Watching and Waiting
Text: Mk. 13:28-37
Introduction
1. Read Mk. 13:28-37
2. Illustration: After 14 years of studying the Bible, William Miller became convinced that Christ would return in 1843. When Miller announced April 3 as the day, some disciples went to mountaintops, hoping for a head start to heaven. Others were in graveyards, planning to ascend in reunion with their departed loved ones. Philadelphia society ladies clustered together outside town to avoid entering God’s kingdom amid the common herd. When April 4 dawned as usual the Millerites were disillusioned, but they took heart. Their leader had predicted a range of dates for Christ’s return. They still had until March 21, 1844. The devout continued to make ready, but again they were disappointed. A third date--October 22, 1844--was set, but it also passed.
3. William Miller is not alone. Many others have tried to predict when Jesus will return, and many others will continue to try and predict when His return will happen.
4. However, they are missing the point!
Proposition: Jesus told us to be ready no matter when His return will occur.
Transition: Jesus said...
I. We’ll See the Signs (28-31)
A. When You See These Things Happen
1. Jesus compares the signs of His coming to the leaves on a fig tree.
a. In contrast with most of Palestine’s trees, fig trees lose their leaves in winter and bloom later in the spring.
b. Thus whenever the stiff, dry, winter twigs become tender, softened due to the rising sap, and leaves appear, then observers know that winter is past and summer is near.—Bible Knowledge Commentary
c. The disciples, like anyone living in Palestine, knew how to interpret the coming of summer from the buds and leaves of the fig trees.
2. In the same way, when the disciples see the events, they would know that his return is very near.
3. Jesus said that "when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors!"
a. Christ was speaking of cause and effect: every cause has its effect. The signs covered by Christ are second causes.
b. Christ was saying when the signs are seen, expect the result (effect): the coming again of the Son of Man.
4. When believers see...
a. An unusual number of wars and natural disasters, they can know "the beginning of sorrows" has begun.
b. Bitter persecution, they can know that God will tolerate only so much against His people.
c. Iniquity abounding and love waxing cold, they can know that God will judge and stop such apostasy.
5. But please notice that these are only signs!
B. They Are Only Signs
1. Illustration: A priest and a rabbi from local parishes were standing by the side of the road holding up signs. The rabbi’s read, "The End is Near!" The priest, on the other side of the road, held up a sign which read, "Turn before it’s too late!" They planned to hold up their signs to each passing car. "Get a job." The first driver yelled. The second, immediately behind the first, yelled, "Leave us alone you religious freaks"! Shortly, from around the curve, they heard screeching tires and a splash followed by more screeching tires and another splash. The rabbi looked over at his companion and said, "Do you think we should try a different sign"? The other man responded, "Perhaps, ’Bridge Out’ might be better"?
2. What I believe that Jesus is telling us is that signs are a good thing.
a. They tell us when the time is getting close.
b. They tell us what to watch out for.
c. They tell us what to look for.
3. However, I also believe that He is telling us not to get hung up on the signs.
a. We can get so obsessed with the signs that we miss what they point to.
b. We can get so obsessed with the signs that we start looking for signs instead of looking for Jesus!
4. Many unbelievers love to talk about the end times, but they don’t want to hear about Jesus.
a. They will talk about the Bible as long as it is from Daniel or Revelation.
b. They are interested as long as you talk about the rapture or the tribulation, but they don’t want to hear about the judgment.
5. We need to stop putting so much focus on the signs and start focusing on Jesus!
Transition: Jesus also said...
II. We Won’t Know the Time (32-33)
A. No One Knows
1. Jesus main point occurs in verse 32, when he says "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
2. While Jesus had given general "signs" to observe regarding the coming of the end, he clearly explained to the disciples that the exact day or hour was not known by the angels or the Son ( Jesus himself).
3. When Jesus said that even he did not know the time of the end, he was affirming his humanity.
a. Of course, God the Father knows the time, and Jesus and the Father are one.
b. But when Jesus became a man, he voluntarily gave up the unlimited use of his divine attributes.
c. On earth, Jesus laid aside his divine prerogatives and submitted to the Father’s will.
4. The emphasis of this verse is not on Jesus’ lack of knowledge, but rather on the fact that no one knows.
a. It is God the Father’s secret to be revealed when he wills.
b. No one can predict by Scripture or science the exact day of Jesus’ return.
c. Jesus was teaching that preparation, not calculation, was needed.
5. Because no one except the Father knows when Christ will return, Jesus explained that believers must stay alert and keep watch, ready for his return to happen at any moment.
a. Christ’s Second Coming will be swift and sudden.
b. There will be no opportunity for last-minute repentance or bargaining.
c. The choice that people have already made will determine their eternal destiny.
6. Be ready because it could happen tomorrow.
B. Only the Father Knows
1. Illustration: At the height of WWII, Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was imprisoned for taking a stand against Hitler. Yet he continued to urge fellow believers to resist Nazi tyranny. A group of Christians, believing that Hitler was the Antichrist, asked Bonhoeffer, "Why do you expose yourself to all this danger? Jesus will return any day, and all your work and suffering will be for nothing." Bonhoeffer replied, "If Jesus returns tomorrow, then tomorrow I’ll rest from my labor. But today I have work to do. I must continue the struggle until it’s finished."
2. We can miss a few of the signs, but as long as we are looking for Jesus we won’t miss heaven.
3. We can know all of the signs, but if we are not looking for Jesus we will miss heaven.
4. Only the Father knows that day and that hour, so let’s draw close to Him and the signs will take care of themselves.
Transition: Jesus also told us that...
III. We Need to Watch (34-37)
A. Watch Therefore
1. In this parable of watchfulness, Jesus described himself as a man who left home to go on a trip.
2. The disciples are the employees left behind to carry on their work.
a. The gatekeeper is commanded to keep watch for the master’s return.
b. The employees understand that they are in charge of themselves, had their own work to do, and would not want the homeowner to return suddenly and find them being lazy.
c. Because they do not know when the homeowner will return, these employees must keep a sharp lookout so as not to be found sleeping.
3. Jesus’ followers would want to be found spiritually lax, but instead conscientiously going about the work given by God for them to do.
a. Each of us has enough assigned work to do that we shouldn’t be neutralized or paralyzed by fear or doubt.
b. We do not need to worry about how other employees compare to us; instead, we should devote ourselves to doing what God has given us to do.
4. Even today, we do well to watch for his return--watching out for false teaching and watching expectantly for Christ’s return as we do his work in the world.
B. What Are You Watching?
1. Illustration: Children lined up in the cafeteria of a religious school for lunch. At the head of the table was a large pile of apples. The teacher made a note: "Take only one, God is watching." At the other end of the table was a large pile of chocolate chip cookies. A boy wrote a note: "Take all you want, God is watching the apples."
2. Jesus has told us to watch and to be ready when He comes again.
3. The point that Jesus is making is that we need to watch for more than signs.
4. He may come at any day or any hour, and what will He catch us doing when He returns?
5. Will He catch us doing what He has commanded us to do?
Transition: Let Him catch us doing His will!
Conclusion
1. What are you watching for, Jesus or the signs?
2. When He comes, what will He catch you doing?
3. Be ready because soon and very soon we are going to see the King.
