Advent 2

 

In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +

Part of living, part of survival, is the ability to pick out danger. It's really one of the things our senses are good for. Hmm, this milk smells off, maybe I shouldn't drink it. Oh look, there's a coiled up snake, oh, listen there, there's an angry rattle – maybe I better not go step on it. This was the basis of the old defensive driving classes we had – eyes up on the road, see potential threats, be prepared to respond. Of course, you also learn what threats aren't really threats at all. No, there isn't a boogey man under the bed; no, that's just the draft ruffling the curtains. This is what we do as we grow – we learn what is dangerous, and we also learn what isn't really all that big of a threat. In our Gospel lesson, this is what Jesus does. He is teaching us how to see, how to understand what threats and dangers there are around us and also what isn't really that big of a deal. Listen.

There will be signs in the sun and the moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the seas and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. As we get closer to “the end” - as we get closer to His return, this is what Jesus tells us we will see. And man, if it doesn't sound scary. Signs in the sun and moon! Distress throughout the world! Big, giant waves, the sea is rising. People freaked out with fear – oh no the sea level might rise 3 feet in the next hundred years, we're all going to die. There is terror, there is a dread foreboding over what coming upon the world, where there's a sizable chunk of people who are convinced that they should never have children because this world is just too horrible and hard pressed to handle it. And the thing is, Jesus isn't just describing our day and age – it's every day and age. There's always some disaster that we are worried about that is going to destroy the earth – there's another ice age coming – that was popular just before I was born. There's always nations in distress, people riled up, fighting, panic over everything. This is the story of the fallen world – people seeing dangers and panicking. And some things are quite dangerous – if there's war, that's deadly. If there's a natural disaster, a flood, a fire, don't mess around with it. But these things always come and go and they always will until... the end.

The end. Well, what is the end? What is the conclusion of all these things? For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. What the world doesn't grasp, what the world doesn't understand is this – And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead. That's how this world will end – not by disaster, not by CERN in Switzerland splitting the wrong atom – no, this world will still be impacted by sin and troubles and problems of the typical and normal kind right up until the day when Jesus comes back. Because Jesus is coming back – He's the Lord of creation, He still cares for and maintains this creation over and against the destructive powers of sin, and He will return to bring forth the New Heavens and the New Earth – and of this Kingdom of His there will be no end.

If you don't know Jesus and that He is coming, there's going to be nothing but panic over the future. There's going to be nothing but fear and foreboding – because you will see more and more the danger and evil in the world, but without seeing Jesus you don't see life and salvation, you don't see hope. That's why the world is constantly panicking – they don't see Jesus, they don't know that He is coming. They can't see accurately. However, thanks be to God, you do know Jesus, and Jesus knows you by name, O Baptized child of God, and thus your reaction to all the things in life, even the wild and woolly disasters is different. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Come Lord Jesus! Come and interrupt this meal and take us to the heavenly feast! And we're ready. Look up, straighten up. Hark the Glad sound, the Savior comes! And it's a good thing when Jesus comes – He is your redemption – you're being freed from sin and death.

Because the scary part has already happened. Well, for us. Jesus in this text, which He preached during holy week, just before His crucifixion, isn't just pointing to the Last Day – He is also pointing to His Crucifixion. And He told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. Heaven and Earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” That Friday, on Good Friday, what would the people of Jerusalem see? They would see a strange and dreadful tree leaf out – the tree of the Cross, and on it the Lord of Life. And when Jesus was crucified, there were signs in the sun and moon and stars – there was darkness over the land from noon until three. And there was great roaring and distress – the earth shook, the tombs opened, the temple curtain torn in two. And there upon the Cross, with a loud voice Christ Jesus declares with words that will never pass away “It is finished” and He gives up His Spirit and dies. Your redemption draws nigh. The kingdom of God is near. And even the Centurion in fear and wonder declares that this surely was the Son of God. And come the third day, Jesus rises. Sin and death and the world cannot defeat Him – He has won. Jesus lives, the victory's won – death no longer can appall me! And if you see this, if you know the death and resurrection of Jesus – everything changes. Let the wind rattle the leaves on the trees – you know what is coming. Whatever comes, whatever tragedy, whatever terror, even your own death – Jesus is coming, and when He comes, you will rise and be with Him, so all this junk in the the world can sit on a tack, you're with Jesus.

See, not so scary. See, that's something you don't have to worry about. And no, Jesus isn't telling us to be risky or foolish – I'll have some extra lead with my water – no, don't be dumb, and indeed, be good stewards of creation, that's part of why you're here. But all these things that the Christ-ignoring and Christ-hating world freak out about – they aren't a threat to you, because Christ Jesus is bigger than all of them.

However, there is a danger. There is a threat to you that Jesus says you need to look out for. But watch yourselves lest you be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you like a trap. The threat, the danger isn't out there – it's right in here. Watch yourself. Why? Because by hook or by crook Satan seeks to distract you away from Jesus, to rip you away from Him, and that's how you get trapped, that's how you get caught up in the dreck of the world and get lost. And so Jesus here wants to teach you what you really should be on the lookout for, what really is a danger. It's not a natural disaster that's a real threat to you, it's not war, it's not even death. So you die and and we bury you – we did that to Jesus and He rose, and guess what, you're with Jesus, what happens to Him is going to happen to you, it's all good in Christ. So watch out for how Satan tries to get you out of Christ.

Satan and the world will use dissipation and drunkeness. Okay, y'all know that I like words, and I love this word “dissipation” although it's a word that I really only use this time of year. It's the idea of being spread so thin that you evaporate – and really the idea that you are spread so thin celebrating and partying that you are just worn out and miserable. It's basically the ancient world's word for being hungover. The world will try to run you and work you so hard in a quest for fun and excitement that you are either dissipated – too worn out and miserable to actually enjoy anything – or drunk – so overwhelmed by what you are doing that you aren't actually aware of what's going on. And both of those are dangerous times. You don't want to be driving when drunk, and really, it's not good to be driving when hungover because both are utterly distracting. And so the world will offer its so called fun but offer it in a way that it isn't all that it's cracked up to be and leaves you vulnerable to all sorts of calamity, sin, and vice. Watch out, that's the world trying to shake you off of Christ.

And then there's the other side – if Satan can't lure you with “fun” he'll try to drive you with worry and fear. Satan will use the “cares of this life”. You see this, you see that, there's this thing to do, and then there's that thing to do, and oh, I forgot that... and there's weight upon weight and burden upon burden placed upon you – and none of them really important, but Satan will make you think they are vital, and all joy and all time and all peace is squished out of you. That's all an attempt to make you too busy for Jesus, too loaded down to pause and rest and be still and know that He is the LORD and that He has won you forgiveness, life, and salvation.

So grow, Christian! Learn to spot the actual dangers. Use the Word that Christ has spoken to you so that you know what actually is going on. The world will throw so, so much at you, all in an attempt to terrify you, to distract you, to drive you away from Christ. But Christ Jesus has already won – Satan could not and cannot defeat Him. All Satan can do is try to distract you away from Jesus. But you know what all this means – it's just a reminder that Jesus is coming, coming for you, for your good, to be your Redeemer. So straighten up, don't let Satan bog you down. In Christ it is all good for you! In the Name of Christ Jesus, our Advent King +