Let us pray. Stir up, we implore You, Your power, O Lord, and come that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sin and be saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Our text this day is Luke 21:25-36. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, no question, the signs of the season are out. Did you happen to make it to the mall for the after-Thanksgiving sales? You saw the signs of the season there, didn’t you? You saw Santa and mobs of people. No mistaking the season at the mall. But there were probably also plenty of signs of the season right there in your neighborhood, weren’t there? Maybe in your own house? The Jones’ light display down the street. It’ll pop your eyes out, won’t it? And it will be tough to match. The ads during Saturday morning cartoons have visions of sugarplums or Play Stations dancing through little heads. Your tree is even lovelier this year with the addition of six new limited edition anniversary ornaments, isn’t it? Yes, the signs of the season are out in our own house too.
You know, it’s so easy to rag on the commercialization of Christmas, all the secular trimmings, Santa and sales flyers being out so early; but let’s look at it differently for a few minutes. All those signs of the season, including the totally secular ones, can actually be helpful to us as Christians; if, if we learn to read the signs correctly. This week we begin the season of Advent, the season of the Christian year that prepares us for Christmas; and in our text for this first Sunday of Advent, Jesus Himself gives us some signs of the season. At first hearing, Jesus’ signs may not seem any more appropriate to this time of year than do the secular signs we see all around us. But in fact they are most helpful, as, believe it or not, the secular signs can be, if we just understand, of what season are the signs we are seeing. See, what we have to realize first, is that they’re not signs of the season of Christ’s birth.
We’re probably well aware of that when we think of secular signs around us. So many of the signs of the season we’re seeing in the stores, on TV, even in our neighborhoods, don’t really point to the birth of Christ. But the signs Jesus gives us in our text are also signs of a different season. Listen to what Jesus says (Luke chapter 21, beginning at verse 25): “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.” (21:25-26) That’s not beginning to sound a lot like Christmas. “Then [Jesus] spoke to them a parable: (another sign, verse 29) ‘Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.'” (21:29-30) Hey, what’s going on? Wrong season, isn’t it? That’s got nothing to do with Jesus’ birth!
Like so many of the signs we’re seeing around us these days; obviously many of them have nothing to do with Christ’s coming at Christmas. But did you know, that most of our familiar signs of Christmas, yes, even lots of the department store kind, originally did reflect the birth of Christ? The lights, the Christmas tree; the original idea was to symbolize Christ, the light of the world, eternal life that was like an evergreen. Gifts symbolized God’s gift of His Son. And Santa – you know, Kriss Kringle – originally Christkindl, the German word for Christ child. Really. Not anymore.
O.K., fine. We’ve learned not to expect the secular signs of Christmas to remind us of Christ’s birth. But what about Jesus’ own signs? “…the fig tree, and all the trees. Jesus says when they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near.” (21:29-30) We’d like to tweak that a little too, wouldn’t we? Something about winter coming? Maybe trees losing their leaves, or maybe the evergreen thing?
Actually, though, it shouldn’t be any surprise that neither the secular signs nor Christ’s own signs fit the season of Christ’s birth. This isn’t the season of Christ’s birth. It can’t be. He’s already come! Oh, sure, we’ll celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmas, but this Advent business really is a very different season from Christmas.
Well then, of what season are the signs in our text, and in the malls? They’re signs of the season of Christ’s second coming. When we see these signs being fulfilled, Jesus says, in verse 27 of our text, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. So when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (21:27,31) These are signs of the end of the world, aren’t they? This is the season we’re living in – the end. Christ has come; He was born once two thousand years ago. That’s happened. We’re not living in the season of His birth. But He’s coming again at the end of the world. “Advent,” the name of this season of preparation, means coming, and this is the coming we’re really preparing for. Every day is to be preparation for Christ’s second coming.
