Pastor Slaughter
First Sunday of Advent
11-27-2022
Expect the Unexpected
Matthew 24:36-44
Have you ever had someone show you one of those videos where everything seems calm? The video itself may seem kind of boring. Like a car driving in the mountains, and you almost get lulled into a false security. And when you get to that point that you are wondering why are you showing me this video? It happens. A Zombie or some other scary picture suddenly appears on screen and scares you. You may jump back and scream. And then everyone laughs.
What makes those videos so scary? I don’t think it is the picture itself because you can look at the picture, it is not really that scary. It may be creepy, but it doesn’t make you jump. Rather I think it is the unexpected part of it and all of sudden seeing some creepy, kinda of scary picture when you were watching some calm, maybe peaceful video.
When we talk about the end times and as we begin the season of advent, we look forward to Christ’s coming. We long for him to return, we pray “Come Lord Jesus come” But depending on where you are standing it could be a very frightening thing. Just like watching one of those videos. If you have seen it, you know what to expect so it shouldn’t frighten you. But if you don’t know what to expect it scares you. Same is true with Jesus’ return. If you expect Jesus to come, you can be ready for his return. But if you are not ready, it can lead to eternal consequences. Today’s theme is Expect the Unexpected.
Jesus just asserted his divinity in how he will come back on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. In our lesson Jesus asserts his humanity and says, “No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father.” This is one of the mysteries of the God-man that surpasses all understanding. But Jesus doesn’t want us to focus on when the day or the hour will come but rather, he wants ready for it! The day that Jesus is coming will be unexpected, but Jesus wants us to be ready by expecting the unexpected.
So, Jesus points us back to Noah and the flood to give us a picture of the unexpected time when he would return. As Noah was building the Ark, preparing for the flood. This massive undertaking must have attracted some attention. People must have wondered why Noah was building such a big boat, when there was not a body of water big enough for it. This could have served as a very natural conversation starter calling people to repentance.
But the warnings were ignored. People were going on like nothing was wrong. Jesus says, “In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and given in marriage, until the very day that Noah entered the ark.” The people were carrying on with their lives until what should have been expected thing but to them was unexpected thing happened. The flood. It’s typical for God to warn people before his judgment is carried out but it is also typical of us to ignore the warnings and be caught surprise when his judgment comes.
Jesus is warning us to expect the unexacting time of his return. Earlier in the chapter Jesus warns us and gives us signs of his return, things like false “christs” and prophets trying to deceive us and lead us astray. And in our lesson today he talks about two men working in the field. One was taken to paradise and the other was left to face judgment. Or two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken, the other was left to face judgment. And so Jesus tells us, “You also need to be ready for this reason: The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect him.”
It’s really a terrifying thought, isn’t it? That Jesus will come at an unexpected time. Are you ready for it? Is the way you are living your life showing that you are expecting the unexpected time of Jesus’ coming or is the way you live your life like the people during Noah’s time who ignored God’s warning and were caught unaware when God’s judgment comes?
It seems like every year during the season of end times and advent we say Jesus is coming soon. Watch out! Be ready! But as days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into years, and years turn into decades and we still haven’t seen Jesus return. People have been saying Jesus is coming soon since Jesus ascended into heaven.
Does this lull us into a false sense of security? Even though we know that Jesus coming back are we actually living our lives like he is going to come back at any moment. This is really a terrifying thought when we think about our sin. The lustful and hateful thoughts we have about someone, the sin we give into especially when we know it’s wrong but still do it. It is almost like when we deliberately give into sin, we think or at least our actions show that we think there is time to repent of it later.
But Jesus’ warning is clear. “But understand this: If the master of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.” So are you expecting the unexpected time of Jesus return? Are you ready for it?
I can confidently say you are. How can I say that? Because I know how amazing your Savior is. For Jesus to come and do everything to make you ready for his return. He paid the full price for the sins of all. And he gives you the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, who lives and dwells inside of you. The Holy Spirit the one who gives you saving faith. That saving faith connects you to Jesus’ treasure chest of forgiveness, new life, and salvation.
The two men in the field, the two women grinding at the mill, one is taken the other left. Outwardly they look the same but one is condemned and left, while the other is saved. What’s different? Saving faith. One trusts in Jesus and the other doesn’t, One believes, the other doesn’t. One goes to the cross and finds forgiveness, the other rejects that gift.
Jesus is warning people that those who reject his grace, who don’t repent, he will come like a thief, like in the days of Noah and judgment will follow. It is a very stern warning against any sin that says to Jesus, I reject you, that I don’t need your grace or forgiveness. Because he could come at any moment.
But you are different. The unexpected coming of Christ doesn’t bring fear and terror but joy and happiness, because he brings unexpected grace for his people. Because when we comes, he will take you to be with him for all eternity. With anticipating in our hearts we long for the fulfillment and pray Come Lord Jesus.
The certainty of Christ’s coming is never in question—only the timing. So Christ tells us to keep watch and to be ready. Those actions, watching and being ready are things that define our present time. As we watch for him to return, we continue to struggle and fight against our sinful nature. And when we have found ourselves giving in, we run to the cross and find forgiveness.
My Family in Christ, expect the unexpected. Jesus will come again just like promised. And no one knows the day or the hour but we lives our lives expecting his return. So we live at the foot of the cross and we find his unexpected grace, which saves us, which promises to take us to be with him for all eternity. Amen