Advent – awake, not asleep
Series: Holy – Holy – Holy | Bible text: Mark 13:33–37, Matthew 25:14–30, Romans 13:13–14
«Advenire» means to arrive. During Advent, we remember and look forward to the arrival of Jesus Christ. It is both a look back and a look forward. We look back to the first coming and look forward to the second coming. Because we do not know when Jesus Christ will return, it is important to watch and not sleep. We need to get ready and be ready. In this time of waiting, we should cling to Jesus Christ and let him determine our lives.
When I was very little, I didn’t like it so much when my parents went out. I found it particularly difficult with my mum. Once I was so desperate for her to stay that I even hid her shoes – unfortunately I forgot where. But it wasn’t always like that. As I got older, I really enjoyed being at home with my sisters or on my own. I often invited friends round or enjoyed spending an evening doing whatever I wanted. I often cooked something delicious, moved a mattress into the living room so that I could watch films more comfortably. I put in a lot of effort. But what I certainly didn’t do was tidy up. So there was always one uncertainty, namely when my parents came home. I didn’t want them to notice straight away that I had only watched films and done nothing else. Over time, I developed a trick. So that I wasn’t surprised, I would call them at some point during the evening. I always said that I was looking for something and that I wanted them to tell me where it was. And on this occasion, I could always casually ask when they were coming home. So I always had enough time to tidy up the flat.
Jesus» second coming follows on from the first
Today is the first day of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin «advenire» and means to arrive. The Advent season is characterised by this. On the one hand, it is a reflection on the first coming of Jesus Christ to this world. On the other hand, this time also reminds us in particular of the second coming of Jesus Christ, which is still to come. Before we turn our attention to the future Advent, let’s take another look back. Jesus Christ came into this world at a troubled time. The nation into which he was born was under a hostile power that had a different culture and religion. On the one hand they tolerated the customs of the Jews, on the other hand they demanded unreserved obedience. Many people at that time longed for change. They wanted a political upheaval. To achieve this, they drew on an idea they found in the Old Testament. They wished for an anointed saviour, «Messiah» in Hebrew or «Christ» in Greek. In their imagination, this was primarily a military warrior. The person of Jesus therefore did not fit the picture for many and so in his time he was only perceived by a few as the promised saviour.
The first coming, the very first Christmas, went beyond all imagination. Because Jesus comes in a completely different way than expected. Instead of a powerful ruler, he comes into the world as a little boy who is completely dependent on help. Instead of being born in splendour, he is born among animals in a stable. Instead of a highly respected family, his father works as a carpenter. No one would have imagined Jesus coming like this. There are also many unknowns in the second coming, but there are nevertheless a few parallels to the first Advent. There is no doubt that the promised Saviour is coming. Jesus Christ came the first time and he will also come a second time. Likewise, the exact time is not known. Rather, he comes when it is least expected.
The text of today’s sermon is found in Mark 13:33–37 and is taken from the pericope order of the Reformed Pastors» Association. Before this passage, Jesus Christ speaks of his second coming. This is preceded by several signs. There will be war, epidemics, earthquakes and famines. All these things can also be found at the moment. According to an ICRC report, there were over 100 armed conflicts worldwide in November last year. The conflict over Israel has come to a head again in recent months. There is currently a measles epidemic in Samoa, Madagascar and the DR Congo, which has been ongoing for a few years, and cholera has been raging in Yemen for over five years. On 6 February, an earthquake shook Turkey and Syria and on 8 September this year there was a devastating earthquake in Morocco. Thousands of people died in both. If the Global Hunger Index report is to be believed, hunger is very serious in at least six countries. In addition to the evils briefly mentioned, betrayal for the sake of Jesus will increase everywhere towards the end. Parents will betray their children and children will betray their parents. All who are followers of Jesus Christ will be hated.
I would like to make a personal comment on this. Because of all these events, some people tend to see the coming of Jesus as imminent. I find this particularly problematic because there is also a tendency to take one’s own time as too important. There have been much worse ages on earth. Moreover, the list is only the beginning of the horrors to come (Mark 13:8). But one thing is certain: we are now closer to the second coming of Jesus Christ than ever before. Jesus himself says: «Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will remain forever» (Mark 13:31 NLB). The intention of Jesus Christ himself also seems important to me. He is not telling us this to scare us, but to reassure us: No matter what comes, Jesus is above it all! The passage for today’s Advent sermon begins with a challenge. However, this does not only apply to the current Advent season, but to the entire life of a follower of Jesus Christ. «And because you do not know when all this will happen, remain vigilant and beware» (Mark 13:33 NLB).
