Reading: John chapter 14 verse 1-6.
This is our last but one study in the series ‘The Glory of Christ’”.
• We have covered:
• Glory in his Childhood – Jesus was a boy aged 12.
• Glory by the River – his baptism.
• Glory in the Wilderness – his temptation.
• Glory at the Wedding – his first miracle (water into wine).
• Glory in Confession – his challenge to the disciples (“Who do you say that I am?”)
• Glory on the Mountain – his transfiguration.
• Glory in the Triumphal Entry – his entry into Jerusalem (only time he allowed a display of pubic worship)
• Glory in the Upper Room – he broke read and explained the significance of his death.
• Glory on the Cross – he made the ultimate sacrifice.
• Glory in the Resurrection – he conquered death & proved he was the Son of God.
• Glory in the Departure – his ascension,
Not one of us (not even Mrs Fielder senior as she fast approaches another birthday):
• None of us were eyewitnesses of any of those events;
• We have studied those events;
• But none of us saw any of those manifestations of the glory of Christ!
• Because they are historical, they took place 2,000 years ago!
• Yes they were important, yes they were worth studying, Yes they are still relevant for today;
• The fact remains that they are historical events, they happened & now they are finished!
Note:
• Yet the most magnificent display of Christ’s glory is still yet to happen.
• And this time it will not be to a few thousand people in faraway Palestine.
• When the next magnificent display of Christ’s glory appears;
• It will be witnessed by billions!
• At his first coming those who witnessed it caught small glimpses of his glory,
• At his second coming those who witness it will see it in cosmic proportions.
Ill:
When General Douglas MacArthur was at Army training college, he tells this story:
• The first section was studying the time-space relationship;
• Later formulated by Einstein as his Theory of Relativity.
• The text was complex and, being unable to comprehend it,
• I committed the pages to memory.
• When I was called upon to recite,
• I solemnly reeled off almost word for word what the book said.
• Our instructor, Colonel Fieberger, looked at me somewhat quizzically and asked,
• “Do you understand this theory?”
• It was a bad moment for me, but I did not hesitate in replying, “No, sir.”
• You could have heard a pin drop. I braced myself and waited.
• And then the slow words of the professor:
• “Neither do I, Mr. MacArthur. Section dismissed.”
• Gen. Douglas MacArthur in Reminiscences;
• Recalling a stratagem he carried out while at West Point.
Well I am not out to confuse you with complicated theories:
• Ill: Tony Campolo:
• “I am on the welcoming committee not the planning!”
• But we are going to briefly look at an important New Testament teaching;
• That is ‘The Second Coming’.
‘The 2nd Coming’ is a term applied to the literal return of Jesus Christ to planet earth.
• If there is a second coming,
• Then it follows that there must have been a first.
• The first coming of Christ was His incarnation when He was born.
• And each year virtually the whole world will celebrate this event.
• Although under communism, some countries denied this first coming;
• No serious historian today would doubt the historical existence of Jesus!
• But what about his second coming?
• Will there be a second coming and if so how and why?
Question 1: Will he come again?
Answer 1: The answer to that first question is yes, he will come again!
• If you believe the Bible, then the second coming of Jesus is a fact in future history;
• It is not a question of ‘WILL HE’ but ‘WHEN WILL HE’ come again!
Ill:
Biblical prophecy:
• Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent,
• So both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ.
• One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references;
• To Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence.
• In the 260 chapters of the New Testament,
• There are 318 references to the second advent of Christ;
• An amazing 1 out of every 30 verses.
• Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event.
• For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent,
• There are 8 which look forward to His second!
If we take this book seriously:
• And I hope we do!
• Then we can be confident, certain that the Lord is coming again!
Quote: In fact even the very last words of the Bible say:
“He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming soon. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus”.
2nd Question: How will he come?
• In the gospels;
• Jesus tells us 4 general things regarding his second coming:
(1). He will return personally (John 14 vs 3):
"If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself"
• Jesus makes it clear to his disciples that he will not send an messenger or angel;
• He himself will come in person.
Throughout the New Testament the emphasis as always on Christ coming back himself:
Quote: Acts chapter 1 verse 11:
“Men of Galilee, they said, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven”.
THREE THINGS TO NOTICE IN THIS VERSE:
• (1). They used the human name ‘Jesus’ and not one or more of his divine titles.
• (2). They emphasised that he will not have changed in the meantime (“Same Jesus”).
• (3). The verse tells us how he will come back.
