Focus: Take note of the significance of the cosmic signs foreshadowing the coming of Christ as judge over all.
Function: To encourage the people to adjust their vision of life and the world in accordance with Jesus’ teaching on his final coming.
Text: Luke 21:25-38
Let’s see: if I say to you, “Santa Clause is coming to town tomorrow,” you will see a picture in your mind—a picture of, for example, a parade downtown with all kinds of people standing by the wayside, watching Santa Clause going by, sitting on his sleigh pulled by some reindeer perhaps. And when I say, “Santa Clause is coming to town,” you know we are entering the Christmas season.
Now let’s see: if I say to you, “Christ, the Judge over all the earth, is coming,” what picture do you see in your mind’s eye? Some may think that the Pastor has fallen off his rocker. Others may have some foggy notions about the end of the world. And, of course, many here may readily say: “Yes, Maranatha! May the Lord Jesus come soon!” And since the season of Advent focuses on the comings of the Lord Jesus—his first coming, his present-day comings through his Word and Spirit, and his final coming--you may readily assume that when I say, “Christ, the Judge over all is coming,” we have entered the Advent season.
In fact, as we consider the scripture reading for today, I want to encourage us all to adjust our vision of life and the world in accordance with Jesus’ teaching on his final coming. So, take note of the significance of the cosmic signs that foreshadow the coming of Christ as Judge over all.
In order for us to have a clear 20-20 Advent vision, we need to consider the Scripture’s teaching on the comings of Christ, the Son of God.
The prophet Isaiah, for example, foretold the first coming of Jesus, saying: (9:6ff) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” This prophecy rings bells for us on Christmas Day.
But now
listen to the prophet Daniel. While in exile in Babylon, Daniel receives a
vision of the end of time. Daniel foretold the final coming of Jesus as Judge
over all. Listen: (Daniel
7:13 ff) “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was
one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the
Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory
and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped
him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his
kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
So, the Bible then prepares us both for Christ’s first
and final coming. Today we take note of the significance of the cosmic signs
that foreshadow the coming of Christ as Judge over all.
Jesus and his disciples are touring the temple area in Jerusalem. Massive stones, used by King Herod to restore the temple and the walls of Jerusalem, cause the disciples to marvel at the solidity and security of the temple and the city walls. But Jesus does not join in with the oohs and ahhhs of his disciples. Rather, he seizes the moment as a time to prophesy and teach.
In verses 5-24, the Lord Jesus prepares his disciples for
the downfall of Jerusalem and the temple. Jesus was right: Only about 35 years
later, in A.D. 70, the Romans utterly destroyed Jerusalem. At that time, the Jews
were scattered all over the earth.
As the Lord Jesus scans the horizon of history and time, however, he does not stop with the destruction of Jerusalem. Rather, he takes his disciples (and us) all the way to the end of time, to his final coming as Judge over all.
The first thing we observe from the text is Jesus’ mentioning of cosmic signs: Listen (vs. 25-26) “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.” These signs cover the heavens and affect the earth. They are cosmic signs.
And these signs will be visible to all. They are drastic signs, causing fear in the hearts and minds of people. For they signify something we have no control over, something that threatens our daily existence, and that may lead to massive upheaval and death.
Elsewhere in Scripture we have glimpses of the significance of these cosmic signs: In II Peter 3 we read: “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 in it will be laid bare.” And in Revelation 6 we have another vivid description of the significance of these cosmic signs: “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as late figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. The sky receded like a scroll, rolling up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.” In other words, everything is rocking and rolling. No wonder that Jesus speaks of the people’s response as one of anguish and perplexity.
Revelation 6 gives us a further picture of anguish: “Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.” But note: their greatest fear is not the rocking and rolling of the universe. Listen: “They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’” They fear the Judge over all! Signs of cosmic upheaval, then, will announce the final coming of Christ as Judge over all.
This may not be a pretty sign. But there will be more to see. For the next observation in the text leads us to focus on Jesus himself. Listen: (vs. 27) “At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Here we have a glimpse of Jesus’ awesome appearance. At his first coming, Jesus came as a humble infant in a cave or stable, where his mother rocked him in a cradle. But at his final coming, Jesus is riding on a cloud, rocking the heavens and the earth, scaring the willies out of the nations, but invoking cries of wonder and praise and adoration from all his people who look forward to his final coming.