Jesus» Advent comes as a surprise
At the beginning of the sermon, I told you about the trick I used when my parents were away. I wanted to be ready for the coming of my parents. Just as I wanted to be ready, followers of Jesus should also be ready for the coming of Jesus. He himself expresses this through a story. «The coming of the Son of Man can be compared to the return of a man who left his house to go travelling. He gave instructions to all his servants as to what work they should do and instructed the doorkeeper to look out for him in the meantime» (Mark 13:34 NLB). We would love to give Jesus a quick call and ask «when are you coming?» Then we could prepare ourselves properly for his arrival – and perhaps do other things in the meantime. But this is not the case with Jesus. Jesus comes when we least expect it.
This image of the travelling householder appears in other places in the Bible. In the Gospel of Matthew, he is also travelling (Matthew 25:14–30). However, instead of just giving instructions, he distributes different amounts of sacks of gold to his servants. They are to manage it and earn a good return. Three servants are mentioned. The first receives five sacks of gold, the second two sacks and the third receives one more sack. Depending on their different abilities. The man then travelled away and returned some time later. All three came back to him. The first was very successful. He doubled his gold and the landlord promised him even more responsibility. The second did the same. He doubled his money and was also given greater responsibility. But the third did not handle the gold entrusted to him in the same way as the other two. Because he was dissatisfied with the landlord’s behaviour, he hid the money. This made the landlord very angry and he took the money away from the third and gave it to the first. All three had the same task, and it doesn’t matter whether you received a lot or a little. The main thing is that it is used well. This is a story that we are not so fond of. Because it contradicts many people’s understanding of justice. How can God entrust someone with more than others? Doesn’t he treat everyone equally? The master of the house stands for Jesus. Followers of Jesus have been given different gifts, but they all have the same task, namely to fulfil them faithfully. However, it is important to say that this image of servants is not only to be understood for the individual. It must also be interpreted for the entire church. As a church, we have the task of handling what God has given us with dignity and trust. And hopefully better than I did in my teenage years alone at home.
But not unprepared
When we do this, Jesus Christ comes as a surprise, but does not take us unawares. Because in addition to the servants, there is also the doorkeeper. «In the same way, you too should be vigilant! For you do not know when the master of the house will return – […]. Make sure that he does not find you sleeping when he comes without warning. What I say to you here, I say to everyone: Be vigilant until he returns!» (Mark 13:35–37 NLB). Peter, one of the followers of Jesus Christ, describes in a letter what it means to be vigilant. «Therefore, dear friends, endeavour to lead a pure and blameless life in peace with God while you wait for all this» (2 Peter 3:14 NLB).
One of the best preparations is to live an exemplary life. Romans 13:13, which is also included in today’s pericope order, states: «Our lives should be exemplary and honest so that they are recognised in the eyes of others. We do not want to take part in debauched parties and drinking bouts, commit adultery, live in sexual licentiousness or engage in quarrelling and jealousy» (Romans 13:13 NLB). Although this is a two-thousand-year-old text, it is still relevant and what is being denounced is still highly topical. But there is more. «Put off all these things and put on a new robe: Jesus Christ the Lord. […]» (Romans 13:14 New Testament). Putting on Jesus Christ. We already heard this image of putting on clothes in a sermon by Matthias Altwegg a few weeks ago. When we put on Jesus Christ, it is not just a matter of putting something on. Getting into new clothes unwashed and sweaty, so to speak. It is about putting on Christ. The Bible translation «The Book» translates this very beautifully. «[…] slip into the Lord, the Messiah Jesus, as it were, as into a garment! […]» (Romans 13:14 DBU). So don’t just put it on, but slip into Jesus. I have brought you Elysia to illustrate this. Elysia’s family name is Chlorotica. It is a species of snail that lives in the sea. The speciality of this snail is that it eats algae as a larva. In doing so, it digests practically the entire plant – except for the coloured bodies. This doesn’t sound very exciting so far, but then something huge happens. Because Elysia ingests these colour corpuscles and these enable it to carry out photosynthesis. Something only plants can do. The snail now lives on happily for 8–9 months and eventually dies. Without needing food again. This is because the snail becomes a plant, so to speak. It attracts the algae to a greater or lesser extent and changes as a result. But Elysia remains a snail. Just as Elysia incorporates the algae and changes, followers of Jesus Christ should also slip into him and allow themselves to be changed by him in their way of life. When this happens, we are surprised by the second coming of Jesus, but not unprepared.
Possible questions for the small group
Read the Bible text: Mark 13:33–37 (Possibly Mark 13)
- How do you feel about the first coming of Jesus Christ? What significance does this have for you?
- What do the signs of the times (famine, earthquake, pestilence, war) do to you? Do you understand the comforting intention of Jesus» words in Mark 13?
- What does the parable of the three servants trigger in you (Matthew 25:14–30)? What makes you angry? Where do you have an unanswered question? What spoke to you?
- Would you categorise your current state of discipleship as alert, dormant or somewhere in between? What do you base this on?
- What does the idea that Jesus Christ is coming soon trigger in you? What emotions do you feel?
