The Lutheran Hour
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"He Will Come Back"
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Text: Acts 1:10-11
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Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! This day, it is impossible for us to look upon the physical face of our living Lord. He has ascended into heaven, and for a while, is beyond our vision. Nevertheless, even as Jesus kept His promise to rise from the dead, believers know that He shall keep His word and return again. On that unknown day of victory, He shall take home all those who have been cleansed by His gracious redemption. Until that unknown day when Jesus will come back, believers shall wait with joy.
Jesus is coming back. That simple statement has to be either good news or bad news for you. There are no other choices. Jesus’ return will either be desired or dreaded, longed for or loathed, awaited or avoided. When Jesus comes back, you will rejoice that, by the power of the Holy Spirit and through Word and Sacrament, you have been born again (1 Peter 1:23), or you will wish you had never been born in the first place.
Jesus is coming back. Over the years, many people have promised that they will return. Some of our listeners, especially those veterans who fought in World War II’s Pacific theater, will remember the date of March 11, 1942. The Japanese had begun to invade the Philippines and General Douglas MacArthur, under direct order of the President, was preparing to leave Corregidor. In spite of the sad situation, the General confidently made the commitment: “I shall return.” From that moment on, everything MacArthur did was designed to bring about a fulfillment of that pledge. It took about two-and-a-half years before he stepped again on Philippine soil. As he waded ashore, his movements were recorded and re-recorded, by news cameras. To radio listeners, MacArthur proudly proclaimed: “People of the Philippines, I have returned!”
Jesus is coming back. Over the years, many people have promised that they would come back. On October 31, 1926, the great escape artist, Harry Houdini died. Seal him in a coffin, Houdini got out. Lock him in a safe, bolt him into a boiler, sew him into a sack and throw him into a river, Houdini managed to escape. Lock him in a jail, a straightjacket, a set of handcuffs, Houdini was able to secure his release. But on October 31st of 1926, Houdini died. Some time before, thinking about his departure, he said to his wife, “If there is any way out, I will find it. If there is any way out, I will find you and I will make contact with you on the anniversary of my death.” In short, Houdini said he would try to come back. Trusting her husband, for ten years Bess, his widow kept a light burning underneath his picture. After ten years, after numerous attempts at trying to reach him, she turned out that light and said, “Houdini did not come through. My last hope is gone. I do not believe that Houdini can come back to me, or to anyone.”
But Jesus is coming back. I believe those words. I believe them because Jesus always kept His word. To we who are limited by human shortcomings and sinful shortsightedness, Jesus’ promises may seem illogical, impossible, and irrational. No matter, Jesus has always kept His word. During His earthly ministry, Jesus had said He would die. Then, He added that three days after His death, He would come back. Houdini couldn’t do that, but Jesus did. (John 2:19-21) On Resurrection Sunday, a living Lord, a conquering Christ, emerged from His borrowed tomb, and showed to all the world that His sacrifice had been accepted. On numerous occasions, for almost a month and a half, Jesus showed His resurrection was not a myth, a figment of imagination, a flight of fancy. During those weeks of personal appearances, He encouraged questioners to touch His nail-pierced hands, His side. In leisurely conversations He walked with His followers, ate with them, conversed with them, and in every way possible showed that He had finished fulfilling the law which condemns sinful humanity; that He had defeated death which had claimed us.
Then, His proving completed, Jesus had ascended to His Father. In complete view of the disciples, Jesus was taken away from them and to His triumphal return in heaven. As the disciples stood, their faces straining skyward so they might see the last part of this wondrous sight, angels, in the appearance of men, gave them and us the promise, “Jesus is coming back.” Although they had been entrusted with the daunting duty of telling a sinful world that the Savior had redeemed them, the disciples returned to Jerusalem, filled with joy. (Luke 24:52) They knew that they had not seen Jesus for the last time. They knew, as Christians in every age have known, that Jesus would be with them always, even until the end of the age.
Jesus is coming back. When people hear these words, they react in one of four ways. The first reaction is one of disbelief. I’ve just told you why that attitude is wrong. Jesus Who fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, Who managed to defeat death, sin and Satan, keeps His word. If you want to hold to your denial and doubts, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary, you may do so. With great sadness, I say, “You will find out, soon enough, just how wrong is your decision to reject the Savior. When Jesus returns, you will be, I am afraid, among those who wish they had never been born.”
