Appropriate Urgency

Mark 13:28-33, NLT -  “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.  In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door.  I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.  And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

 

                We talked last time about what theologians have called the “delay of the Parousia,” which is a fancy way to say the delay of the Second Coming of Jesus.  In the text above, Mark’s gospel proclaims that “, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place.” Obviously, that generation did “pass from the scene” before Jesus returned.  Two thousand years later, we are still waiting. 

                Because of this scholars and theologians have made countless attempts to explain this delay.  I have spent collective hours reading these words written by people way more qualified than I to make such an attempt at resolving this problem.  Nonetheless, I am not overly convinced that any explanation is satisfactory.  This is one of those places where I have concluded, for the moment, that we may never know exactly what Jesus means here until we can ask Him someday.  I have a quite a list forming of such questions that have been gathered over my half-century of living. 

                I do have to say though, that this issue, the delay of the Parousia, is not at the top of my list.  After all, Jesus clearly states that though it seems imminent, no one knows and will ever know except God when it will happen.  If I cannot know when it will happen, then all I can do is be prepared now for when it does.  This is what Jesus says is the point; “And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard!” Live with watchful and expectant hope. . .this is our proper approach to life even two thousand years later. 

 

Question:  What would you do differently if you honestly expected the Second Coming to happen as soon as tomorrow?

 

Prayer:  Lord, forgive us for our nonchalance concerning Your expected return.  Install in us a holy urgency about how we should live.  Amen.

 

Prayer Focus: Continue to pray for the nation of turkey as more than three times the number of people killed on 9/11 have been killed by this earthquake.

 

Song:  Soon and Very Soon – Birmingham Community Gospel Choir

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5KIwGk_gAY