds. Liars. Jesus repeats what He's just said: "You do not know when that time will come." Quit the date setting. Instead, Jesus says to "be on guard" and to "be alert" until I come on the Last Day. Jesus is like the parents who take a trip. The teenage kids immediately ask: "When will you be back?"
You know why they ask? So they can plan the party at their house while Dad and Mom are gone. So they can gorge on Doritos and Code Red. Maybe even throw a kegger. Sleep all day. Spend all night chatting on the computer or crashed in front of the big screen like a zombie. House trashed. Dishes in the sink. Homework ignored. Garbage everywhere. Hungover. But the shrewd parent says: "Don't know. Could be in a month. Maybe in a couple weeks. Might come back in a few days. And there's even the possibility of returning tomorrow. Might even be back late tonight or quite suddenly at the crack of dawn tomorrow. Just don't know for sure."
Jesus is like the boss who takes a business trip. And His slacker employees ask the big question: "When are you coming back?" The mice want to play while the cat's away. The wise cat, that is, the boss says: "Don't know. This job could take years or months. But then again if things go well I could be back in a couple of days. Could be late. Could be very sudden. Can't be sure though." So now what? How are the kids and employees to use the time while Jesus is hidden from our sight? Use the time to keep watch. Put lookouts by the front window or by the front door. Always vigilant. Always on guard. Don't want Jesus to find us passed out on the kitchen floor or slumped over the porcelain throne. He could be back anytime.
So we'll stay sober. Alert. On guard. Watching. And that's faith. Trusting that what Jesus says He will do. He will come on the Last Day. When will that be? No one knows. The angels don't. Jesus in His humanity doesn't. Only the Father knows. Until then we watch. We pay attention. Especially this morning. For Jesus comes into your midst at the altar. Tells you to eat and drink His Body and Blood for the forgiveness of your sins. Forgiveness for the sleep of unbelief and the sloth of mistrust. He comes in the Supper as the Savior who died for you. His Supper is the Last Day in miniature. Judgment Day ahead of time. Dress rehearsal for the Last Day. So that when the Last Day comes and Jesus appears in glory, you're ready. You'll know what to expect. Won't catch you off guard or by surprise. Jesus will treat you no differently than He does here. As your Savior.
Until then: "Watch."
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Edited on: November 28th, 2005 2:48 am
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Posted On: December 01st, 2005 at 9:07am by Steve C |
Excellent info, this is the best explanation I have ever heard regarding the reason for his uncertain return timing!
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