Awake To The Hope Of Advent: The Coming Light Series

Mark 13:24–37. 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 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. 28 “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. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 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. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 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. 35 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— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.” (ESV)

Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus, both as the Babe of Bethlehem and the coming Victorious King. Just as Israel placed their hope in God to sustain them and to deliver them from their enemies, we too share a similar hope for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ to judge and consummate God’s kingdom here on earth. Just as Jesus’ first coming was a historical event, His second coming will take place at a divinely appointed time in real history. Unlike His first advent, however, the Lord will not arrive as a human baby in a stall. Rather, He will appear suddenly in blazing divine glory in the sky for all the world to see.

Here in Mark 13, it was Wednesday evening of Passion Week. For most of the day, Jesus had been teaching in the temple (Mark 11:27–12:44). As He left the expansive temple grounds and traversed the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, Jesus explained to His disciples that the magnificent buildings they so admired would be destroyed as an act of God’s judgment on apostate Israel (cf. 13:2). Hearing Him say that, four of the disciples—namely, Peter, James, John, and Andrew—asked Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” (v. 4). Their question extended beyond the destruction of the temple to encompass the Lord’s second coming and the end of the age (cf. Matt. 24:3). Because they knew He was the Messiah (cf. Mark 8:29), they naturally wondered when His messianic kingdom would be established. Our Lord answered their question by explaining that an intervening period of time would elapse before the earthly kingdom began (cf. Luke 19:11–27). As Jesus explained, using the analogy of increasing labor pains, devastating events will intensify throughout earth’s history, reaching their apex during the final tribulation period, just prior to the second coming (cf. Mk. 13:14–23; cf. Dan. 9:27).

In Mark 13, Jesus speaks about the end times and the signs preceding His return. He encourages His followers to be vigilant and hopeful, reminding us that even in darkness, the Light of Christ brings hope and assurance for the future. In this, we can discern the times and remain anchored in the hope of Christ's return, which offers comfort amidst life's uncertainties and challenges. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of hope both in His first advent as the Light entering the world and in His promised return to bring justice and healing. In Mark 13:24-37 through Jesus we are encouraged in three ways to 1) Anticipate an Awesome Arrival (Mark 13:24–27), be 2) Attune to the Assurance (Mark 13:28–31), and 3) Awaken to Active Anticipation (Mark 13:32–37).

To Awake to the Hope of Advent, seeing the coming Light of Christ we are first to:

1) Anticipate an Awesome Arrival (Mark 13:24–27)

Mark 13:24–27. 24 “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 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.