The second reaction is not so hard-core in its denial. The second reaction is one of disregard, disinterest and indifference. When you hear a minister talking about Jesus’ return, your finger starts reaching for the dial or button of the radio to change stations. Your ears send a message to the brain, and your brain reinterprets those words to something that sounds like, “Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.” You’ve heard it all before, you simply don’t care. Jesus, “good ole Jesus,” may be coming back, but He’ll give you time. Jesus, “good buddy Jesus” may return, but He won’t do so until you fertilize the lawn; complete your five-day teeth whitening plan, find out how your soap opera ends, wash the dog, go to Mardi Gras and flush your car’s radiator.
Years ago, the government’s first high altitude balloon was launched from Wallops Island, Virginia. Residents in the area were given no advance warning. Looking to the light that had suddenly shown up in the sky, everybody had a theory as to what they were seeing. Some thought the Martians were invading; others thought the Russians had arrived. As the light grew brighter one lady opined: “Perhaps it’s Jesus coming back.” “Oh, no,” said her neighbor, “I sure hope He doesn’t come to my house first.” Like that lady, you may think, if kind and loving and understanding Jesus comes and knocks on your door, He’ll kindly and lovingly and understandingly, be glad to negotiate any number of departure dates for you. He’ll understand. He’ll know you’ve got stuff to do. He’ll know you’re not ready to depart, not just yet.
Around 1910, at least so the story goes, a man was waiting to ride the New York subway. He was bumped and found himself falling onto the rails. His death was averted by the firm grasp of another waiting passenger who grabbed his arm and pulled him back. About four years later the passenger, rightly accused of a capital offense, found himself standing before a judge. Surprisingly, when the jury pronounced their findings he seemed rather cavalier about the matter. He recognized the judge – it was the same man who had rescued him at the subway. When the judge asked, “Have you anything to say before I give the sentence?” the young man rose and said, “Judge, you remember me, don’t you?” The judge repeated his question: “Have you anything to say before I hand down your punishment?” The condemned shouted, “Judge, I’m the man you saved at the subway. You remember me.” And with sadness the judge replied, “I do remember you, but that day I was your savior, today I am your judge.”
Folks, if you are among those who think you can do what you want, when you want, as long as you want; if you are among the many who believe that you have a limitless amount of time, let Jesus set the record straight. Jesus died for you. He gave His life to save anyone Who believes on Him. Today He stands ready to forgive the most heinous of harms, the most scandalous of sins. But the day is coming when good ole’ Jesus, kind loving Jesus, will be your Judge. On that day, there will be no plea bargains, there will be no appeals to eat up time. On that day you will be saved or you will be lost. Jesus is coming again.
To that you might readily ask, “When? When will Jesus be coming again?” That’s the question which comes from our third group of people. They accept the fact that Jesus is coming; they know that He will be their Judge, and they’re pretty sure if they can get some advance notice, they’ll be able to do some quick cramming for the final test. You’ve probably met some of those folks. They are absolutely obsessed with the last times. Every time a country changes governments, every time sabers are rattled in the mid-east, every time a mob swarms into the streets, every time a suicide bomber takes out a bus, they comb through the book of Revelation trying to match up the signs of Jesus’ return with what they’ve just seen on the evening news.
Now, I’m glad these people want to be ready for the return of the Redeemer, but there is a great danger in trying to plan your calendar around Jesus’ arrival. In the early part of the 1800s, William Miller spent fourteen years trying to find out when Jesus would come back. He settled on the year 1843. Somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000 people believed him. They believed him when he narrowed the date down to April 3rd. Some people went to the mountaintops, figuring that would give them a head start. Others looking for a reunion with loved ones, went to the cemeteries. As you may guess, April 3rd came and went without Christ’s coming back. Afterwards, some people picked another one of Miller’s dates and started their wait anew. Some got discouraged and walked away from all the predictions and prophecies. Sadly, some walked away from their Savior as well.