The secular signs that we see around us this season, can actually be very helpful in preparing us for Christ’s second coming. Think about it. So many of those signs are reminders that people are holding onto worldly things: Santa as a salesman—buy! buy! buy! things! things! things! Put out the best light display in town to impress the neighbors! And all this, people holding onto worldly things, is what Christ associates with His signs of the end: “Signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity…; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. . . . But,” Jesus says, “take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Heaven and earth will pass away.” (21:25-26,34-35,33a) Distress of nations, men’s hearts failing – why? Because the things they’ve been holding onto are shaken. Carousing, drunkenness, the cares of this life – devoting oneself to things of this world. The Christmas display that has to be the talk of the block, the computer game that has to be the latest upgrade our kids can brag about, the pre-holiday downright panic that every to-do on our list might not get checked off – all of these are signs we’re clinging to an old heaven and earth that will pass away. These are signs we’re living in the season of Christ’s return.
We’re living in a season of preparation not for Christ’s birth, but for His second coming, and that’s a little more complicated. It’s easy to get ready for the coming of a little baby. A little baby wouldn’t notice if our houses and hearts aren’t perfectly clean. A little baby wouldn’t say a word if we’re not dressed our best, wearing the rags of sin. A little baby, at least we think, wouldn’t care if we don’t give him our undivided attention, if we’re wrapped up in all the trimmings of Christmas instead of devoting our hearts to prepare for Christ’s second coming. That’s why even most unbelievers are not uncomfortable with an occasional manger scene and “Joy to the World.” No big deal getting ready for a cute, little baby.
It’s much harder getting ready for the return of the eternal King, coming to judge us and the whole world, decreeing where we’ll live or suffer forever and ever after. But that’s the way Christ is coming this time, not as a baby. Are you ready for that? When you, like me, haven’t given Him your undivided attention? Are you – when you, like me, are guilty of sin? Are you ready to face the King, the Judge – when your heart, like mine, harbors all kinds of unclean thoughts? Everyone who’s not prepared when Jesus comes, everyone who stands there all wrapped up in earthly concerns, everyone who can only offer him less than their best, will be consigned to an eternity in hell.
This is the season we’re living in, the season of Christ’s coming back. This is the season the signs tell us is here. This is what Advent is all about, preparing for Christ’s return.
And for Christians, that’s summer! Jesus’ sign of the fig tree is perfectly appropriate: it’s a sign of summer. Verse 28 of our text, Jesus says, “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. So when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.” (21:28,31) Christ’s return will be the cataclysmic event of all history. The earth will be shaken. He will judge all people. Preparation is a must. But for us, it will be glorious, not frightening. For all who believe in Him, Christ is coming as our redeemer, not to condemn us but to save us. Jesus says, “Your redemption is near.” Summer!
Winter is over! Christ may or may not have been born in winter, we don’t really know the month or date, but it’s appropriate enough to think that way. When Christ came the first time, he did enter our spiritual dead of winter. He came to our spiritual darkness, barrenness. He lived among all the signs of death, tears and graves, all the signs that you just can’t cling to the things of this world. And He took on real, physical cold, desolation, hardship. Christ has gone through winter for us. The cold-hearted rejection by the world. Suffering, stripped of all his beauty. Death on a tree that showed no signs of life at all. If Christ did come in the winter, it was because of the fall, our fall into sin. On our own, we are, all of us, dreadfully unprepared for Judgment. But we’re not on our own. Jesus’ coming the first time prepared us for this season. And because He came, took our sins to that cross, then rose new and fresh from the tomb, we are now living in springtime, and that means summer’s coming. Ah, summer, the evergreen life and health and vitality of heaven.
The sun, moon, and stars shaken. Nations in distress. People in panic. Trees beginning to bud. Signs of the season.
Lights and evergreens. Shopping and gifts. Take them for what they are. They’re not signs of Christmas. No, let me be more precise: they’re not signs of the season of Christ’s birth. They’re signs of a better season: endless summer. Amen. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Lutheran Hour Mailbox (Questions & Answers) for November 30, 2003 Topic: Preparation for Last Time
ANNOUNCER: And stay with us now to hear more about the signs of the season. I’m Mark Eischer, here with Pastor Ken Klaus.
