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!’” - Mark 13:32-37, The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
In the name of Christ Jesus, dear friends:
Happy New Year! And aren’t you relieved? All of that talk, all the worry about the problems that the new year would bring, all of that speculation has come to nothing. When you got ready for church this morning, you had plenty of water for the shower. Your appliances are working just fine because the electric company continues to provide quality uninterrupted service. At least to my knowledge, the Sunday Journal/Sentinel has not reported any kind of nation-wide consumer panic that has paralyzed our economy.
When I say "Happy New Year" with so much enthusiasm, I had better explain what I mean. No, you haven’t missed anything. Dick Clark was not on television last night. The ball did not drop in Times Square. And you do not have to change your afternoon plans in order to watch the Badgers play Stanford in the Rose Bowl. Those things are still over a month away.
But this morning, it is our privilege as Christians to celebrate the New Year. This Sunday marks the first Sunday in the season of Advent, the first Sunday of the church year. The word, "advent," means coming/arrival, and the season of Advent is a time of preparation and waiting. We eagerly await the coming of our Savior. First, we await his arrival as a tiny baby born in a stable in Bethlehem. But we also look forward to his second coming, when he will return as King of kings and Lord of lords on the Last Day.
The word of God set before us this morning focuses our thoughts on Jesus’ second coming as we begin a new church year. We don’t have a crystal ball to tell us what will happen in the coming months. God has not revealed to us exactly what the future holds. We don’t know if the church will burst at the seams with new members, or if a fire will burn this church building to the ground next week. But God does tell us in his Word what we can expect, as well as what he expects of us in the upcoming year…
A New Year in the Grace of God
I. A year of responsibility
II. A year of expectancy
Jesus spoke these words to prepare his disciples for his upcoming death and resurrection, and especially his ascension. He wanted them to know that he was going to leave them, but he also wanted them to know that he would return. The disciples didn’t quite get it. They still had questions. So Jesus told them a story to help them understand.
Jesus said, "It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task" (34). Jesus’ ascension into heaven is like the master of a house who goes away on a trip. He wants to make sure that all the daily chores of the household will be done in his absence. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, he puts his servants in charge and gives them the authority to make the decisions that he would normally make if he were at home. The master is thorough. He gives out specific tasks and responsibilities to each servant.
Of all the tasks involved in running the estate, only one is given special mention. The master gave the doorkeeper the order to watch for his return. Jesus had given the same order to his disciples. The apostles were the early leaders of the Christian church. Jesus commanded them to go, go and preach the good news to all creation. But they were also the original "doorkeepers" who stood at the post. Jesus commanded them to "keep watch!" In other words, he wanted them to prepare themselves for the Lord’s return.
The apostle Peter has the same kind of vigilance in mind when he urges believers to be on their guard against the devil’s schemes: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (I Pe 5:8). We are to always be on our guard against the devil and his evil plans to make us fall. With the same watchfulness, Jesus commands us to look for his return.
The master of the house could return "in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn" (35). These were the names that the Romans used for the four watches of the night. Evening was from six to nine. The midnight watch stretched from nine to twelve. The rooster crow was from midnight to three in the morning, and the last watch lasted from three until dawn. Jesus tells us that he will come at one of these times. He automatically assumes that his return is set for some time during the night, a time when he will not be expected. Therefore, it is extremely important to be ready when he does come back.
Don’t think that these words apply only to the disciples because they were the only ones who heard them come from our Savior’s mouth. Don’t assume that this command is only for pastors because they have been called to watch over people’s souls. Jesus declares: "What I say to you, I say to everyone: Watch" (37)! God’s command is for everyone, not just apostles or pastors or teachers or church leaders. Jesus commands everyone to "Watch!" Keep the Lord’s return in the front of your mind. "If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping" (36). Don’t leave your post. Don’t neglect the tasks you have been given by the Master. When he returns, don’t be caught unprepared.
There is a historical account that on May 19th, 1780, a strange darkness covered all of New England. Historians have labeled it "The Dark Day." Even though the sun was visible in the sky, it appeared to have lost its power to shine. Witnesses that day described the darkness as supernatural and unexplainable.
