Advent 1

Mark 13:32–37 NIV

32 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34 It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch. 35 “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’ ”

There are certain days that we look forward to and plan for more than other days. We are fast approaching one of the most anticipated days of the year — Christmas Day. This last weekend millions of people prepared for this day by doing their holiday shopping in person or online. We were bombarded with ads and emails and mailings about Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales so that we would not suffer from Too Late Tuesday (shopped too late to get the best deals.) But our preparations for Christmas go beyond gift giving. There are visits to be made, parties to attend, guests to entertain. Here at church activity ramps up as well with our annual Christmas Eve service and new this year: Keepsake Christmas. Many of us will be busier than normal preparing to celebrate a day we know is approaching.

One advantage of Christmas is that we know when it will happen and since we have experienced it before, we also know what to expect and exactly what to do to prepare for it.

But some events only come once or so in a lifetime and special attention must be given so that we are properly prepared. The most joyous of these is a wedding. Although you could plan it in just several weeks, wisdom shows that a good six months should be spent to plan for it. The birth of a child may come to a family two or three times (recall in the past some families had 12 children or more. This takes special preparation as well. Last week I met with two of my uncles and an aunt to plan an event that was expected for several years and some preplanning had been done, but there were still details to arrange. We only had three days to finalize the arrangements. It was a funeral for my Aunt Geraldine. Unlike a wedding day (ironically she died on her wedding anniversary) or Christmas, the day of one’s funeral is dependent on the day of a person’s death which may or may not come unexpectedly.

In our text Jesus say “about THAT day or hour no one knows.” What is THAT day? Context gives the answer. In the verses preceding this we read about the day when Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead. We call it “The Second Coming”. During the Advent season we focus on the coming of the Lord but not in chronological order. We will consider when he came into the world as a baby. We will consider how he comes into our hearts through the Gospel. But we also consider who he will come again in all of his glory. (Overlap).

The bible has much to say about the return of Jesus. As do Christians. Several years ago we studied the four main views of the end times. In my research I recall how one of our seminary professors practically condemned to hell those devout Christians who take Jesus’ promises too literally. We must be careful. Since the prophecies talk about things in the future we do well to understand the nature of prophecy and fulfilment. ( (NIV)

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.

Many interpretations of the return of Jesus are dependent on who literal or figurative you take the prophecies. But many things are certain.

Jesus will return in glory and all will see him at the same time and be judged.

We don’t know the day or hour that will happen.

God gives us many signs that the day is approaching.

Our responsibility is to be ready at all times.

Jesus uses here a short story to emphasize that we are to be ready. He uses the example of a leader of a household who puts others in charge until he returns who expects those put in charge to be doing their assigned tasks responsibly even though he is away.

What can happen when someone is left without adult supervision?

It would be foolish to leave little children alone instead of watching over them as parents, having an older sibling in charge, or getting a baby sitter. Everyone once in awhile we hear how someone was arrested for leaving their children home alone. (Speaking of which, recall how funny the movie Home Alone was when that pre teenage child was left behind accidentally.)

In some cases an adult reaches that stage in their life when they are no longer safe to be left alone either due to weakness of mind and/or body.

The measure of maturity is when a person is left with a responsibility with no one watching them and they carry out that task as intended. But that does not always happen. (NIV)

22 Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. 25 Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.

Slave were commanded to obey their masters not only when their eye is on them. What does this mean? We have a tendency to be more responsible when we know someone is watching us. The passage, “The fool has said in his heart ‘There is no go.’” means that the moral fool doesn’t think there is a God who will hold him accountable. We have all heard the old adage, “When the cat’s away, the mice will play.” and “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” In a recent HBO series called WestWorld, you see what happens when there are no consequences. It seems as though our sinful nature needs “Big Brother” to be watching over us, surveillance cameras, a police presence, security systems, alarms, supervisors, and other means of checking up on us because we aren’t mature enough be self-disciplined. Even in the church we hear that we can’t expect people to be good church members if the Pastor and Elders aren’t on their case when they stray.

Well, I expect people to be responsible enough to offer their bodies as living sacrifices and to live their lives for the Lord out of love for him who died for them and lives again. I don’t believe that the responsible Christian needs the Law to keep them along the straight and narrow but that they should be motivated by the Gospel.

That being said, Jesus himself acknowledged that as the Last Day approaches, that many people will bring ruin on themselves because they fail to following his commands. In the parable, the owner leaves for a long time but not before putting his people in charge. The servants would have maintained the estate, carried out the business of the estate, and kept it in good repair. They were not to abuse their freedom by being irresponsible as is further explained in (NIV)

45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. 47 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48 But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ 49 and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. 50 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. 51 He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

So here it is. Jesus has left and has promised that he returned teaching us that we don’t know when that is going to be.

He has left us in charge (unsupervised to some extent) until he suddenly returns.

We are not to abuse this freedom but serve him from the heart without threats of the law.

We are to keep watch. As I said several weeks ago, what does Jesus mean by keeping watch? Peter certainly understood this and gives us more details as he also writes about the second coming of Jesus: (NIV)

1 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. 2 As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 3 For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. 4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to human standards in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit. 7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

(NIV)

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.