Hang Tight, Jesus Is Coming
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We did a class on James 5.1-6 a few weeks ago as we talked about the need for people to have a living wage and the reluctance of employers to pay one. James clearly numbered the employers with the oppressors and the employed with the oppressed and pronounced a dire judgment on the former. Today we begin unraveling his instructions to the latter.
James 5.7a (JMT)
Remain calm in the face of what I have just said, brothers and sisters. Don’t lose your cool. Jesus is coming!
So, with lots of credit to Barclay, let’s examine James’ use of Jesus coming and why it was enough to call for calm in the face of oppression.
The NT used 3 words for Jesus Second Advent.
The NT used 3 words for Jesus Second Advent.
The most common is the one James used: parousia.
The most common is the one James used: parousia.
Originally, it was just a common word for someone’s presence or arrival.
Originally, it was just a common word for someone’s presence or arrival.
It came to be used in a more formal sense of the invasion of an army or the visit of an emperor or a governor.
It came to be used in a more formal sense of the invasion of an army or the visit of an emperor or a governor.
Applied to Jesus, it has these latter meanings in view.
Applied to Jesus, it has these latter meanings in view.
But the NT also uses the word epiphaneia.
But the NT also uses the word epiphaneia.
This was used of a god appearing to a worshipper or an emperor acceding to the throne.
This was used of a god appearing to a worshipper or an emperor acceding to the throne.
1 I solemnly charge you before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom,
Then there is the word apokalupsis.
Then there is the word apokalupsis.
It means to reveal (hence the book of Revelation) or lay bare.
It means to reveal (hence the book of Revelation) or lay bare.
7 so that the genuineness of your faith, more valuable than gold that is passing away, but is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
The Letters of James and Peter (Waiting for the Coming of the Lord (James 5:7–9))
Here, then, we have a series of great pictures. The second coming of Jesus is the arrival of the King; it is God appearing to his people and mounting his eternal throne; it is God directing on the world the full blaze of his heavenly glory.
Doubtless James’ hearers would have been familiar with and comforted by all 3 pictures.
Doubtless James’ hearers would have been familiar with and comforted by all 3 pictures.
But James isn’t advocating a passive, helpless, hand-wringing in the face of trouble until Jesus comes.
But James isn’t advocating a passive, helpless, hand-wringing in the face of trouble until Jesus comes.
Watch
Watch
7 Now the end of all things draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for your prayers.
Last week we asked the question, “What would you do if you know you only had 6 days to live?”
Last week we asked the question, “What would you do if you know you only had 6 days to live?”
The real question is, “How will we live not knowing if we have 6 minutes much less 6 days?”
The real question is, “How will we live not knowing if we have 6 minutes much less 6 days?”
Don’t despair.
Don’t despair.
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued just as they have been from the beginning of creation.”
It is often hard for us to see, but God has a design, a plan he has not abandoned no matter how much time passes.
It is often hard for us to see, but God has a design, a plan he has not abandoned no matter how much time passes.
Use the time wisely.
Use the time wisely.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
I used the KJV here because it uses the correct word: redeem.
I used the KJV here because it uses the correct word: redeem.
Redeem means to buy back; how can one buy back time?
Redeem means to buy back; how can one buy back time?
Most translations treat the word as an idiom meaning make the best use of.
Most translations treat the word as an idiom meaning make the best use of.
But I like Barclay’s idea: Rob an evil world of your time by living godly.”
But I like Barclay’s idea: Rob an evil world of your time by living godly.”
Combined with the previous point, we might ask ourselves: Do we have trouble seeing God’s design because we are not participating in it?
Combined with the previous point, we might ask ourselves: Do we have trouble seeing God’s design because we are not participating in it?
The point is there is too much to do, too many stands to take, too many loads to lighten for passive hand-wringing and waiting.
The point is there is too much to do, too many stands to take, too many loads to lighten for passive hand-wringing and waiting.
Maintain the fellowship.
Maintain the fellowship.
7 Now the end of all things draws near. Therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for your prayers. 8 Above all, keep your love for one another constant, because love covers a large number of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without complaining.
There is a show on Discovery I don’t watch called Wicked Tuna. It’s about the highly competitive business of tuna fishing. But coming out of covid, the competing boats discovered they would have to cooperate at least one season if they were going to survive. It might not have been much but as one of the captains observed in one of the commercials for the show, “It’s all we’ve got.”
We may not be much, but in the face of an evil time, we’re all we’ve got.
We may not be much, but in the face of an evil time, we’re all we’ve got.
Abide in him.
Abide in him.
28 And now, little children, remain in him, so that whenever he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.
Let’s look at those last two points again in reverse order in slightly different language.
Let’s look at those last two points again in reverse order in slightly different language.
Restore intimacy with Jesus.
Restore intimacy with Jesus.
Understand our need for one another.
Understand our need for one another.