• “In the same way you have seen him go”.
Ill:
• In other words if one of the disciples had a camcorder;
• And made a video of his departure and disappearance,
• This could be used to portray his return.,
• Just by showing it backwards!
• The one event is a simple reverse of the other,
• Though one is past and the other future.
Quote: 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 verse 16:
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven”.
By examining these verses:
• Both Jesus and the New Testament writers makes the point;
• That his return to earth will be personal!
(2). He will return unexpectedly (Matt 24 vs 44):
"Therefore you also be ready,
for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him”
• In fact earlier in that chapter (verse 36) Jesus had been even more descriptive:
• “No-one knows about the day or hour”.
• In the same chapter Jesus describes his coming;
• Like a thief coming to someone’s house in the middle of the night.
• A thief is unexpected and turns up when you least expect him;
• Surprise is the very essence of burglary.
Ill:
• 1 in 10 houses are burgled each year.
• That happens because a burglar uses the element of surprise.
• Otherwise the householder would stay in or make sure the police were there;
• To catch him/her or them.
By using this analogy:
• Jesus makes the point;
• That his return to earth will be when people least expect it.
(3). He will return suddenly (Matthew 24 vs 27).
"For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be"
• His first coming to earth was a slow affair;
• He entered the world after a full term pregnancy.
• He was hidden in the womb of Mary for nine months;
• Before he was born on earth.
• In contrast;
• His return to earth will be like lightening in the sky.
Question: What is the speed of lightning?
Answer: According to the book, "It’s Raining Frogs and Fishes," by Jerry Dennis,
• Lightning bolts travel at speeds up to 93,000 miles per second.
• That’s pretty fast.
• What we see as a single lightning flash is actually several lightning bolts;
• That follow each other so rapidly that our eyes see only a single flash.
By using this analogy:
• Jesus makes the point;
• That his return to earth will be quick and sudden!
(4). He will return in the glory of His Father with
His angels (Matthew 16 vs 27 and 25 vs31)
Matthew 16 vs 27:
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done”.
Matthew 25 vs31:
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory”.
The second coming of Jesus to earth, will be very different to his first coming/
• He will not return as a baby; but as a mature man.
• Not with a single star; but with lightening from the eastern horizon to the west.
• Not in weakness but in power;
• Not in humility; but in glory.
• Not in meekness; but in glory.
Ill:
The most common Greek word used to convey the return of Christ to earth:
• Is the Greek word ‘Parousia’.
• It occurs 24 times in the New Testament.
• It was generally used to describe the arrival of somebody who was expected.
• It also had royal connections.
• Ill: It was used when a foreign king arrived at the border of a country;
• He intended to invade, conquer and occupy.
• Ill: The other use of the word;
• Was when a native king ‘arrived’ with his court to visit one of his cities;
• In this case; the leading citizens would go outside the city wall,
• So that they might honour him, by leading him through the gates in a procession.
These two pictures perfectly combine the dual aspects of Jesus’ return:
• Unbelievers will see him as an alien invader,
• Believers will welcome and honour him as their sovereign!
• Our view of Jesus on that day will all depend on our view on an earlier event.
• Back to the cross!
• Those who reject his forgiveness must fear him!
• Those who accept his forgiveness will rejoice in him!
• The return of Jesus Christ is a blessed hope!
• And not a dreaded hope!
Note: Don’t forget:
• Every time we break bread, we are looking forward to that hope!!
• Quote: “One more and one less!”
Ill:
1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 17-30
“For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.”
Each ‘Breaking of Bread’ service is a foretaste of what’s to come:
• It is a precursor of the messianic banquet;
• The marriage supper of the Lamb.
• When his bride, the perfected Church,
• Will be united with him in joy forever.
• In a world gone wrong;
• A world full of social breakdown, political disintegration or personal agony;
• This service invites us to lift our heads and look up
• For our redemption draws nigh!
Ill:
One church I know of has a special tradition;
• That they have used at the close of their communion service.
• It is adapted from an ancient Jewish closing of the Passover meal.
• It is a Jewish custom is to end the meal with a toast.
• Passover participants raise the cup and say, “Next year, in Jerusalem!”
• At the close of communion, the members of this church;
• Raise their cups in anticipation and say, “Next time, with Christ!”
• Their tradition is a reminder that for all Christians,
• There will be a last sharing of the bread and the cup on this side of eternity
• A time has been fixed;
• Following that time we will be in Christ’s presence!
