How We Should Wait On The Advent? A Sermon For The Third Sunday In Advent

How Should We Wait for the Advent?

James 5:7–10 NKJV

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.

We now come to the 3rd Sunday in Advent, a season in which we are to reflect upon Jesus’ promise that He would return at the end of this age to fully establish His Kingdom, when His will will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Because the season of Advent occurs on the Christian calendar immediately before Christmas, we have a tendency to see Advent as a time of preparation for Christmas and the arrival of the Holy Child. The word “advent” comes from the Latin word meaning “to come from.” We could call the first Christmas and “Advent” as we remember that the Word of God came down and was made flesh. But this event happened over 2000 years ago. We have no reason to wait on Christmas. Rather, at Christmas, we reflect that this advent which was predicted by the prophets of old in the Old Testament. But this same Jesus is returning to earth, not as a baby conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, who lived among us, was rejected by many who should have accepted Him, who died on a cross for our redemption who believe on Him. On the Third day, he rose from the dead and after 40 days ascended into heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. These things we confess in our recitation of the creed every Sunday. We also confess that this Jesus is going to return to judge the living and the dead. For those who believe on Him, we have Eternal life, to those who have rejected Him, eternal misery separated into darkness and eternal fire.

Just our reciting of the creed should alert us to how important it is that we be ready when He returns. How then should we occupy ourselves against that day? (Luke 19:13). Waiting for the Lord to return is not a static event. Rather we should wait on the Lord until He comes. We need to take active preparation lest that day overtake us like a thief.

This week, we are looking at a passage from the Book of James. James was not the apostle, but the half-brother of Jesus and brother of Jude who wrote the Epistle of Jude. He became the patriarch of the Jerusalem Church where he was noted by the Jews who were not Christians as being a man of great piety. He was not at first a believer on Jesus as the Gospels clearly show, In fact, he and His brothers came to put Him away because they thought He was out of His mind. He also shows that he was an unbeliever in John 7 when he tries to get Jesus to fit the Jewish expectations of the Messiah. He told jesus that He must come to the feast of Tabernacles and show Himself and do signs and wonders there. But this was not Jesus time or means. Not at Tabernacles but Passover — not as a earthly king, but to be lifted on a cross. It is interesting that the brothers of Jesus were not at the Passover feast (Last Supper) which was to be celebrated in family groups. As the oldest brother, it was Jesus’ obligation to preside over this family celebration. The disciples were there. Mary was probably there. But why aren’t Jesus’ brothers mentioned? This is because Jesus saw family differently as Jesus had told his brothers earlier that his mothers, brothers, and sisters were those who heard and obeyed the word of God.

The good news is that after Jesus rose from the dead that James and Jude (maybe others of His brethren) were converted and served in the Church. This is why we have the epistles of James and Jude. Scholars have noted similarities with the epistle to the teaching style of Jesus, especially the Sermon on the Mount. Much of James can be considered “practical theology” as compared to a study of the deep doctrines of the Christian faith, such as occurs frequently in the writings of Paul. Each has its proper place and complement each other. As being practical is concerned, James is interested in Christian behavior. His concern in this passage is how we should conduct ourselves as we await the return of Jesus, or what is otherwise known as the Advent of Jesus.