On St. Andrew Day we looked at Jesus proclaiming the destruction of the Temple in Mark’s gospel. Today we hear the continuation of the parallel in Luke in which Jesus declares “When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you know that its destruction has come near (20). The Paris Bombings, ISIS war raging on, Turkey shooting down the Russian plane, and the Syrian refugee crisis- our world is feeling bleak. We want to come to church anticipating the advent of baby Jesus yet the world feels dark. Let us hold the anxieties of the world as we listen to our gospel lesson.
Jesus just told us to be on our guard so that we can stand before the Son of Man. My guess is with Black Friday we are standing in line shopping a bit more than anything else. We are looking for the best present for the people in our lives; we are standing, clicking and hunting for ways to express our love to those around us. I am so grateful many of you have taken to standing in line to shop for the CASA kids or buying warm clothes for the people in nursing homes. All of this shopping means we will soon be wrapping. I actually love to wrap presents. Working in gift wrap at a department store gave me the skills and confidence to have fun with the process. When Advent comes to a close we will be unwrapping presents as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
You wonder what does “foreboding” and “fig trees” and “drunkenness” have to do with welcoming Jesus? As we anticipate the first coming of Jesus, God’s holy birth, it is appropriate to reflect on Christ’s return. Luke is telling us about the conclusion of salvation history when Christ will return as the Son of Man. He speaks hope to an uncertain world, much like the one we face now. This does not mean the end is imminent; rather we are to hold all the pains of this world in prayer and in tension with God’s plan for salvation.
Today I would like to unwrap this idea of the Son of Man. To do that, let’s think of this process much like a wrapped present. First we need to untie the ribbon holding everything in place. The ribbon is the long tradition and history of who the Messiah would be and God’s plan for salvation. Of course this is found in God’s word. Luke borrows this apocalyptic writing with the chaos and distress which echoes Daniel who first used the term like the Son of Man. Isaiah also wrote, “Wail, for the day of the Lord is near; it will come like destruction (13:6). Did you notice how many things were drawing near in our passage? Destruction of the temple was near, summer was near with the figs, the kingdom of God is near. Anticipation is woven through this drawing near. The fulfillment of God’s plan is approaching but it has not yet arrived. All of this drawing near is to point to the Son of Man drawing near. The Son of Man will come when things are unsettled and bring your redemption according to God’s plan.
Advent is the season we anticipate and wait for God’s kingdom to be born on earth. As you wait for Christmas may you be drawing nearer to God and closer to Christ as you celebrate God’s coming into the world and Christ being born anew in you.
With the ribbon gone we clearly see the wrapping paper. This is no ordinary Christmas paper with ornaments and angels. This paper is filled with prophets Isaiah, Joel and even Jeremiah. On this paper we would not have the words, “Peace on Earth,” instead we would have Jeremiah’s words, “The days are surely coming.” This warning is one of promise and righteousness. On this wrapping there is no Christmas tree, instead there would be the Branch of David coming out of the stump of Jessie; the lineage of Christ being foretold by the prophets. The Son of Man is surrounded in prophetic witnesses on how God through Christ will save the world, will be the Lord of Righteousness.
The Son of Man is the gift inside. We have taken off the ribbon and unwrapped the present. It is the same person wrapped in swaddling clothes. Some have said this term expresses the deep humanity of Jesus, but it is more than that. Almost exclusively, Jesus uses the term the Son of Man for himself. Son of Man is used in three ways. First, Jesus refers to himself while expressing his present activity in the world, Christ’s mission on earth. (Why he came to save the world) Secondly, Jesus refers to himself as the Son of Man when telling of his impending passion and resurrection, Christ dying to give you new life. Our text today is the third way Jesus used the term the Son of Man to express future activity as our judge and Savior. You and I will stand before the Son of Man as our judge and Savior. And yet the baby we so anxiously await is the one who has already saved us. God entered this world in the frailty of new life, so that you and I can revel in abundant life. So this Advent season we are preparing for two comings: God coming to earth in the infant Jesus whom we await at Christmas, and Christ returning to earth at a time we do not know. One commentator wrote, “Christian discipleship is a kind of living in between- aware of Jesus, waiting for Jesus, and coming to know this Jesus for whom we wait in the midst of an eventful, unpredictable, even tumultuous world, waiting to stand before him, yet not always knowing where he is” (Feasting on the Word, 1C, p. 22). Even as the world feels chaotic, we can trust in the hope of God’s plan for us. We can trust God’s Word will not pass away but will be fulfilled.
Tertullian the early church father expresses this theology of hope this way, “The kingdom of God, beloved brethren, is beginning to be at hand; the reward of life, and the rejoicing of eternal salvation, and the perpetual gladness a possession lately lost of paradise, are now coming, with the passing away of the world; already heavenly things are taking the place of earthly…What room is there here for anxiety and solicitude? (F on the W, p. 24). Even in life’s uncertainty we can be certain of God’s love, God’s kingdom and Jesus coming again as the Son of Man.
We are drawing near to the stable in Bethlehem. We are preparing, waiting to stand before the manger with Mary and Joseph, with shepherds and animals. The day is surely coming when we will be standing before the Son of Man. Let us stand up and raise our heads before our beloved Jesus knowing the one who will judge us is the same one who has already saved us! Amen!
