Mark 13 33-37

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First Sunday in Advent – B

December 1, 2002

Mark 13: 33-37

“Anticipating a Mystery”

Introduction:  I like mystery stories, do you?  There is something about the way the story is told that leaves a person on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next.  Who did it?  How did they do it?  When did they do it?  What keeps people interested in the story is that there is a sense of expectation.  That Expectation keeps a person attentive.  It’s like waiting for the other shoe to drop or the punch line for a joke or the answer to a question.  While the sense of expectation keeps our attention it is hard for us to maintain a high level of expectation for a long period of time.  It’s like going on a vacation to someplace far away.  When you first get on the road everybody is highly excited, but a few hours into the trip you start to here those infamous words, “are we there yet?”  As the trip goes on our excitement may turn to thoughts like, God, just help me make it through the day.  We may like mysteries but if they last too long we are likely to stop reading or watching with our expectations unresolved.

Advent is a season of expectation.  It is the beginning of the church year and the name Advent means “Coming”.  It is the four week period right before Christmas in which we prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world.  As we look for forward to celebrating His birth there is, of course much joy and gladness in our hearts.  But there is also regret and shame.  For, if it were not for our sin the Son of God would not have had to humble Himself and bare our shame.  During these weeks of waiting to celebrate Christ’s birth we are like the Old Testament believers who long anticipated the Saviors birth.

            My level of expectation was high as I prepared to enter into this Advent season. I was excited about preaching on the Christ’s triumphant entrance into Jerusalem and the Old Testament texts that promised Christ’s coming into the world.  I was excited.  At least I was up until I looked at the Gospel text appointed for today.  Jesus said, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.  It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.  Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back-- whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.  If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping.  What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’”  No offense to those who have chosen our appointed texts, but haven’t I been preaching about Christ’s second coming for the last few weeks?  You remember the Ten Virgins and the Sheep and the Goats – Prepare, Keep Watch, Be Ready.  Your probably thinking, “Enough about the judgment already.”  It is hard to maintain our level of excitement and readiness about our Lord’s coming because it seems like we have been waiting for years – and it hasn’t come yet.  A thousand years may be like a day for the Lord but it feels like a thousand years to us.

            As Mark records our Lord’s words in the gospel text he isn’t just writing about our Lord’s second coming.  His references to the times of keeping watch, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn, have immediate significance.  Jesus is talking to His disciples not only about His second coming but also about the events that were going to occur within the next twenty- four hours, and as His passion and journey to the cross was about to begin.  What is significant about this text is that Jesus is telling His disciples to be alert because the test of faith will not just come at the end of time but it may come in the very next moment.  Jesus says, “therefore keep watch whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.”

The Tests of Faith - Failed

The test of faith came for Judas in the evening.  What ever his motives, he was faced with the opportunity of betraying Jesus.  Mark writes, “Then Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them.  They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money.  So he watched for an opportunity to hand Him over.”  In the evening, as Jesus and the disciples were celebrating the Passover Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.  With a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane Judas betrayed Jesus.  His test of faith had come in the evening and he failed.

            The next test of faith came at midnight in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus said to His disciples, “sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with Him and said, “Stay here and keep watch.”  Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping.  “Could you not keep watch for one hour”, Jesus asked.  Again He said to them watch and pray.  One more time Jesus went away and prayed.  When He came back He found them sleeping.  At midnight, three times Peter, James and John failed the test of faith.

            We all know what happened as the rooster crowed.  It reminded Peter of Jesus words to him.  “Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.”  Peter, even knowing our Lord’s warning to keep watch had failed his test of faith as the rooster crowed.

            As the dawn came, Jesus was left alone to face the chief priests, elders and teachers of the law.  As Mark recorded Jesus word’s spoken to the disciples, “You will all fall away, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep will be scattered.”  The disciples replied with Peter, Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.  By dawn all the disciples had failed the test of faith.

            We do not have to wait for judgment day for our test of faith.  It comes for us today and tomorrow.  And it comes to us this Advent season as we prepare to celebrate our Lord’s birth at Christmas.  With the season of Advent it is hard to maintain our focus.  On the one hand there is the temptation to get caught up in the pressures of getting everything done.  What should be joyful anticipation often ends up as a laborious task.  I heard a woman say, I’ve been doing nothing but preparing for Christmas, and I’m tired of it.  On the other hand, it is easy to get caught up in the tinsel and the lights.  This is especially so in a culture that has no concept of what Christmas really is all about.  Either way, we can expect to loose our focus of what it is all about.  This is exemplified as we start to remind each other of the “Reason for the Season”.  If there is anything that we can expect as we enter the season of Advent is that we, like the disciples, will fail the test of faith and loose focus of our Lord Jesus Christ – whether it is in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows.

Jesus was Faithful

Our failure to keep the faith is not what matters though.  The important thing is to remember the one who faithfully came as a baby in a virgin’s womb and was born in a manger.  It is important to remember the one who faithfully fulfilled God’s expectations of us – for us.  It is about Jesus Christ who, despite the unfaithfulness of His disciples and us, stood faithfully before His accusers, was judged, crucified and died.  Through His faithfulness we are forgiven for our unfaithfulness.  As we begin our Advent journey we are reminded why Jesus came in the first place.  It wasn’t to give us a reason to set up colorful lights or put on elaborate performances, all though there is nothing wrong with these things.  The reason Christ came was because we could not, on our own, stand the test of faith.  But Jesus has been faithful, in our place.  He calls us to be vigilant and keep watch, be alert and prepared, not only for His second coming but also for the tests of faith that come our way today.  And when we fail, to come to Him the one who is always faithful and trust in His forgiveness.

Conclusion:  Advent is a season of expectations.  We have many expectations about the coming season of Christmas.  Some of them will happen and some of them will not.  As our lives unfold like a mystery story there is one thing we can expect for sure.  Because of Jesus, we have been forgiven.  More than we could ever expect, God’s love and grace has been given to us.  It has been given to us in the mystery of God born as a baby in a manger.  It has been given to us in the mystery of God dying on the cross.  Gods grace and love has been given to us in the mystery of Christ’s resurrection.  In these things, the birth, death, and resurrection, of God are found the greatest mysteries of life.  Amen!

       

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