Ready for Advent!

Context

In our gospel reading, we are dropping into the middle of discussion that Jesus is having with his disciples. Jesus is talking with them about the Day of the Lord — when he will come from heaven and establish the Kingdom of God on earth.

He has been using prophetic imagery drawn from the Old Testament prophets.

There will be war and natural disaster. Persecution of the righteous. The sun will be darkened, stars fall from the sky.

Then the Son of Man — a self-reference — will come on the clouds with great glory.

The disciples press Jesus to be more specific: When?

Bible story of Flood, Noah and the ark.The ancient people were so persistent in their wickedness and violence that God’s heart was grieved that he had even made humankind. So he determined to wash the earth clean with flood…and he commissioned Noah to warn them, even while he himself built an ark to survive the waters. But the people would not listen.

Jesus says:

TEXT

Matthew 24:36–44 ““But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION

O God of all people and Lord of every nation, let your Word ring out from the shores and your Spirit shine forth in the earth, so that all may hear your teaching and all may do your will; through Jesus Christ our peace. Amen.

INTRODUCTION

Like most of you the Hefner family is busy with holiday plans. Gifts, decorations, cards, meal plans, travel, sleep arrangements.

Need to get ready to celebrate Christmas.

Then we read our scripture lesson today. Whoa! The end of the world? Seems completely out of sync with the Christmas season.

Somewhat correct. This texts is not aimed at Christmas Day, but at another day -- a day not on our calendar, but for which we ought to be preparing.

Advent lessons move us toward Christmas in a reverse fashion. They shock us with reminder of the Second Coming of the LORD at the end of time, in the future, and then work backwards to the first coming of Christ at Christmas long ago.

Subtly teaching us: surely as Christ came at Christmas, so he will come again! Question posed: Are we getting ready to welcome Christ?

EXEGESIS 1: Not When, but whenever

Jesus describes his return in a paradoxical way. On the one hand, it is preceded by certain signs: wars, natural disasters, persecution of the faithful, signs in the heavens and on the earth. But on the other hand, people are going about their usual business and will be taken by surprise.

So, the disciples wonder. When will you return? Can you be specific?

It makes sense that they would ask Jesus this.

Surely Jesus would know when he is himself going to return.

Surprisingly, Jesus says that he cannot tell them when because even he does not know

Matthew 24:36 ““But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

He cannot give a date…but he can give a comparison. The When of the Great Day will be like a When of long ago…

He compares his second coming to the flood during the days of Noah (Gen. 6)

His disciples knew the story, of course. The ancients were warned. Went on with life as normal — Eating, drinking. Giving and taking in marriage. No change, no preparation.

“Until the Day Noah entered the ark”.

“They were unaware”…not paying attention…

“They were all swept away.”

Jesus’ point: He cannot say WHEN he will return…only that people must be be ready WHENEVER.

APPLICATION - Be Always Ready

A couple of Sundays ago, we noted that in every generation there is someone who will say they know when the end will come.

It was to be at Y2K; it to be when COVID hit…

Somehow these prophets ignore Jesus’ express statement that “no one knows…when he will return.”

More importantly: they misunderstand the entire point Jesus is making: It is intentional by God that we not know.

God does not want us to focus on WHEN…he wants us to be focused on READY.

Memory: I once had a teacher who like to give pop-quizzes. I like to give pop-quizzes. Keep up with the learning…and you’ll be fine.

Sure enough, most days, we had a pop quiz. Initially stressful. But then I started to plug into the learning everyday and started doing just fine…as the teacher had said.

For other classes, I could cram. And sometimes I did. Cramming — not a lot of retention.

In the pop-quiz class…I learned. Every class revealed whether I was a good student….and that is what the teacher wanted…not for me to just pass a big test, but to actually learn.

God wants us to grow spiritually, not just pass a big test.

The intention of the Father is that we should not predict the Day of the Lord, but that we should be ready for it. Not that we should “cram” for the kingdom, but that we are pop-quiz ready any time.

EXEGESIS 2: Some ready, some not

Not condemning eating and drinking or giving and taking in marriage. Not villainizing normal life. He would not curse gifts that God provides.

