More on the Coming of the Son of Man

With Great Expectation

The Passover was about to come, it was exciting times for the Jewish people. The atmosphere is charged as the people are ready to gather to remember the Exodus and how they were delivered by Moses. Oh they looked, longed for and expected a new Moses the Messiah to come. They had wondered if it was John the Baptist, but then there is this Jesus

- Is He the one?

John 6:15 NASB95

So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone.

- is it coming now

Luke 19:11 NASB95

While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately.

(Slide) They were looking for the king and the kingdom. As we look at this section there is a shift that happens, watch for it, from a coming kingdom to a coming king.

(Slide) Let’s read the entire section then will break it down as such

The kingdom is in our midst (vv.20-21)

Coming of Son of Man (vv.22-29)

The Son of man revealed (vv.30-37)

(Slide) What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?

II. The Kingdom in in our midst

It’s almost like Jesus speaking in a parable here, he answers the question but then also conceals the meaning to the Pharisee’s

(Slide) To the normal Jew the question would invoke an answer like:

Repentance of Israel

Observance of Holy Days and ritual cleansing

Coming of Messiah and defeat of Gentile oppressor

(Slide) Now there is a good question we should ask, what does (v.21) mean?

It is suggested in most translations that the word “within” (NIV) should really be translated to be “in your midst” (NASB and most others)

The Kingdom of God was among them because Jesus is the king and where he is the kingdom is. “You’re looking for a material, political, physical kingdom, and you are missing the true kingdom, Me! Can you hear Jesus saying something like that?

(Slide) Do we miss the fact that we are the kingdom, living in the kingdom now with a heavenly kingdom to come?

We don’t want to be like the Pharisee’s and I’m not talking about the unbelief, but they were so busy looking to the events to come in the future that they were ignoring the opportunities of the present.

III. Coming of Son of Man

A shift happens from speaking to the Pharisee’s addressing their question to teaching the disciples.

(Slide) What can you learn from (v.22)? - hard times are coming, they are going to long to, wish for the day to come

(Slide) In (v.23) this will be a worldwide event not regional or local

(Slide) The illustration (v.24) as lightening happened in one area, it was seen in others

When Jesus comes it will not be a mystery, it will be seen by all, it will be obvious to all!

(Slide) In looking at (v.25) what must transpire first?

(Slide) Now look at the Illustration (v.26-29)

(Slide) A time of moral compromise - both in the days of Noah and Lot it was a time of moral compromise; is this not a time like that today?

(Slide) Population growth

(Slide) Population growth - with Noah (Gen6:1, 5) populations and lawlessness was on increase

(Slide) Earth given over to violence - According to Gen6:11, 13) it was given over to violence

(Slide) Unnatural lusts - and as in the days of Lot () sexual immorality was running wild, just like today.

In the illustration life was going on, man was doing what they thought was OK in their own eyes, much to the contrary to what is acceptable in God’s eyes. In both cases judgment came. And this leads us to the coming of the Son of Man and the judgment to come

IV. The Son Of Man Revealed

(Slide) Look at (v.30) what will be the same? - will come, swiftly!

(Slide) No turning back (v.31-33) - Lot’s wife turned back to look at what was behind, just like Lk9:62 there is no turning back. No good to try to turn back on that day, it will be too late. Those who live for themselves today will lose their lives and those who have lost their lives by living for Jesus will live!

(Slide) One’s personal results (vv.34-36) - personal devotion to Jesus is what will matter when He returns, Jesus will call His church (body of believers) home and those left will face eternal judgment. Only those who are a part of the kingdom in its “already” state, now, those who are prepared (v.20-21) will be a part of the “to come” state (vv.22-37). The final manifestation of the eternal kingdom will come suddenly, swiftly with the blink of an eye

Luke 17:37 NASB95

37 And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures will be gathered.”

Vultures and dead bodies are linked together as are eagles and believers.

Isaiah 40:31 NASB95

Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

So to wrap this up, to the degree you are ready, linked to the Lord or not will determine the outcome of the coming king and your eternal destiny.