11-27-22 Sermon Notes “Get Ready” 1st Sun. of Advent

The First Sunday of Advent always includes a passage about the “Second Advent” (The Second Coming) of Christ. Why is that? Aren’t we just talking about preparing for Christmas (the first advent)? Of course we are getting ready for Christmas; at the same time, the message of advent (which means “coming”) is bigger and deeper than just Christmas. It also includes being prepared for something that we all await – and yet that nobody knows the time it will occur. Matthew’s gospel for this Sunday includes this passage:

36“But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.44Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. (Matt. 24: 36-44 NRSV)

What makes Matthew chapter 24 a little confusing is that it weaves together a prophecy about two separate things – one event that will happen within the lifetime of Jesus’ hearers (the Fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD), and something that will not (The Second Coming). They should look for signs of one event…the Fall of Jerusalem. For example, in vv. 32-35, Jesus tells his hearers to learn the lesson of the fig tree. They can tell by looking at the tree (its leaves, etc…) what season it is and what is about to happen. What about the Second Coming? Does that mean that they can see the “signs of the times” and predict the Second Coming? No (see v. 36). No one knows the day or the hour for that.

So, if two things are being talked about in this passage (the Fall of Jerusalem, and The Second Coming), do they have anything in common? Yes! The common thread here is preparation – the necessity for “watchful waiting.” We know some things are coming (Christmas in about 4 weeks). Other things are beyond our knowledge (The Second Coming). What to do? Boiling it down to two words: “Get Ready!”

See you Sunday,

Pastor Sam