WATCH FOR JESUS’ RETURN (Outline)
MARK 13:32-37 – November 28, 2004 – Advent 1
32"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. 34It’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. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: `Watch!’ "
INTRO.: Prepare, prepare, prepare. Watchwords as prepared last week for guests, for Thanksgiving meals, for day after Thanksgiving. Today’s society sounds the alarm to always prepare. Bad weather is coming, get ready. The economy is not real promising so prepare enough savings. Accident, sickness be ready with enough insurance. At times, so many warnings, alarms sounded that may not always being paying close attention to them all. Advent sounds the watch alarm. Three more Sundays and then Christmas arrives. These are our weeks to watch for Jesus’ return – though the time and hour is unknown we are to be prepared. Today, we follow God’s work that we may learn more of the secret things of God.
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law" (DEUTERONOMY 29:29).
WATCH FOR JESUS’ RETURN
I. The hour is unknown
II. We are to be prepared
I. THE HOUR IS UNKNOWN
A. Jesus is addressing the disciples and crowds on Tuesday of Holy Week. (MARK 13:1ff)
1. The disciples had commented about the massiveness of the stones of the temple.
2. Jesus tells them the stones will be overturned and scattered with the rest of the city.
B. They are to be ready for that day (happens in 70AD). They are to be ready Jesus’ return.
1. Hear over and over Jesus will return at an unknown time. Verse 32 – only one knows.
2. Verse 33b – do not know when that time will come.
C. Example of a man leaving on a long journey. Reminds of Jesus’ ascension, returns to heaven.
1. Verse 34b – servants, each his task, are told to keep watch. Hour, time unknown.
2. Verse 35b lists the four watches of the night. Again, not know the time, day, year.
D. Unknown, which often describes the future, can be frightening. For some the fear of the future
strongly holds them in a vise-like grip that does do not let go. Today’s society plays on the uncertainty of the future to frighten people into action according to their fears. Looking into the future, the unknown the believers is to be watchful. "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into"(LUKE 12:39).
E. What do we know about the unknown day, hour, and time of Jesus’ return? Jesus’ return will
be sudden and judgment will be quick. The Son of God will return on a throne of glory to judge the living and the dead, to separate the sheep from the goats. "For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man"(MATTHEW 24:27).
F. For some the sudden return of the Christ will be a time of fear and trembling. Not so with
believers. We know that Jesus’ return means an end to weeping, mourning, sadness. Heaven is our home. Anxiously we watch and eagerly we expect Jesus’ return. "And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming"(1 JOHN 2:28).
TRANS.: As believers we watch for Jesus’ return. True, the day, time, hour is unknown but we are to be prepared for Jesus’ glorious reappearing.
II. WE ARE TO BE PREPARED
A. Jesus, first, trying to prepare disciples for his crucifixion, death, and resurrection.
1. This was difficult because it was hard for disciples to fully understand.
2. Jesus wanted the disciples to be prepared for this first departure and again at ascension.
B. Though leaving, the Lord Jesus would return. Once after 3 days and later in a longer time.
1. As heard already of that unknown time. Now prepare.
2. Verse 33 – Be on guard! Be alert! The disciples, believers were to keep watching.
C. Jesus re-emphasizes this simple fact in verse 35. Therefore keep watch. They would prepare.
1. Verse 36 reminds them not to be unaware, sleeping. The disciples did just that when they did not keep watch with Jesus one hour in prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.
2. None are exempt. Everyone, “Watch!” Jesus says in verse 37. Signs will be evident.
D. Today you and I prepare for Jesus’ return the very best way we can. We gather together to
hear God’s holy word. We gather together to study God’s revealing word. We also read and study God’s word on our own. The Lord’s coming, for the prepared, penitent believer, will not be like a thief. "Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you"(REVELATION 3:3).
E. There is a difference in the lives of believers and the lives of unbelievers. In this sin-darkened
world many live a frightened life in fear of the unknown – that ominous future. As prepared believers we look forward to the day of Jesus’ return. "You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled"(1 THESSALONIANS 5:5,6).
F. Our preparedness comes from the scripture. Our encouragement to shine brightly with and in
the knowledge of salvation is from what God’s word tells us. "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love"(1 CORINTHIANS 16:13,14).
CONCL.: Our world often sounds alarms of the clanging bells and whistling sirens of impending doom and gloom. We hear these worldly warnings so much that we tend to ignore them. The Lord has reminded us today to watch for Jesus’ return. See the signs, hear God’s word and stand firm in the faith. Jesus’ return is unknown but is not frightening for every believer who is prepared. "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed"(1 PETER 1:13). Day after day and year by year we watch for Jesus’ return – armed and prepared with the word of God. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
Advent 1 readings – ISAIAH 2:1-5, PSALM 18, ROMANS 13:11-14, MATTHEW 24:37-44