KLAUS: Thanks Mark, and thanks also to Pastor Fickenscher for his excellent message. Whenever we talk about the signs of the last times, people usually have a great many questions. They want to know what it means to be ready.
ANNOUNCER: Now if I recall history, one of the early kings of England was a fellow named Ethelred the Unready. I suppose that describes a great many people today who are unprepared to meet the Lord.
KLAUS: That’s true. A lot of people are not ready for the last day. Here’s a poem: The clock of life is wound but once and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop at late or early hour. To lose one’s wealth is sad indeed. To lose one’s health is more. To lose one’s soul is such a loss that no man can restore.
ANNOUNCER: And what’s the point?
KLAUS: Mark, 39 people died in the time it took me to read that poem. I wonder how many of them were ready, had read the signs of the season.
ANNOUNCER: But you have to admit that many of the signs the Lord talked about would apply to any age.
KLAUS: Every age has its share of troubling times, Mark. Because of that, people usually react one of two ways. One, they think that Judgment Day is going to be today or tomorrow. The second way is, they think Judgment Day is a figment of the imagination and things are going to continue on, uninterrupted just as they are now.
ANNOUNCER: Which view is the right one?
KLAUS: Tough question, Mark. There’s no doubt the time is going to come when Jesus will return. It will be today or tomorrow or the next. But there are many people who were absolutely, totally positive they knew when Judgment Day was coming. They predicted Judgment Day; and when it came and went without any sign of Jesus returning on the clouds, their followers lost faith. Not just in the prediction, but in the Lord as well.
ANNOUNCER: And how about this second way of thinking?
KLAUS: The second way of thinking, the way that denies Judgment Day, is far worse. Such an attitude is dangerous because for a great many people, today is their Judgment Day. They will die, and when they do, they will appear before the Lord for His verdict. One man wiser than me said, “In the choir of life, it’s easy to fake the words; but someday each of us will have to sing solo before God.” He had it figured out. He knew, it’s better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
ANNOUNCER: And how does one prepare?
KLAUS: How about if I answer with a story? When the great explorer, Sir Ernest Shackleton, was on his quest for the South Pole, he had to leave some of his men behind on Elephant Island. He promised he would return. Unfortunately when he tried to get back, he found a sea of solid ice between him and his men. He’d made a promise, he had to keep it. That’s why he repeatedly tried to rescue them without success. Out there with limited supplies, his men waited for his return. At that season of the year, it was foolish to hope for a change in the weather. No hope of getting his boat through to them, nevertheless he had to try. At the risk of losing his ship and its crew, he pushed in as close as he could. Miraculously an opening in the ice appeared. Shackleton hurried in, rescued his men, and in less than an hour all of them were safe. Shackleton was aware that if they had delayed only a few minutes, the ice would have crushed their vessel. Later Shackleton asked one of his rescued companions, “You were packed and ready, weren’t you?” The man said, “Yes, we never lost hope. We believed you would come for us, even though circumstances were unfavorable. You had promised, and we expected you. So each morning we rolled up our sleeping bags and packed all our equipment that we might be ready.” That my friend, I think is the way we ought to be ready for Judgment Day. Jesus has said He is coming back, we dare not doubt Him. Jesus will keep His promise and will do so unexpectedly. At the moment of His appearance we must be packed and ready. If not we’re lost.
ANNOUNCER: But the Good News is God has it covered, or maybe I should say, He has us covered. The Bible says He will not leave us as orphans, He’s left us His gifts of Word and Sacrament. He’s given us the gift of Holy Spirit and each week in the Divine Service, Jesus comes to us to forgive our sins and cover us with His perfect righteousness.
KLAUS: That’s right, and that is how we are made ready for Christ’s return.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.