Signs of the Coming King

December 9, 1990

Luke 21:34-36; 1-4; 25-28

Introduction:

Beyond the beautiful story of Bethlehem, which we believe and know and love, and permeating all the scriptures, the message of Advent is that GOD HIMSELF ENTERS INTO HUMAN AFFAIRS.

[God created humankind in His own image; God makes covenant with you and me; God in Jesus Christ came in the flesh to live among us; God is with us NOW by His HOLY SPIRIT; God has promised to return and govern us.]

In the last week of His earthly ministry, Jesus and His disciples were in the City of Jerusalem. The (Galilean) disciples were (1) fascinated by the imposing temple complex. They made appropriate (tourist-type) comments to Jesus.

Jesus (2) took the occasion to comment on transient versus eternal matters. "These mighty stones will soon cease to be impressive," He told them. "They will soon be torn down flat to the ground." What He was saying was that the things which we depend on must be more substantial than just granite and marble. Jesus turned the minds of His disciples to "final things." Then came a torrent of questions (3) (questions which we might all want to ask):

"If we can't depend on the Temple, WHAT CAN WE DEPEND ON?"

"If this is going to pass away, WHEN WILL THE END TIMES COME?" "What is important for us to know? We're listening!" And so Jesus began:

I. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW AND TRUST JESUS

- His lesson began with three negatives; three "don'ts."

1. "Don't be deceived!" AVOID THE ESOTERIC

   Jesus' first concern seemed to be that the disciples would not be thrown off the central issues of faith. Before He would "predict" anything He said "Watch out that you are not deceived!" When we focus on and begin to ask questions about 'the future' we become very vulnerable to suggestion. Particularly, we are vulnerable to those people with the loudest voices and the biggest wall charts, who know all the details.

2. "Don't be afraid!" DON'T PANIC

   The second concern of Jesus was that His disciples should not live in fear of His Coming again. "Don't be deceived" is followed in the same breath with "Do not be frightened!"

3. "Don't make 'special preparation!" - DON'T EVEN WORRY When will we learn that we can't "get ready" for a Parousia— we have to LIVE ready, and BE ready— and be doing what we are supposed to be doing!?!

   It isn't that "hard times" won't come; but hard times will not necessarily signal "the end" of time as we know it. Jesus went on: "My "deliverance" may seem strange to you at first! "There will be opportunities for some of you to die for Me. But not one hair of your heads will perish!" (17 - 18) Then Jesus tried to give some perspective:

II. IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT WORLD HOPE OR DESPAIR IS NOT CENTERED IN JERUSALEM

[Translation: We must distinguish between hard times and "end times." Hope and despair center in JESUS.]

1. EVERY GENERATION SEES TRAGEDY AND SORROW

   Personal "end times" come to every individual, and every generation. "The Great Tribulation" could not exceed the horror of the Killing Fields for the Cambodians (under Pol Pot) or the Turkish massacre and genocide of the Armenians or the inhumanity of the Holocaust. But Jesus made clear that even the approaching devastation of the Temple and Jerusalem's sorrow (in 70 A.D.) was not necessarily the indication of the Great Day of the Lord.

2. THE MYSTERY OF JERUSALEM, OF 'THE LAND,' DOES NOT DISPLACE LOVE

   There is honest disagreement among great and good scholars on the role of the literal landscape of that portion of the Middle East we call The Holy Land. It may be in time to come that clear signs will emerge regarding Jerusalem and Israel. Certainly we feel a kinship to the Jewish people who revere the same scriptures we do. But a simplistic approach that characterizes millions of human beings, regardless of their faith or lack of it, as sub-humans to be eliminated is not the lesson I have learned from Jesus Christ, who taught "Love your enemy." "Go the second mile."

   Any voice that calls for compassion for Arabs can be construed as anti-Semitic, I suppose. We Christians ought to be pro-Semitic, but we ought to be pro-HUMAN!

3. A CALL FOR HUMILITY ON THE PART OF 'PROPHETS'

   Thus, the complexity of the so-called signs we can read in the Middle East today calls for at least a bit of humility on the part of would-be prophets. We are certainly right to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We are certainly right to defend the right for Israel to exist. We also are right in refusing to predict what we do not know. There are strong warnings about prophets who say, "Thus saith the Lord!" when God has not spoken to them at all. But that does not mean that Jesus did not say anything that day about "end times." He did:

III. (25) HIS PROMISE WAS: THERE WILL BE A UNIVERSAL MANIFESTATION

And even in this it is difficult to know what is literal and figurative; whether Jesus means the heavenly bodies we see every day, or whether He means common elements of civilization that all humankind shares. At any rate-

1. THE 'SUN' AND 'MOON' AND 'STARS' ARE VISIBLE OVER ALL THE EARTH

   Jesus says there will be signs and then the Son of Man will come in a cloud with power and great glory.

2. TERROR WILL BE WIDESPREAD

   Whatever these signs, these universal signals may be, Jesus says (26) that men will faint with terror and apprehension of what is coming on the world.

3. JESUS SAYS: "NOW! LOOK UP!"

   But the message is clear: the people who belong to Jesus the King are NOT to consider this bad news. "When these things BEGIN to take place, STAND UP, and LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, because your redemption is drawing near."

   It seems like a pretty tall order: "DON'T BE FRIGHTENED! Christians aren't any braver or smarter or stronger than any other group of people. Why should WE be unafraid when all the world seems to be shaken?

   FRANKLY, I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER! But I think I know! It has to do with what we've been talking about— of ASSURANCE— knowing Jesus in a personal way. Of PERSPECTIVE and PROMISE and of the ATTITUDE OF HOPE. God knows who His people are! He will not forget them, and simply let them be overwhelmed and lost.

IV. STRANGE AS IT SEEMS, GIVING IS NOT UNRELATED TO THIS

1. Come back with me to the first paragraph in the chapter. (1-4) Why, DO YOU SUPPOSE, is THAT stuck in HERE?
2. Jesus wasn't worried about the collection for the Temple that Tuesday of Holy Week. He wasn't condemning the rich people who gave large sums. He wasn't worried about temple finances.

   But Jesus WAS watching! The poor woman who gave two mites did not escape His notice! And Jesus knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts, too! Not one sacrifice, not one noble thought escapes His attention! This poor woman who believed, and who gave her all, and who was observed by the Lord Jesus Christ is a pattern for us all! We need to be GIVERS!

Conclusion:

If Bethlehem's story is genuine, so is Apocalypse. If God ever has broken into human affairs, He is still so engaged.

If we let God into our world at all, then God will have His way. If we do NOT let God in, then perhaps He will let us have OUR way! And I could not think of anything more chillingly frightening than seeing a world where selfishness rules unchecked!

But be assured, there shall be a(n Objective) Parousia. The powers of heaven will shake, and God's people, along with all the world, will know what is happening!

Prayer: Thank You, O God, that You come into human lives. We invite You to share in every aspect of our living. We ask You to make us like You are— loving, giving, trusting. Amen

#24 EH I Cannot Tell