CHARLES AMIS SERMON - 29 NOVEMBE2020
Mark 13:24-37 ‘The Time is Coming’
The first Sunday of Advent - the beginning of the church year and the season of Christmas. Advent means’ arrival’ or ‘coming’. It is a time for us all to wake up to be ready for the great events to come.
In the reading in Mark’s Gospel Jesus predicts cataclysmic events and we have all lived through a year of very strange events, A year which no-one could have predicted or expected - shops closed - airlines at a standstill - trains and buses empty - churches closed. At this moment in time we do not even know if our churches will be able to open for Christmas or if we will be able to ‘Sing the Wonderous Story’. So we wait with uncertainty for what may or may not happen or be allowed to happen.
Our Gospel reading also tells us we must wait and be ready for a great event that is certain to come but we know not when. We wait with expectation for Jesus to return in glory to claim his kingdom and his people. His promise to return is repeated in all three synoptic gospels, Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:25-28 and of course Mark, our reading today.
It is an event that is certain to happen - but when? Jesus probably sat on the Mount of Olives looking down at the Temple in Jerusalem when the disciples ask him a question about the end times. So he told them that in the very last period of history, before his coming as Lord to wind-up the affairs of this planet, there will be a final and most terrible assault on the world and the church. This co-ordinated attack will include a period of increasing unrest and uncertainty together with a whole chain of disasters. The question is which disaster and when? The reminder to us all in the gospel writings is that the return of Jesus will not always be a future event. For one generation it will become an instant and present reality. Certainly we are living in strange times - with global warming, rising sea levels, floods and all manner of natural disasters.
In Luke 21 Jesus says men will faint from terror, fear and apprehension at what would happen to their world, their lives and their families, but this will not be so for the Christians. We are to stand up, raise our heads and be prepared for salvation is coming. Our certainty and our confidence is based on the promise of Jesus’ own words, If you are a worshipping, praying people we need have no fear. For again Jesus tells us in Luke verse 31 of chapter 21, ‘When these things happen the Kingdom of God is near, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and all eyes will see the King of Glory. Full and final redemption is given to all who confess the name of Christ is Lord.
So Christians need have no fear. Our long-awaited joy is coming when the earth will be filled with the Glory of God. Our full and final redemption, now only partial, will be complete. I say only partial because in these present times we all, in one way or another, fall short. Our need for forgiveness is ongoing, or as Paul says in Romans 13:11, ‘Salvation is something in the future but is drawing nearer all the time’.
But the final warning to us all is ‘Be Prepared - be Alert and Ready’. That is what Advent is all about that is why we call this Sunday Stir-Up Sunday. For as Jesus says that no-one except the Father knows the time or the hour when these things will happen.
Worry, distress and fear are a poor preparation for the Great Day. Worship, prayer, unity and love are our calling and should rightly occupy our minds and our time. If these things were true 2,000 years ago how much more urgent are they today! For each one of us needs to be on the alert and to pray that we have strength to go through these present trials and stand firm before the Son of Man.
It is clear that the coming of our Lord is tied up with a pattern of events. It is not difficult to see the possibility of that pattern emerging as we look at the present world scene. Just because there have been many other moments in world history when his return has been predicted does not mean that we should be any less prepared now. It may well be that we will see and experience what the Church and Christians have hoped for happen. When the veil hiding heaven from earth will be lifted and heaven and earth will be united and the Lord will return to collect his Bride.
As we face a very uncertain future may God uphold and strengthen us to stand firm and be ready.
Mark 13:24-37 ‘The Time is Coming’
The first Sunday of Advent - the beginning of the church year and the season of Christmas. Advent means’ arrival’ or ‘coming’. It is a time for us all to wake up to be ready for the great events to come.
In the reading in Mark’s Gospel Jesus predicts cataclysmic events and we have all lived through a year of very strange events, A year which no-one could have predicted or expected - shops closed - airlines at a standstill - trains and buses empty - churches closed. At this moment in time we do not even know if our churches will be able to open for Christmas or if we will be able to ‘Sing the Wonderous Story’. So we wait with uncertainty for what may or may not happen or be allowed to happen.
Our Gospel reading also tells us we must wait and be ready for a great event that is certain to come but we know not when. We wait with expectation for Jesus to return in glory to claim his kingdom and his people. His promise to return is repeated in all three synoptic gospels, Matthew 24:32-35, Luke 21:25-28 and of course Mark, our reading today.
It is an event that is certain to happen - but when? Jesus probably sat on the Mount of Olives looking down at the Temple in Jerusalem when the disciples ask him a question about the end times. So he told them that in the very last period of history, before his coming as Lord to wind-up the affairs of this planet, there will be a final and most terrible assault on the world and the church. This co-ordinated attack will include a period of increasing unrest and uncertainty together with a whole chain of disasters. The question is which disaster and when? The reminder to us all in the gospel writings is that the return of Jesus will not always be a future event. For one generation it will become an instant and present reality. Certainly we are living in strange times - with global warming, rising sea levels, floods and all manner of natural disasters.
In Luke 21 Jesus says men will faint from terror, fear and apprehension at what would happen to their world, their lives and their families, but this will not be so for the Christians. We are to stand up, raise our heads and be prepared for salvation is coming. Our certainty and our confidence is based on the promise of Jesus’ own words, If you are a worshipping, praying people we need have no fear. For again Jesus tells us in Luke verse 31 of chapter 21, ‘When these things happen the Kingdom of God is near, when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and all eyes will see the King of Glory. Full and final redemption is given to all who confess the name of Christ is Lord.
So Christians need have no fear. Our long-awaited joy is coming when the earth will be filled with the Glory of God. Our full and final redemption, now only partial, will be complete. I say only partial because in these present times we all, in one way or another, fall short. Our need for forgiveness is ongoing, or as Paul says in Romans 13:11, ‘Salvation is something in the future but is drawing nearer all the time’.
But the final warning to us all is ‘Be Prepared - be Alert and Ready’. That is what Advent is all about that is why we call this Sunday Stir-Up Sunday. For as Jesus says that no-one except the Father knows the time or the hour when these things will happen.
Worry, distress and fear are a poor preparation for the Great Day. Worship, prayer, unity and love are our calling and should rightly occupy our minds and our time. If these things were true 2,000 years ago how much more urgent are they today! For each one of us needs to be on the alert and to pray that we have strength to go through these present trials and stand firm before the Son of Man.
It is clear that the coming of our Lord is tied up with a pattern of events. It is not difficult to see the possibility of that pattern emerging as we look at the present world scene. Just because there have been many other moments in world history when his return has been predicted does not mean that we should be any less prepared now. It may well be that we will see and experience what the Church and Christians have hoped for happen. When the veil hiding heaven from earth will be lifted and heaven and earth will be united and the Lord will return to collect his Bride.
As we face a very uncertain future may God uphold and strengthen us to stand firm and be ready.