When this freak occurrence took place, the Connecticut legislature was in session and many of its members were seized with panic. They thought that Judgment Day was at hand. As the panic spread, a motion was made to adjourn. In the midst of the commotion, the president of the assembly got up to speak, "Gentlemen if this is not the Great Day we are foolish and alarmed, and if it is, I wish to be found by my Maker doing my duty. I ask, therefore, that candles be lighted, and that we proceed with the work at hand."
What can we learn from this man’s statement? As long as he was alive, he wanted to carry out his God-given responsibilities. If it was the end, then he was ready to go. There is a subtle warning for us in these words, a warning against complacency. There is no such thing as a "stand pat" Christian. A faith that is taken for granted is a faith in serious danger.
If it today were "the Dark Day," if today were Judgment Day, how would you feel? Overcome with joy, or overcome with fear? The Last Day will be terrible for those who are caught off guard. It will be a day of eternal reckoning, a day of death and doom and destruction. That is why preparation is so important. That is why Christ commands all Christians to "keep watch." He wants everyone to be ready for the Last Day.
Sometimes it might seem overwhelming, like we are not up to the task. Yet we can be sure that in his grace and in his grace alone, God will keep us safe until the end. We gladly do the work of the Lord because we anticipate something far better. We gladly carry out our responsibilities because for us the new year is also a year of expectancy.
Christians look forward to Jesus’ return, but we don’t know when that day will be. The angels had many powers and abilities, but they could not see that far into the future. As true God, Jesus knew all things. But as true man, he didn’t make full use of his divine powers. As a man, he could truthfully say that even he did not know when the Last Day would come. If Jesus didn’t know, the disciples certainly had no idea. That is why they had questions. They wanted to know more about the end of time.
Jesus told them, "Be on guard! Be alert! (33). He told them to keep their eyes open, literally to chase sleep away. It is like if you have ever driven alone late at night. The low hum of the tires and the red tail lights ahead of you can almost lull you into a trance. Your eyelids start to get heavy. All of the sudden when you realize that you were nodding off, your head snaps up with your eyes open wide and heart pounding and hands gripping the wheel. You turn up the radio and open the window to fight off your drowsiness. In the same way, Jesus tells us to chase away our spiritual sleepiness. Make yourself ready for the Lord’s return.
But why should we have to? Isn’t there a better way? Wouldn’t it be easier to prepare for Jesus’ coming if he gave us some advance warning? Why doesn’t God give us a sign us right before the end so that everyone can be ready? The disciples may have had these thoughts in the back of their minds when they probed Jesus for answers.
Have you ever daydreamed about how nice it would be if we could see that far into the future, if we could know the exact date and time when Jesus returns? But is that really such a good idea? Would that make us more prepared? Or would we be tempted to not prepare at all? Such knowledge might create to the attitude: "Hey, I can do anything I want. I know when Jesus is coming back. I’ll just say ‘Sorry God’ right before he returns." We must remember that repentance is not like a light switch. Faith can not be turned on and off at will. We might think that we can stay in control, but it is sin that will control us in the end.
Forgive me for stating the obvious, but God knows what he is doing. By keeping this information hidden from us, God is really looking out for our best interests. He has promised us that he will return. He has promised to come again and take us to heaven. His word is all the assurance we need. Because God has given us his promise, we live every minute of every day as if it were our last.
Our time of waiting on earth is like the anticipation a child has when he/she goes to bed on Christmas Eve. The child tosses and turns all night dreaming about the presents that will be waiting under the tree in the morning. That night offers little rest for the child because he/she is so excited about what the future holds.
Advent is a time of anticipation and expectancy for us. We eagerly await the Lord’s return on the Last Day. Like children on Christmas Eve, we are filled with excitement about our future. But we don’t look forward to opening presents that will soon be forgotten. We look forward to meeting Jesus face to face.
It is Jesus who has made this meeting possible. Because he has come, he will come again. The first time, Jesus came in humility. Next time, he will come in glory. The first time, Jesus carried the sins of the world up to Calvary. Next time, he will carry us up to heaven.
Today we begin a new year, a new church year in the grace of God. God has richly blessed this congregation for well over a century. With his guidance and protection, we can expect the Lord’s continued blessings in the year to come. God has given us responsibilities. But he has also given us a promise, the promise that he will come back. He will descend from the clouds to meet us on the Last Day. Therefore, with joy and confidence in the final fulfillment of that promise I encourage all of you: "Keep watch!" Amen.