Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Co 1:3). Amen.
It is good to review the definitions of words that we use only on certain occasions. That way we remember them. “Advent” might be one of those worthy of recalling. It derives from a Latin word which translates as “coming.”
As we enter a new year on the church calendar, we encourage one another for the next four weeks with Jesus’ coming—soon with the celebration of his birth as a baby and someday with the realization of his return as the Judge.
Jesus is coming. Since that is the case, Advent also means waiting, working, and watching. We read from …
Mark 13:32-37
Dear Brothers and Sisters in the coming Christ,
The church does not have sole rights to the word “advent.” A dictionary entry or a computer search will not uncover that it a term used only by Christians for the time between the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas.
I will give you an example. It is hard to recollect a time before the age of cell phones. They are so much a part of daily life. And with every other commercial on TV about the latest device and greatest service that you have to have, who can forget about them? But there was a time when there was no such thing. As they were becoming popular, there may have been an article in the paper or in a magazine entitled, “The Advent of the Smartphone.” (Now it is just the advent of a new number behind the iPhone. [I think that letter “i” stands for “indispensable.”])
Advent does suggest a coming in general. But we want to be a bit more specific. We wait for Jesus’ arrival, his advent.
Advent means …
1. Waiting (32,33)
2. Working (34)
3. Watching (34-37)
1. Waiting (32,33)
This past week there was an issue with the toner in the photocopier. This may come as a surprise to you, but that is not an area of expertise for me. It required a call to a specialist to fix. But he didn’t drive over immediately. It wasn’t until a day after the problem was reported. It is often that way with a repairman. There is a wait. Advent is like that. Advent means waiting.
That is what Jesus relayed to his disciples. It was Tuesday of Holy Week, three days before Jesus would hang on the cross. It had been a busy day for him, fending off attacks from his enemies who were looking to trap him in his words and freeing up moments for his disciples who were trailing behind him to learn from him. They had remarked about how big the temple was: “What massive stones!” (Mk 13:1). And how beautiful it was: “What magnificent buildings!” (Mk 13:1). After they found a spot on the Mount of Olives, Jesus took the opportunity to educate those men about the demolition of that temple and the end of this world.
But he didn’t pin it down for them—exactly when. “No one knows about that day or hour” (Mk 13:). That includes the angels. And even the Son according to his human nature. As true man, Jesus laid aside the full and complete use of his divine abilities like knowing all things (Php 2:6-8). “Only the Father” (Mk 13:32). Only he has that information. And he is going to keep that for himself. It is not like when you put a pizza in the oven and set the timer. You can pace by the oven 73 times, impatiently anticipating the delicious pie as the digital timer slowly counts down the minutes and even seconds. You are aware of the precise moment when the buzzer will sound. “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mk 13:32). That should keep us or anyone else from inventing days or imagining hours. It is not possible (even as some have done it in the past). Nor is it proper (even though some will do it in the future).
The question is not in the coming, it is in the timing. It is not like Christmas. We are definite that it is in 22 days. So since the Father has not apprised us, Jesus advises us: “Be on guard!” (Mk 13:33). “See to it constantly.” “Be alert!” (Mk 13:33). Be on the lookout continually. Why? “You do not know when that time will come” (Mk 13:33). And so we wait for that specific event like a fireman who anticipates the bell to go off during his shift at any time.
That lack of information of Jesus’ reappearance may be a bit frustrating, especially for those of us who are time conscious. We set the alarm by our beds so that we awake in time to tackle a new day. We even make sure that it is AM and not PM. Then we check one or two more times. When it is something important like school, we need to get up. And not simply “in the morning.”
But God does it not to prank us, but prepare us. Anytime Jesus could come. So we don’t want to put off our readiness for him or push back our relationship with him as if to say, “I have time for that later.” To those who might be tempted to postpone or procrastinate, “Be on guard! Be alert!” (Mk 13:33), Jesus insists. Not tomorrow. Today. Jesus came once to give his life for your sins—even the ones of apathy and lethargy—so that he can give a place to you in heaven when he arrives again. Jesus is coming. Advent means waiting attentively for that.
2. Working (34)
The fact that the service on the copier didn’t happen for 24 hours didn’t stop all activity. It did slow it down some. But like you, there was plenty to do around the office. Advent is like that. While we wait, Advent means working.
Jesus drove that point home with a parable—another one of his illustrations from daily life to instruct a heavenly truth. A man had left on a journey. But before going out the door, he got things in order. “He … puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task” (Mk 13:34). He gave each individual the authority to carry out his particular work and personal assignment. They were to busy themselves with that.
Jesus is the One who departed. He ascended into heaven after completing his purpose on earth. He assured us that he will not stay away (Jn 14:2,3). It is comforting to understand that we are not far from his thoughts because he is not going to be gone forever. So we stay awake. And he doesn’t want us to sit on our hands, but to serve with them. What the apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, he reiterates to us: “You do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed” (1 Co 1:7).
Those abilities are diverse and distinct. And no one is left out. Each of us. It as if Jesus points directly at us. “Yes, to you.” To which we do not respond, “No, not me.” He has fashioned and formed us to be unique as Isaiah informed us: “We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Is 64:8). Instead of dodging our responsibilities, we devote ourselves to them—however it looks and whatever it is—whether husband or wife, child or student, boss or employee, and anything and everything in between. It might be helpful to dig out your catechism and review Luther’s “Table of Duties” to see where you fit in. We are not idle, but active. Jesus is coming. Advent means working faithfully until it.
3. Watching (34-37)
You are familiar with the drill. “The technician will be there between 10:00 and 10:30.” (You have to admit that timeframe is better than the 2 to 4-hour window of many companies.) By the way, he showed up at 10:12. I checked the clock. But until then, I didn’t have a firm idea. Advent is like that. While we wait and watch, Advent means watching.
There is a significant detail in Jesus’ parable. There was one special order from the man who was absent: “He … tells the one at the door to keep watch” (Mk 13:34). The person at the entrance was to tell the members of the staff to keep at it while he stayed awake for when the lord of the house knocked unexpectedly. It didn’t matter what time of the night, during any of the four watches from 6:00 in the evening until 6:00 in the morning—“whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn” (Mk 13:35).
As we wait, we are not ignore the one who stands guard at the door. It is easy to be spiteful as God’s representative highlights our sin. But we can be grateful that he spotlights our Savior who rescues us from it and removes it from us.
Once again Jesus cautions. “Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back. … If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping” (Mk 13:35,36). Sleep is good for our bodies. It gives us drive. But slumber is not good for our souls. It makes us dull like when your eyelids droop while watching TV. You become oblivious to what is going on around you.
So instead of being careless, we are careful. We take to heart what was intended, not just for the 12, but for everybody. “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mk 13:37). That is to you. To me. How do we do that? By going back to our baptisms, by growing in the Word, by getting honest with our guilt. All so that our eyes are open to welcome the King of glory, “The LORD Almighty” (Ps 24:10), with clean hands and a pure heart (Ps 24:4). And not in fear, but by faith. That is because our faithful God will keep us strong and blameless up to the last day (1 Co 1:8,9). Jesus is coming. Advent means watching attentively for it.
You may or may not walk out of here with the significance of the word Advent in mind. It does stand for “coming.” But there is more to this four-week stretch starting this day. Advent also means waiting, working, and watching. Jesus is coming. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Re 22:20). Amen.
The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you (1 Co 16:23). Amen.
December 3, 2017
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