Luke 21:25-36
The Coming of the Son of Man
‘There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see “the Son of Man coming in a cloud” with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.’
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
Then he told them a parable: ‘Look at the fig tree and all the trees; as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Exhortation to Watch
‘Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.’
Reflection
This passage begins in chaos. I think of God hovering over the seas of chaos at the beginning of creation and how he brought order to all things. Here it seems as if the chaos of the seas is spilling over the shores onto the earth. Sure, we see this literally to this day in hurricanes and storms and all sorts of natural events that occur in this world, but this passage seems to even go beyond the literal to the spiritual. Our lives contain the sinfulness of chaos that spills over too. We deal with all kinds of events that cause us to stop and think about spiritual well being. And God cares for us in the physical sense and the spiritual sense of being.
God cares enough that he sent his Son into our world and our hearts. We can anticipate Jesus' coming into our world as he has done in the past, as he does in the present through the Holy Spirit and as he will do triumphantly in the end times. We can anticipate these events and remember these events and live these events in the hope and confidence of a Savior that heals all wounds and wipes away all tears as our redemption draws near.
What about this Second Advent? As we begin an Advent season this year, we also look towards that Second Advent that Jesus speaks of in this passage. In all the trees, only the fig tree is chosen here in this example. The fig tree was a common tree of the area. Think of all the people on this earth. Most of us are "common" people. We aren't rich or powerful or people that hold all the prestige that only a few people can hold. Most of us are "common" people. Jesus chooses the common tree to announce the coming joy of summer. And Jesus came into this world as a common child to announce salvation for all. Jesus walked the common life and announced the coming kingdom that goes way beyond the kingdom that the powerful and rich would have on this earth. Jesus announces his coming into our hearts and into the future.
Yes, in the common people such as you and I, Jesus comes into this world, into our hearts and into our futures. Jesus comes with healing and salvation and teaches us how to love and live together in peace. It's a path and a prediction that is reliable and fascinating and joyful and exciting to live with and into.
There will be suffering and tears, but just wait! Just wait! The healing comes in the salvation from our Savior and King. Watch and wait! Watch and wait! Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, we look, we listen, we watch and we wait. You are coming soon! Come, Lord Jesus, come... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen
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