The story of these misdirected souls has been often repeated. On November 2, 1992, Korea’s “Mission for the Coming Days” church disbanded. Why? The congregation’s founder, Lee Jang-rim, had promised Jesus would come back on October 28, 1992. Hundreds, maybe thousands of believers sold their property, left their families, quit their jobs, and deserted their military posts. Jang-rim’s prophecies were wrong; his people were disappointed and disillusioned. Reverend Jang-rim? Oh, he went to jail. Not because of his predictions, but because he had swindled four million dollars in donations and had $380,000 invested in bonds; bonds that wouldn’t mature until six months after Jesus’ supposed return. Jesus is coming back. When? Nobody knows. That’s it. Jesus said, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matt. 24:36)
Which takes us to the fourth and final reaction to the news that Jesus is coming back. That attitude is one of ongoing preparedness. As I was researching this sermon, I tried to find out how various church leaders said they would get ready if they knew they had only a week or a day, before they would stand before Jesus. The results were fascinating. In the thirteenth century, St. Francis said he would keep on watering his garden. In the 1500s, Martin Luther said, “If he knew Jesus was coming tomorrow, he would plant a tree today.” In the eighteenth century, John Wesley, said “I would spend my last day exactly as I expect to spend it now.”
Do you get that? Three representatives from three different branches of Christianity, speaking from three different centuries, are in agreement. They all believe the best way to prepare for Jesus’ coming back is to be in a constant state of preparedness. More important than the advice of these three, is that which comes from the Savior, Himself. Jesus says, “… keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” (Matthew 25:13)
About twenty years ago, a father who had taken his two children swimming in the Atlantic, realized the tide was pulling them out to sea. Knowing his limitations, he told his daughter, the older of the two little ones, “Honey, I’ve got to get your brother to shore. When I do, I’ll come back for you. I want you to float on your back till I return. You don’t have to swim. Just float on your back.” With that the father swam away, brought his son to shore, and in a state of near exhaustion, with some lifeguards, went back out to find his daughter. She wasn’t where they expected her to be. Further and further out to sea they searched. After two hours, they spotted a little body floating in the water. No, don’t worry, she was OK. After they brought her aboard the boat, one of the lifeguards asked, “Were you frightened being out in the ocean all by yourself?” She answered, “I wasn’t afraid. My father told me to float on my back, and he told me that he would come back. I trusted him. He loves me, and never lies.”
That’s the attitude the Lord expects from us as we wait for Jesus to come back. He expects us, for as long as it takes, to remember He loves us, hasn’t forgotten us, and with that knowledge, to be unafraid. That’s what the disciples did. They, who a short time before, had remained in hiding, went back to Jerusalem in joy. They who had hidden behind locked doors, now spent their days in the temple. The Gospel writer Luke sums up those days. The last verse of the last chapter of His Gospel reads: “And they were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. (Luke 24:53) With faith in the Savior Who had lived for them, died for them, and had risen for them, they were unafraid.
That’s the way to wait for the returning Christ: praising and blessing God continually. No, I’m not going to tell you that you will have a trouble free life as you wait for Jesus’ return. Christians have more than their share of troubles and tribulations. I’m not going to tell you that all of your problems are going to magically go away. I will tell you that Jesus is coming, and until He comes, He will give you that which you need to deal with those problems and pains.
Jesus is coming. Be ready. Be waiting. If you don’t know how, “The Lutheran Hour” is ready to help. We are not a church. We are an organization of believers who, trusting in God’s inspired Word, try to introduce people to the Savior and salvation. We help people wait for Christ’s return. If you would like us to help you, please call the number we will give you before the end of this broadcast. We want to help you wait.
Let me finish with one story, a picture really, that’s been in my mind as I’ve been sharing this entire message. I want you to be like my daughter Kris. A good many years ago when she was little, she used to wait for me to come home. She was too young to tell time, but when that door opened, she would run to me and leap into my arms. It’s a precious memory to me. That’s the way Jesus wants you to wait for Him. Amen.
Lutheran Hour Mailbox (Questions & Answers) for May 23, 2004
Topic: Why Did Jesus Leave?ANNOUNCER: What if Christ had not ascended? I’m Mark Eischer here once again with Pastor Ken Klaus. This past Thursday was the day set aside to remember the Ascension of our Lord. This used to be a very big day in the Church year. Pastor, why don’t more congregations celebrate the Ascension?