Rather, pointing out that the ancient people of Genesis had driven a wedge between everyday activities and their awareness of God.

They were eating and drinking and giving and taking in marriage, apart from God.

They were ready in the works of the world…but not ready for the Kingdom of God. “They knew nothing of it.”

Jesus says, just so, it will be in the Last Days. People will be focused only on the duties of this world and not their accountability to God.

Or at least that will be true of some people.

Jesus’ paints a picture using common first century images. Men working in the field. Women grinding the grain. A normal day. Duties being fulfilled, responsibilities being managed, by all. Yet spiritually some are ready. Some are not.

Men working in the field. One is taken into the Kingdom. One is left behind.

The women grinding the grain. One is taken. One is left behind.

Jesus admonishes…in the midst of your earthly tasks and delights…do not lose site of the Kingdom..be inwardly ready.

APPLICATION 2: PRACTICING SPIRITUAL FOCUS

Back to our crazy pre-Christmas calendars.

We do not have to cancel all events and go stare at the sky in case Jesus should return.

We got to work. Get married. We manage the home. Eat and Drink. God grant that we would be able to enjoy a normal life!!

YET: we do not want earthly business to be so central that we lose our attentiveness to God.

What irony it would be if Christ chose to return this very Christmas, only to discover us completely distracted, completely unprepared to welcome him.

Two shopping for Christmas presents. One was swept away, the other left.

Two at the Christmas Tree, one take and one left.

Two listening to the story, Twas the Night Before Christmas, one taken and one left.

Our goal is to be engaged with this life AND simultaneously preparing for the next. One eye on this life, one eye on the Lord.

To be “at church” -- AND in the presence of the LORD.

To sing Christmas carols , -- AND “worshipping”.

To give gifts -- AND “celebrating the gift of Jesus.”

We can do all the things we normally do and yet inwardly focus our hearts on Christ.

Christ urgently calls us to take preparatory steps.

EXEGESIS 3: CALL TO VIGILANCE

Jesus says that when he finally returns there will be no excuses for not being ready.

He uses the example of a homeowner.

Matthew 24:43–44 “But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

In the first century…they did not have alarms and house cameras. The only way to catch an intruder was to be awake and on guard.

So, Jesus says: If you knew a thief was coming…wouldn’t you do something about it? Answer is OF COURSE!

The opposite would be absurd: What homeowner, knowing there would be an intruder, would just go to bed and leave their home, their possessions, their family vulnerable?

If you knew an intruder was coming. what would you do? I would have S.W.A.T on hand. He breaks in, the lights pop on, the Swat Team is there and I say, “Welcome to my house! We’ve been expecting you!”

Jesus essentially says, I am coming. Like a thief who warns you in advance.

The only sensible thing to do is be ready.

If we are not ready for the kingdom then everything else is lost.

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world if in the process he loses his own soul.

on the other hand, if you are ready: Seek the Kingdom and all else will also be given.

Jesus says I am bringing the Kingdom, this WILL happen: You must be awake. Don’t let the kingdom of God come find you unaware, be ready to throw on the lights and say, Welcome, I’ve been expecting you!

APPLICATION 3: GET READY NOW

That is his word to us today.

He promises that he will come to us.

Our responsibility is to prepare ourselves….to be ready.

House cameras, and alarms. We go to sleep and let tech take care of things. But on a spiritual level, the task is to be awake a ready.

Advent together, is a way to do that. Keeping the lights on (with the Advent candles!)

This church is part of your SWAT - special worship and tactics. A checklist.

Worship services. Classes, fellowship.

Christmas concert.

Christmas Eve

Clearing some time for prayer.

Time to serve

at church, mission team

or give, offerings, donations

or even fast, to skip a meal.

vigil, stay up at night to embody the spirit.

So when Christmas comes, or Jesus himself comes, we can say, “Welcome, we’ve been expecting you!”

Conclusion

By readying ourselves for the second coming, we ready ourselves to celebrate Christmas. To ready ourselves for Christmas is to ready ourselves for his future return.

Welcome to the Advent season. A time of readiness and expectation.