Mark 13:1-8, 24-37 - March 17, 2024
Many Christians have pondered the question asked by Peter, James, John, and Andrew: “When will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to happen?” The disciples here are talking about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple, which occurred in 70 AD, several decades after their question. But we find this question about the “end of times” popping up throughout human history. The Left Behind series was popular a while ago, and many individuals claimed to have “figured it out.” A quick Google search led me to a long list of dozens of wrong predictions, though there are a few yet to arrive. According to Sir Isaac Newton, you’ve got until 2060, by the way.
“When will this be, and what will be the sign that it is about to happen?”
We want to know when Jesus is coming back so we can be prepared, so we can be ready.
But perhaps that’s not the point. Perhaps, Jesus is inviting us to be ready all the time. We aren’t called to live our lives without thinking about God or neighbor until “it’s time.” Kind of a “holy procrastination.” Eh, I’ll love God and neighbor tomorrow. Rather, we are called to live always anticipating and looking for the activity of God.
Now, while called to live awaiting God, we aren’t called to live waiting in anxiety, minding our Ps and Qs, afraid that we’re about to fail some divine behavior test. No, we are called to live in joy and confidence - joy in the knowledge that God has revealed grace, mercy, and goodness to us and to the whole world in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
All this is to say that how we wait is shaped by who Jesus was and is. We wait, looking forward to what Jesus promises.
And while sometimes that feels like all for nothing, Jesus promises that our waiting will not be in vain. He’s promising that, even though we don’t know the day or the hour, it will come. He will come. So, we are invited to watch with anticipation, with full confidence that Jesus will come, and come with the promised love and grace he showed throughout his life.
“When will this be, and what will be the sign that it is about to happen?”
In time. In God’s time. We would like to know when that is, for sure, but that is not our calling. We are called to live now, allowing God’s promises about the future to infuse our every present moment.
To keep with my earlier anecdote about looking things up online, I recently read a quote on Facebook: “I’m not a Christian because I want the reward of heaven. I’m not a Christian because I’m running from hell. I am a Christian because the character of Jesus Christ is so compelling to me that I want to spend my life chasing it, embodying it, and sharing it.”
While we want to know when so we can ensure we have a decent track record by that time, really this quote is more what Jesus wants from us. We are called to live for now, not for “someday”; we are called to live in and with those promises of God - the promises about who we are made to be, who we are claimed to be.
“When will this be, and what will be the sign that it is about to happen?”
It’s now. We live now, following Jesus and sharing who Christ is with others. We live now, trusting Jesus and loving others whom Christ loves. (Everyone.) We live now, confident that the God who raised Jesus from the dead will raise us, too, and restore us and the world to what God intended in the first place. We live that way now.
Because when one lives looking for the activity of God here and now, we begin to see it. It’s like a fig tree sprouting out leaves… when one pays attention…
So, where do you see signs of God’s activity? It doesn't have to be grand or catastrophic. In fact, more often than not, that’s not how God works. And maybe passages like this skew our view a little bit. Sure, there are stories about God’s mighty acts, but much of what God does in the Bible is working through the ordinary faith of all kinds of women and men. It’s not the stuff that grabs headlines or is made into a movie, but to those people who experience it and live it… it can change everything.
Because those who sense God’s presence amid the ordinary pieces of life and despite the loud, shouting voices of doom, those are blessed with an awareness that God is regularly and relentlessly working in so many ways to bring life, love, and hope to a world that so desperately needs it.
So, again, where do you see signs of God’s activity?
In the fidelity of a friend?
In a shoulder to cry on?
In a hug you were privileged to give?
In much needed rain? In pollen galore? In new life springing up?
In the smile of a child? In the wise advice of an elder?
In a job lead after a long wait?
In a phone call from a sibling?
In the support and care from a partner?
In the opportunity to help another?
Where do you see signs of God’s activity? God shows up in all kinds of places, working with us, for us, through us, and in us. God’s work is ready to bloom, bringing forth a new season and new life. It’s all around us. Just look around.
In this season of Lent, where we wait and watch for Christ’s glory, we are reminded that our ultimate hope is in the resurrection promises of God, the story of which we will walk through in just a couple of weeks. We are called to live in the present moment, allowing God's promises about the future to infuse our every present moment. As we wait for Christ's return, we do so with joy and confidence, knowing that God's love and grace will ultimately prevail.
When will this be? Now.
What will be the sign? When you see people acting as Jesus did.
May we be mindful of the signs of God's activity in our lives and in the world around us. May we live each day with anticipation and hope, knowing that God is at work bringing about new life and new beginnings. And may we continue to wait for Jesus by sharing his love and compassion with all whom we encounter.