The Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
Luke 21: 5-28 (29-36)
Stay Awake
Proper 28 C, 14 November, 2010
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
[29 And {Jesus} told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” ]
Stay awake. It’s not just good advice for sermon time. It’s also advice for life. Jesus wants you to escape “all the things that are going to take place” so that you may stand before Him, the Son of Man in true faith on the Last Day.
It is easy to be distracted in this world. Some of your hearts are weighed down by grief, disappointment, and frustration. Some are not here this morning due to what Jesus calls “dissipation and drunkenness.” Others are distracted by the cares of this life. If an every-member-visit teaches a congregation anything, it is the simple truth that everybody has something going on in their lives. We only need to care enough to ask.
It is in the devil’s best interest if you are not here. It is only satan who benefits from a Christian in despair. The old evil foe is the only winner when a Christian is isolated from the Lord’s forgiveness proclaimed and delivered according to the Lord’s institution and promises on the Lord’s Day in the Lord’s House.
Here’s what I mean. The devil does his best to get you all alone. He tempts you with situations that could lead you into sin. When we mistakenly think that we are strong on our own just because we are Christians, he knows he has the upper hand. Our strength comes not from ourselves, but Christ alone. So, what happens next?
Sometimes we resist the devil and he flees from us. That is what should happen. That is what Jesus teaches us to do. We pause to meditate on God’s Word, something the Spirit brings to our minds. We pray. We might even pray the Lord’s Prayer. Or…
Or we give in. A sinful situation gets our mind racing and our blood boiling with the possibilities! Sometimes a Christian falls into temptation. The devil moves to his next plan.
It may not be a new temptation. He may simply whisper that God could never accept a sinner like you. He will try to convince you that your sin is too big, too bad, too long-standing to be forgiven. This is the tactic he tries with Christians. He will also deny that Jesus is powerful enough to deal with your sin.
With non-Christians or those who have been away from faith for a long time, the devil has other techniques and tricks. He will often try to get someone to deny God’s existence. He may get a person to believe the lies of the world about Jesus Christ. Think of Jesus as a real nice teacher, the world says. He’s just a man—He couldn’t be God! And then come the other tricks. Our old evil foe will begin to deny that your sin is even sin. He’ll say that it is perfectly acceptable behavior for a modern, enlightened, liberated world. Forget sin, forget death, forget judgment.
And these are precisely what Jesus wants us to remember. Consider again the main text of today’s Holy Gospel.
5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, 6 “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” 7 And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” 8 And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. 9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”
Remember this: “These things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Signs will be fulfilled, but do not be fooled by false teachers predicting a date for the End.
10 Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. 13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers3 and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
Have you been checking off the signs in your mind? Every generation of Christians has experienced this. Persecution is ongoing—just not in every place. There is more to hear.
20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, 22 for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. 23 Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
Jerusalem fell in 70 A.D. The Temple was destroyed. Consider again the beauty described at the beginning of today’s reading from the Gospel according to St. Luke. The next descriptions sound like the end of the world!
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Near. Remember the word: near. Jesus didn’t say that it was “here,” when these signs were completed, but that it was “near.” When you read God’s judgment on the nations in the book of the prophet Isaiah, it sounds like the end of the world for them, too. And it is! There is always judgment on unbelief. It may be delayed for the sake of the faithful remnant, but judgment will come.
The generation of the apostles did not end before Jerusalem was taken and the Temple tumbled down. By then it was no longer necessary, for Christ had come, He who is our Prophet, Priest, and King. Jesus is our Temple. He is our Advocate before the Lord in the Heavenly Temple. In Christ, the Kingdom of God had come. The Reign of God was at hand. He is your life and your salvation. His closing parable helps His hearers prepare for uncertain days.
[29 And he {Jesus} told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” ][1]
Like in this world is difficult. We have very good times and very bad times, but both end up being very brief. Some bad times seem to drag on and on and on. Why?
Consider for a moment that the Lord allows some difficult times for the sake of your eternal salvation. Some bad times may be a wake-up call to those who had once believed and fell away. This is a time of God’s mercy, His invitation, His call for His own to come back home before it is too late.
For others, their difficult days may be a reminder from the Lord to not get to comfortable in this world, this life, or even to focus too much about the blessings that God gives. Sometimes God’s gifts can become false gods. Sometimes created things begin substituting for the Creator. For some, their difficult days may be a reminder from the Lord to not get to comfortable in this world, this life, or even to focus too much about the blessings that God gives.
Another possibility can help dedicated Christians through a time of frustration and disappointment in their service to the Lord and His people: they may be weary in their service because they have spent too much time serving and not enough time being served. Pastors face this particular temptation frequently. Active lay volunteers in a congregation can also face burnout. Why? Their time in the Lord’s house may be focused almost entirely at times by what they do for the Lord rather than what the Lord does for them. Sunday morning service is to be a time where God serves you. Neither Prayer and Preaching nor Divine Service are primarily about what we do for God. Lutheran Christians and others know and proclaim very clearly that we are not saved by what we do, but only by Christ. Why do we sometimes neglect God’s salutary gifts and mistakenly put our service above our “being served”? It sounds just like the false teachings and practice of works righteousness!
Finally, James reminds us that trials are to bet met with joy. Strange as it sounds he explains, “for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Endure. Watch. Wait. Pray. Stay awake. All of these words of Christ could be misunderstood in the way of the Law. You have, can, and will fail at all of them if you are trying to do them by your own strength. That would be missing Jesus’ point. The Gospel is your strength to endure, watch, wait, pray, and spiritually stay awake. Abide in Christ and He will abide in you. His gifts are here every week. And your congregation and pastor are here for you every day.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus’ words will not pass away. Trust in Christ for eternal life and also to sustain you in this earthly life. The Word of the Lord endures forever! Amen.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
