Christ Jesus arose on the third day according to the Scriptures, just as He Himself foretold. And during the forty days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples on several occasions and taught them of things concerning the kingdom of God. Then after, in a place near Bethany, Jesus lifted His hands and blessed His disciples and was taken up in a cloud… out of their sight.
Acts 1:9-11
The worldly people of that time had this last image of Jesus in their minds: Jesus hung on the cross and died-humbled, human and helpless. NOT SO for the disciples, to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection; they had a radiantly different perception of who Jesus IS, because they saw Jesus ascending into heaven and heard the voice of angels telling them that THIS SAME JESUS will come again in like manner!
He lived, He died, He rose again alive forevermore; and He blessed them and ascended into heaven; and He IS COMING AGAIN! Nothing could alter or shake the disciples’ faith one bit, after this sight of Jesus ascending into heaven. They were willing to die for their faith in Jesus Christ! The greetings of ‘He is risen!’, when the disciples met one another, was now supplemented by the Aramaic phrase Maranatha which means “O Lord, Come!” [1 Cor. 16:22]
The second coming of Jesus is as fundamental to Christian faith as salvation in the name of Jesus. There are over 300 references in the Bible that talks about His second coming (and not just one or two). This is what I would like to share today: JESUS Will Certainly Come Again.
Just like you, I too am aware of the contradictions and contentions among theologians, bible scholars and the like about the events surrounding His second coming. For example ‘Will the tribulation be before or after His second coming?’ and ‘Will the church be raptured before or during His second coming?’ and some other similar questions. These are contentions regarding the events surrounding Jesus’ second coming; but the fundamental truth remains and that is: JESUS IS COMING AGAIN. We may not know the details, but this one thing is sure: He is coming again for His very own.
In Matt. 24:36 Jesus says: But of that day and hour no one know, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
There were many down the ages, who speculated on Jesus’ coming again. But nobody really knew, and they were proved wrong in their speculation. It is not for us to speculate on the time of His return, but we must be ready when He returns. Jesus says in Matt. 24:44: Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
1. Signs of His coming
a. Ignorance
Jesus spoke about the signs before His coming: People will not know and continue in their own wicked ways.
• In those days of Noah, it was ‘business as usual’ – people ate and drank, married and gave daughters and sons in marriage, and continued in their own ways (unheeding the voice of Noah) “and did not know until the flood came and took them all away…” (Matt. 24: 38, 39).
• As in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, when people continued in their immoral ways and did not know it, until God rained fire and brimstone and destroyed those cities.
The first coming of Jesus was foretold by prophets; the wise men knew the time of His birth and were guided to the place of His birth. Still, the Jews could not recognize Jesus as the Savior and nailed Him to the cross! They did not know…
Let us not fall into the same ignorance. We have His word, we have His Holy Spirit… who will guide us into all truth. Know that the Lord’s coming is at hand.
b. Foolishness
Jesus taught us the parable of ‘Ten Virgins’ [Matt. 25: 1-13]. There were ten virgins, all decked up and apparently ready to meet the Bridegroom. But five of them were wise, while the other five were foolish. And the difference was that the wise virgins brought oil along with their lamps, while the foolish did not. The difference was really in their preparedness, (and not their willingness!). Be wise; remember to take that pure oil for your lamp.
2. Prepare for His coming
a. Be ready
At the end of the parable of the ‘Ten Virgins’, Jesus says: Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming. [Matt. 25: 13]
The Bible says that some will shrink back at His coming, because they were not prepared. If we are unprepared, we will not have the boldness to meet Jesus at His coming. Are you prepared to meet Him?
b. Abide in Christ
Apostle John calls us to preparedness by abiding in Christ. The bible says in 1 John 2:28 "And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming."
The secret to be confident at His coming is this: Abide in Christ. Only when a branch is attached with the tree, it can produce any fruit. He is the vine, we are the branches. If we abide in Him, and His word abides in us, then we will produce much fruit.
c. Purify Yourselves
Even from the first century, the disciples expected Jesus to come again. What did they do? They lived pure lives. Although Jesus' second coming did not happen during their time, they completed their life joyfully and victoriously. Down the ages, the disciples of Jesus did the same: Purify themselves. John continues in 1 John 3: 2, 3 “…but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
Peter too writes to the disciples suffering persecution [2 Pet. 3: 11, 12]: Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…
d. Be patient
James 5: 7, 8
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 receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
We have this blessed hope of His coming again. Therefore we will be patient-even amidst trials and persecutions, injustice and alienation. We look forward to the great and glorious coming of Jesus Christ-This is the hope that encouraged the early Christians to continue patiently. We, even today, ought to have this hope and patience. Look forward!
e. Be faithful
In the parable of the talents in Matt. 25: 14-30, Jesus taught the disciples about being faithful to what has been given to them. “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.”
The bible says, that one received five talents, one other-two talents, and the last one received one talent; “to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a long journey.” [Matt. 25: 15]
We know the end of this parable: The lord commends those who were good stewards of his goods-the ones who received five talents and two. He says to them: “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things.”
1 Peter 4:10 says: As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
1 Corinthians 15 is the chapter to read if you want to know about your own resurrection in Christ at His coming-this is Our Final Victory. The chapter conclude with this verse: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Cor. 15: 58)
We may not know the time of His coming, but we see (even now) the signs of His coming. Therefore let us be ready. Let us abide in Jesus and be patient till He comes. During our stay here, let us be faithful stewards of the gifts God has given us.
The Holy Bible begins with grandeur of God’s creation and closes with significance. Rev. 22: 20 says: He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Till that time we have His grace [Revelation 22:21]: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment