Scripture Passage
“I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
(Mark 13:37 NLT)
Observation
Parables and warnings regarding the second coming of Christ dominate today’s reading. The parables of Matthew 25 seem especially familiar to me—the ten bridesmaids, the talents, the sheep and the goats. All of these (as I remember it, anyway) served as great fodder for preachers when I was a child, and most of the time I went away sure that Jesus might return at any moment.
I should have—that was exactly the point. And it remains the point even today. I’m quite aware that preaching about the return of Christ is not nearly so common these days as it was even a generation ago. (And I have an opinion or two on why that’s so—but given that I’m part of the problem, I’m not sayin’ anything!)
Still, the reality is, whether it’s preached about, sung about, written about or not, the truth is, Jesus will return. The day and hour of His return remain unknown, but the surety and suddenness remains completely assured! History is headed towards a huge interruption…a cataclysmic consummation! (Do you like that combination of words?)
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thess 4:16-17 NLT)
Charles Spurgeon was reportedly asked one day if he could explain the seven trumpets of Revelation. I love his reply: “No, but I can blow one in your ear, and warn you to escape from the wrath to come.” Certainly some specifics surrounding Jesus’ return to earth are not as clear as we wish they were, but the primary challenge from today’s reading is straightforward and to the point. It can be ignored, but it cannot be misunderstood:
“I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”
(Mark 13:37 NLT)
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