Advent 1: Wednesday
Read
Luke 21:25-36“So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of
God is near.” (Luke 21:31)
As we prepare to celebrate the Lord's coming as the infant born to Mary, we
dare not forget that He is coming again in glory. The two cannot be divorced:
Jesus was born humbly in the flesh for your redemption in order to prepare you
for His glorious return on the Last Day. The Lord wants you to be ready—He's
died for you to be ready.
Furthermore, in this text He reveals to you some things to look for so that
you might know that all is ready, that the end is near. He speaks of signs in the
sun, moon and stars. Like Matthew 21:29, He may here refer to signs that
immediately precede His coming; or He may refer to things that happen even
now, but that our foolishly “wise” world dismisses as natural anomalies. On
earth, we will see nations distressed, perplexed and despairing. The seas and
waves will roar. Furthermore, men's hearts will fail them from fear and dread of
what is to come.
Given the recent history of nations in turmoil, hurricanes and tsunamis, and
the ongoing fearful threat of nuclear and biological attack, it would seem that the
Lord could return at any time. On the other hand, the signs which Jesus recites
have been around since He ascended into heaven.
That is precisely the point. Rather than declare a set day and time, the Lord
reveals this to us: He could return at any time and will come at some time. He
does not establish a target date, but instead urges us to be prepared at all times.
The End may come this very day, or many generations from now. Caught
between Jesus' coming in the flesh in Bethlehem and return in glory sometime in
the future, this could leave us lost in history and misplaced for eternity.
Except for one thing: Jesus comes to us even now. The Word-made-flesh
visits us by His Word, speaking His forgiveness to cleanse us from sin. He
makes us His own in the waters of Holy Baptism, so that we are not forgotten—
we are His! He feeds us His own body and blood in His Supper, again for
forgiveness. Thus He keeps His promise,
“Lo, I am with you always, even to the
end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
So as you wait to see your King in glory, you rejoice in this gracious truth:
the Kingdom of God is near you even now, because your King draws near to
you even now.
A Helper just He comes to thee, His chariot is humility,
His kingly crown is holiness; His scepter, pity in distress.
The end of all our woe He brings; Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee Savior, now, Mighty in deed art Thou! (TLH 73:2)