Sermon Index
December 3, 2017 Advent 1B
Mark 13:24-3724 "But in those days, following that distress, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; 25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 26 At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
28 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 "No one knows about that day or hour, 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 his 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!' "
It is Advent. The word “advent” means “coming.” We are preparing for the coming of Christ. He comes at Christmas, at the End of the World, and right now, too. The best way to prepare for his first coming at Christmas is to prepare for his second coming at the end of the world.
Christmas is December 25 on our calendars, but no one knows when Christ will return. But just as we see Christmas decorations that show that Christmas is near, we look at the signs in this world and we know that the Second Advent is near. Mark 13:7-8, there will be wars and rumors of war, earthquakes, famines, sufferings. Mark 13:24, the sun will be darkened and stars will fall from the sky and then the Son of Man will return in power and glory. When we look at the world, when we look at our lives, when we look at our hearts, we know that the Lord should be returning soon. Jesus said to his disciples, “30 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.” And we see in our own generation that these things have happened. Jesus told us to watch and so we will not be surprised when Christ returns.
In one way we look forward to the Second Advent of Christ. Right now the world and our lives are filled with fear and violence and injustice and death and evil and sadness. But when Christ comes it will be a day of salvation from all those wars and famines and sufferings. And so we pray: “Thy kingdom come.” It will be the resurrection to eternal life and heaven. Jesus is sending his angels to gather all the elect who are waiting for him.
But it will also be a day of judgment against sin and unbelief. And when we think of our sin and rebellion, we fear that Last Day. We sinners want to escape the judgment. Like Adam in the Garden of Eden, we also want to hide from God. But there is no place to hide in the whole universe. As Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away.” Every hiding place will disappear.
We may want to hide, but Jesus does not hide. In fact, he comes and searches for us. That is the message of his First Coming. Yes, he was born in a small town in a small country. But the death and resurrection of Jesus has been proclaimed through out the world wherever the Apostles and Missionaries and Witnessing Christians have gone. The Holy Spirit has enlightened us with Gospel. This is the message of Christmas for which we prepare today. And the song of the Christmas Angels means nothing if Christ does return in glory with his holy angels to give us complete peace and goodwill.
Advent means the coming of Christ. Today we celebrate that Christ comes to us in Word and Sacrament. Today in this bilingual worship service, we see that the angels have already started gathering us, his elect, from the four winds of the earth. He forgives our sin and prepares us for eternal life. And now we watch. With hope and joy we await the fullness of the coming of the Lord.
Amen.
Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church