The cloud signifies the divine presence of God. Forty days after his resurrection, the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven; there he is today, with all those who fall asleep in him. There, in heaven, together with all the saints, the Lord Jesus is preparing a place for us. That place will open up when Jesus comes again. Then the heavens and the earth will be resurrected or restored into a renewed creation.
And that leads us to the third observation in the text: The significance of the cosmic signs and Jesus’ awesome appearance is this: on the one hand, all God’s people will be delivered from sin, misery and death; that is, our redemption is drawing near. Listen to Jesus: (vs. 28) “When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
On the other hand, God’s kingdom
will then be firmly established at last. Listen: (vs. 31) “Even so, when you see these
things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.”
This vision of God, in Christ Jesus, making all things
new, is the Advent vision that needs to be part of the way we view all of life
and history. Christians must navigate their ship of life always keeping one eye
on Christ’s final coming.
I wish that all people would become Christians today. For
Jesus Christ offers us already today these wondrous gifts of forgiveness of
sins, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life. Christ offers us abundant life, and
hope for the future. But what we have already today in Christ Jesus are only
glimpses of glory that will razzle-dazzle us when Christ comes again.
APPLICATIONS
That’s why we do well to take note, not only of Jesus’
prophecy about his final coming, but also of his instructions for us today. Do
you remember the story of Aslan and the children of Adam who entered the land
of Narnia? The creatures in Narnia lived under the curse of the wicked witch.
Everything was cold and frozen in Narnia. It was always winter there. But then
Aslan, the Lion King, entered the land. And one of the first signs was the
thaw: the curse of winter broke when Aslan appeared. A new season was coming.
So, it is with us today. Followers of the Lord Jesus
Christ must pay attention to the signs of Christ’s advent. In our daily living,
we must learn to do two things:
a.
We must be watchful: Listen to Jesus:
(vs. 34-36a) “Be careful, or
your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the
anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. For
it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always
on the watch….”
There
is no need for paranoia and anxiety. Christ is in control—also of these cosmic
signs of upheaval. Rather, we should always live with 20-20 Advent vision—with
the clear awareness that Jesus is coming again; that he will make all things
new; that we are accountable to him.
Our
soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan are watchful, doing their duties, serving
their country. But we can be sure of this one thing: they are all looking
forward to the day that they may go home again. They are watchful; they are
longing for peace, counting the days, and looking for signs to go home. So are
we.
As
Christians we carry out our tasks to declare good news to people, to lead them
to Christ, our King. We commit ourselves to a life—not of drunkenness, and
godlessness and unbelief. No, we remain watchful; we live the resurrection
life—the life that says in word and deed: We belong to Jesus. We long to live
for him as our eternal King! So we are watchful as Christians; and we live
distinctly Christian lives. 20-20 Advent vision calls for watchful, Christian
living.
b.
Along with being watchful, we must also be prayerful in our living:
Listen (vs. 36b) “…pray that you may be able to escape all that is
about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
Being
prayerful does not mean that we must be on our knees 24 hours a day. It means
to be responsive to Christ’s words about his coming judgment. It means to be in
conversation with Christ, and to take his word seriously.
Remember
Noah: God instructed him to build a boat—to escape the judgment of floodwaters.
For years, Noah kept at it: hammering away, warning the neighbors, praying that
God would give him the skill to build the ark, and the opportunity to escape
the flood. And so, Noah lived in close communion, prayerfully, with God.
So
it is with us today: Obediently, respond to Jesus’ teaching; take to heart his
prophecy and his instruction. Seek your escape in Jesus. For Jesus is our ark,
our boat. Whoever comes to Jesus Christ by faith, whoever cries to him for
mercy, whoever seeks deliverance in him—learns to live with a clear, 20-20 Advent
vision.
And
the great Day of Judgment will be for all who belong to Jesus a great day of
deliverance and eternal celebration. We shall not perish but stand before him
and exalt him as our eternal King.
In
the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.