Rev. Paul J Cain, Jr.
St. Mark 13:32-37
Stay Awake! Watch!
Last Sunday in the Church Year (Proper 29B), 25 November
2012
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
Jesus said: “But in those days, after that tribulation, the
sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will
be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then
they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And
then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from
the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch
becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also,
when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very
gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these
things take place. 31 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus’ words will never
pass away. It is comforting that Jesus’ words are trustworthy and will come
true, just as His prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
have already come true. Now, with eager expectation, we await Jesus to teach us
about the end of all things. We await words that will be with us always, just
as He is with us always even to the very end of the age.
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep
awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a
journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his
work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you
do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at
midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly
and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. This sounds strange to us. Jesus, the
Son, does not know these things? One of Christianity’s important teachings
gives us insight into this question.
We are familiar with the Christian teaching that Christ is
True God and True Man. As true God, He knows all, sees all, can do all. As true
man, He bears our flesh, was born, ate, drank, slept, was tempted, and could
die. These are the two natures of Christ: divine and human. The human nature at
times made use of the divine nature. We see Christ change water into wine, hear
the thoughts of the Pharisees, even walk on water. We also see the divine
nature make use of the human nature. The divine cannot experience temptation in
the way flesh can. The divine cannot die.
No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in
heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. We know that according to His human
nature, Christ did not know what day the Judgment will be, for He did not
always make use of His divine nature. But as true God, He does know all things.
No one but God knows about that day or hour. No one on this
earth can know or has the ability to find out when the Last Day will be. Dates
have been predicted. They have come and gone with no result. That teaches us it
is futile to guess when it will happen. What Jesus gives us to do is, WATCH!
Stay Awake!
Jesus gave this very command to His disciples when He went
to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, recorded in Mark 14: 32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And
he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John,
and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful,
even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And
going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were
possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And
he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from
me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said
to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that
you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh
is weak.” 39 And
again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for
their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the
third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It
is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of
sinners. 42 Rise,
let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”
On their own, the disciples did exactly what Jesus warned
them not to do: fall asleep. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak. We
too, are like the disciples. We tire of watching. We fall asleep. If it were
just up to us to be alert on our own, we would fail miserably. But He who
commands us to watch is with us. He promised to be with us to the end of the
age. He is with us. He who has made us into His Body and has built a
magnificent new building out of us living stones is with us. He who was beaten
and killed and thrown out of the vineyard has entrusted it to us. Christ Jesus
helps us to watch. And wait. And stay alert. And be on our guard.
When Jesus ascended into heaven He entrusted His message to
the disciples and promised them the Holy Spirit, so that the Word would go out
with power. He left the house of earth and put his servants in charge, each
with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
We are now his servants, whom He has put in charge of His
tasks here on earth. We have His people to care for. To those assembled here
and elsewhere around the world, God’s Word is preached in all is purity and the
Sacraments administered according to the way Christ instituted them. We have
his Gifts to share with all believers to build them up and increase their
faith, forgiving their sins. We also have Jesus’ admonition from Gethsemane:
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is
willing, but the body is weak. We are gathered here together to watch and pray
every Sunday to encourage one another, and keep one another awake, on guard.
Two friends of mine recently wrote about When You Do Not Go to Church.
(Posted November 21st, 2012 at http://cyberbrethren.com/2012/11/21/when-you-do-not-go-to-church/)
One Pastor
introduces the article this way: It never ceases to baffle and confuse me
when I hear people make the comment, “You don’t have to go to Church to be a
Christian.” I used to try to respond to this with rather long-winded
explanations of the third commandment, and the gifts given, and blah, blah,
blah. Lately, I’ve just decided to respond to those comments by asking,
“Really? Where does our Lord in His Word teach that?” Hint: He doesn’t! My
friend, Pastor Weedon, offers this “take” on not attending Church.
“If I decided one Sunday just to skip Church that week, do
you think anyone would notice? Ah, you say, but you’re the pastor. Yes, they’d
notice. I agree. They would. But it also makes a difference when YOU decide to
skip Church this Sunday.
“Each Sunday is a gathering of the family – and when a
beloved family member doesn’t show up for the family gathering and meal at
Christmas or Easter or Thanksgiving, there’s a hole, a gap, a pain that
everyone feels. We’re all the less for that person not being with us to revel
in the celebration of that day. Their absence diminishes the joy of the family.
So when you choose to skip on Sunday, when you don’t come together with your
church family to join in offering the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and
to receive the gifts your Lord has for you, it’s not just you that miss out.
Your extended family – the Church – misses out. They are diminished by your
decision to absent yourself. The singing is that much quieter. The “amens” that
much softer. The spot where you usually sit and stand reminds us all of your
absence.
“Surely old Neuhaus was dead right on this: Christian
discipleship should begin with a very simple commitment that any given Lord’s
Day will find you in the assembly of God’s people, singing His praise, offering
your prayers, receiving His gifts. The *only* reasons for missing is because
you’re too sick to be present or because you’re away traveling – and even in
the later case, blessed are you if you find the family gathered in that
location and join with them.”
“Let us consider how to stir one another up to love and good
works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25
End quote.
When we leave this place were we are renewed, refreshed,
awakened, forgiven and go to our homes, neighborhoods, schools, jobs, and there
carry out our other assigned tasks: to share this forgiveness with others
saying to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough!” We want our
friends, our neighbors, our loved ones ready, watching for when we hear, “The
hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is here!
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not
even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep
awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a
journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his
work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you
do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at
midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly
and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Dr. Luther wrote: May our Lord Jesus Christ perfect His work
which He has begun in us, and may He hasten that Day of our redemption for
which, by the grace of God, we long [for] with uplifted heads and for which we
sigh and wait in pure faith and with a good conscience. In these we have served
an ungrateful world, which is the incorrigible enemy of its own salvation.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let him who loves You say: Come, Lord Jesus! Amen!
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