KLAUS: The questions aren’t getting any easier, Mark. I know many churches do celebrate Ascension, but they do so on a Sunday, either the week before or after the official commemoration date. But I think there may be other reasons why many congregations let Ascension sort of slip on by.
ANNOUNCER: Well, it is hard getting people out to church in the middle of the week.
KLAUS: That’s true, but there are other reasons too. I think the biggest reason churches don’t remember the Ascension, is that many aren’t quite sure exactly what to do with it. Most of the time we don’t celebrate somebody who’s going away, lengthy family visits excluded. ANNOUNCER: Could you explain?
KLAUS: What I mean is, that most people given their druthers, would have wanted Jesus to stick around and rule the world as an earthly king. That’s what the disciples thought at first. Remember, they said, “Lord, are you now going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6) Many people don’t know exactly why Jesus had to leave. They forget that Jesus’ Ascension was part of His state of glory. He also said that His Ascension had to take place so He could send us the Holy Spirit. If we were to speculate, and that’s what I’m doing here, think how it would have changed things if Jesus had not ascended.
ANNOUNCER: You mean, risen bodily from the dead but still remaining here on earth with the disciples? That’s such a weird thought, I can’t even imagine what that would be like. Jesus said people would not believe even if someone were to rise from the dead, which He most certainly did, so I’m guessing maybe He would still face opposition and unbelief.
KLAUS: Yes, in that respect, things wouldn’t change for Him all that much. People can be pretty strong in their unbelief.
ANNOUNCER: And again, what we’re talking about here is so different from the way things actually are, it’s really quite hard to imagine. Now of course, by this time Jesus would also be more than 2,000 years old. That alone might lead some people to believe something about Him.
KLAUS: But what would they believe? In such a situation, seeing Jesus, not faith, would be the center of everything.
ANNOUNCER: And that isn’t what God wants. Salvation comes to us through faith in what is not seen.
KLAUS: There are other things that might happen if Jesus had not ascended. Think about it – would people die?
ANNOUNCER: Let’s assume they would. But anytime somebody got close to death, they would go to Jesus and expect Him to perform a resurrection miracle like He did for Lazarus.
KLAUS: Right. As soon as the doctor said a person had cancer or a cold, diabetes or nearsightedness, that person would want Jesus to perform a miracle. How about politics? Wouldn’t people try to make Him an earthly king? They would expect Him to settle their disputes. They would want Him to be the Judge, the Jury, the Lawgiver, a million and one other things. Many of those things having absolutely nothing to do with being a Savior.
ANNOUNCER: And people asked Him to do all of those things during His earthly ministry.
KLAUS: They did, and He almost always rejected those things. Jesus came to save our souls and conquer Satan, death and sin for us, not to become our puppet to provide for our earthly desires.
ANNOUNCER: Well thank God He knows how to do things better than we do. What are some of the positive things that came about as a result of Jesus’ Ascension?
KLAUS: The Bible gives us a whole list of things. First, Jesus said that He was ascending into heaven to prepare an eternal home for us. (John 14:2) Second, after Jesus ascended, He sent His Holy Spirit into the world. The Holy Spirit is that Person of the Trinity who is responsible for calling us into the faith and keeping us there. (John 16:7; Acts 9:1-18) Third, it’s the way the Savior gives gifts to His people for ministry. (Eph. 4:7-12) Fourth, Jesus is a Mediator, a go-between between us and the Heavenly Father; that’s why we pray in His name. (1 Tim. 2:5) Fifth, the Ascension is the Father’s way of exalting Jesus to the position that He should rightly hold. (Phil. 2:9) And sixth, because Jesus has ascended, He is no longer limited to our dimensions of time and space. So we really have the best of both worlds. He’s still present with us through His Word and Sacraments, and we have the Church, the Holy Spirit, and Someone who mediates before God and the Father on our behalf. There are other reasons, but I guess those are the more important ones.
ANNOUNCER: And as you said in today’s message, He will return again on the last day. Thank you Pastor Klaus. This has been a presentation of Lutheran Hour Ministries.