I came across a suggested prayer for all preachers this week, and it goes like this:
“Lord, fill my mouth with worthwhile stuff and nudge me when I’ve said enough.” Well, here we go!
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Put your hands up if you are ready and prepared ... did you get done yesterday what you needed to get done? Will you get done today what you need to get done?
Is anyone feeling tired and weary ... wondering just what to spend your money on ... and perhaps wondering who to spend it on? Perhaps you’ve got decisions to make … because it’s ‘crunch’ time.
I wonder if you think I am referring to Christmas.
Well, I’m not, even though it is only 3 weeks away.
Are you awake? You should at least be awake, because I’m less than 60 seconds into this sermon!
Today’s Bible reading (NIV) ended with these words (13:36 and 37): “If He comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: ’Watch!’” A slightly different Bible translation (NRSV) puts it like this: “And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.” So, my beloved congregation of Christ Church, Billericay, on this Sunday in the church calendar that for hundreds of years has been known as ’Advent Sunday’, are you watching? Are you awake? Are you awake to Jesus?
And just in case you are in any doubt, Jesus was not referring to levels of drowsiness or levels of boredom during a church service, and Jesus is not telling you to stay awake whilst the vicar is speaking. Chapter 13 of Mark’s Gospel is primarily a private conversation between Jesus and three of his disciples; Peter, James and John (see verse three).
Jesus had said that the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem would one day be destroyed (13:2) and the disciples wanted to know when that would be. We would too! If Jesus stood here and told us that a major disaster was going to hit our town we would ask the same question. When?
But Jesus did not tell his disciples when it would happen. He was more concerned with making sure that they and their families and their descendants would know what to do at the time; and so it is with us. God remains as concerned for you and your families and the people of this town and this nation as ever. He wants us to be ready for the return of Jesus.
In particular, Jesus wanted to ensure that his disciples would not be led astray in their faith (13:5), and he also needed them to know that members of the church might face terrible persecution and even betrayal by members of their own family (13:9-13).
They are words and instructions which remain relevant today. The suffering and persecuted church in China, Iraq, Indonesia, the Sudan and many other places know the reality of Jesus’ teaching; and some of us know what it means to be ridiculed and shunned by friends family or others because we are Christians.
21 years ago outside Glasgow train station I was attacked by a Harry Krishna once he realised I was a Christian. He kicked me and whacked me over the head repeatedly with a clipboard, shouting, “If you’re a Christian, let’s see you turn the other cheek!” It hurt.
Today’s Bible reading refers to the time when all people ’will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory’ (13:26). Jesus is coming back! He has not gone for ever! The events of history are leading somewhere. There will be a consummation of the world as we currently know it. He will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
Almost at the end of the Bible (Revelation 21: 4) Jesus says this about our Father God: ’He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or morning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.’
To his closest friends Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (13:31), and as was often the case Jesus told a story to illustrate his point; an art that the church seems to constantly struggle with. That is, using stories in order to illustrate truth. Jesus was brilliant at it; and J John, Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti are good today.
Jesus told a story to illustrate his point, and on this occasion also made his point clear. He said (13:32), “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
Do I know when Jesus will return? No, I do not. In 1988 a book was published in America.
The title was something along the lines of ’88 reasons why [Jesus will return] in 1988’. The book sold millions of copies, and it was re-released in 1989 with just a small amendment to the title.
Jesus was clear that even He did not know the date, time, or the year set by his Father for him to return. It is therefore not for us to speculate. However, Jesus also said (13:33), “Be on guard! Be alert ... [and] (13:37) watch!”
I love my Christmas dinner. I appreciate the fact that preparation and planning has gone into it. I absolutely loved my surprise 40th birthday party here at Christ Church. A lot of care and preparation and planning had gone into that. Some of you will be taking a lot of care and investing a lot of time into your Christmas preparations, and that is good! I love Christmas! To celebrate the gift of Jesus to the world by giving gifts to one another is a beautiful thing.
But Christmas Day lasts only for 24 hours. It comes and it goes; but when Jesus returns his return will be for ever, so what planning and preparation have you done? If you’ve not done any, you can start today.
In order to plan and prepare for the return of Jesus we need to be spiritually awake. So I guess my first question is a simple one. Are you spiritually awake and alert to Jesus? In our Old Testament reading (Isaiah 64:1-9) we read this (64:8-9), ’Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the Potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, oh Lord; do not remember our sins for ever.’
At the very moment that we put our faith and trust in Jesus, asking the living and risen Lord Jesus to come and be Lord of our lives, we become spiritually awake and alert to him. Perhaps one or two of us will become alert to the Lord Jesus for the first time today.
But Jesus was addressing his three closest friends and they had just spent three solid years with him, in his presence every day, and they knew him very well. Some of us here today have known Jesus as a reality in our lives for many years, so in order to be faithful to the context of our Bible reading it is people who already know Jesus who are the main focus of his words on this occasion. Therefore, to me Jesus says (13:36-37), ’If He comes suddenly; do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I say to everyone: “Watch!”’ Keep awake!
Am I still as alert and awake to Jesus as I was 23 years ago? Back then I was full of passion, love and commitment for Jesus. I loved God dearly and I was learning to love my neighbour. The Bible was a delight. Telling others about the reality of Jesus was a joy. Prayer came naturally. My faith was growing.
How about now? How about today? How about you?
A few days ago I was asleep on the sofa. I think I was in a deep sleep! My ‘DIY’ wife Moira was putting a new book case together and I was woken up by what seemed like a sudden and loud noise, something like loud hammer on loud wood, but whatever it was I woke up with a start, and with a jump, and a yelp as my head and my neck were wrenched awkwardly. It was a painful experience!
God does not want the return of Jesus to be a painful experience for anybody. He wants it to be joyful, because “every knee will bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”.
God wants us to live each day alert, awake, prepared, looking forward, aware Jesus will return, aware history is going somewhere. God wants us to live life in the light of eternity, and that means that everything we do, everything we say, everything we experience has a double point of reference, now and eternally.
The Scottish theologian William Barclay put it like this: ’We are like people who know that their master will come, but do not know when. We live in the shadow of eternity. That is no reason for fearful expectation. But it means that day by day our work must be completed. It means that we must so live that it does not matter when he comes. It gives us a great task of making every day fit for him to see and being at any moment ready to meet him face to face. All life becomes a preparation to meet the King.’
Are you ready? Are you prepared? Are you awake?
Let’s pray.
