Advent 2, 2023

Rev. Thomas Van Hemert

St. Luke 21:25-33

Populus Zion

December 12, 2023

In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Ever since the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, we have been living in Last Days or the End Times. The study of such things is called “Eschatology.” Much of this time of the Church Year, both before Advent, generally, the last few Sundays of the Church Year, and even also Sundays like today, are concerned with signs of the end and signs of our Lord’s coming again in glory.

For example, a couple weeks ago in Matthew’s Gospel, the disciples asked Jesus about the end of the age, and Jesus tells then that “When they see the abomination of desolation standing in the holy place,” they are to flee and leave. Get out of there. Because life on earth, for those who have not been translated into glory, is only going to get worse.

The Apostle John is also concerned about certain signs in his Gospel that Jesus performs. For example, after Jesus turns water into wine at the wedding at Cana in John 2, John records that “This was the first of Jesus’ signs.” The signs in John’s Gospel that Jesus performs are not just mere miracles, though they are, but they are acts demonstrating that Jesus is the Messiah. Later, in John 12, John would go on to record that these signs did not convince the crowds so Jesus withdrew to teach His disciples privately and to prepare them for His death and resurrection, which would be His greatest sign. And then finally, at the end of John’s Gospel, John records that “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in [the Gospel of John]; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31)

But neither Matthew or John’s Gospel was read this morning. Rather, Luke’s account of Jesus teaching the Jewish crowds concerning the end of the world. Jesus says, “There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nation, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those whings which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” If any of you watched the news at all last week, you may have seen reports of a giant hole being ripped in the sun. Now of course, these things happen from time to time. Stars implode and turn into black holes, comets and asteroids smash into the earth and moon; there are tsunamis and great floods, hurricanes and tornadoes. Men cower in their homes for days on end, for fear of whenever a new disease is discovered or biologically engineered—seems to happen more and more frequently, like every four years. There is, on the earth, distress of nations with perplexity. Russia invades Ukraine and is trying to annex them. Ukraine is swallowing up billions and billions of tax dollars. Inflation is increasing and running rampant. The Middle Eastern countries all hate Israel. Israel, the seat of the throne of David outlaws Christian evangelism and the mention of the name of David’s Son. And of course, there are political factions that are vehemently opposed to each other in our own country, even to the point of violence. The nuclear family is falling apart. Divorce is at an all time high. Fathers are leaving their wives and children. Wives are unfaithful to their husbands. Things are not getting better. They are getting worse, with every passing day.

But Jesus says that these things will happen. We are to expect these things. There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. There will be wars and rumors of wars. “Then,” He says, “Then you will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” He does not say, “Try to fix these things.” He says, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” These signs and wonders are happening because ever since mankind’s fall into sin, the heavens and the earth, the world are dying. We are dying. Even St. Paul says that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs and that creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God; that we ourselves also groan within ourselves when we see these signs in sun and moon and on the earth because we are eagerly waiting for the adoption of sons, the redemption of our body. We along with creation groan in expectation of Christ’s Second Coming because we know we do not belong here. We eagerly wait for our adoption as sons, even as we have already been adopted by God in Holy Baptism.

We see the signs and we know that Jesus is coming soon. In fact, this is what we remember and celebrate during this Advent season because during Advent, we remember and celebrate the three ways Jesus “advents” or comes to us. First, He came as a baby and was born in Bethlehem. That’s what we are preparing to celebrate in a few short weeks. We are also looking forward to what hasn’t happened yet—His Third Advent, that is, His Second Coming in glory on the Last Day. And at the same time, this very day, we enjoy and celebrate His Second Advent as He comes to us now, hidden in bread and wine, riding to us on a paten and in a chalice.

There are signs that may make an unbeliever despair—terrible signs in sun, moon, stars, and on the earth. But we do not despair because we have hope. Heaven and earth will pass away, and that’s fine, because we don’t belong here. We belong with God. Heaven and earth will pass away, but His words will by no means pass away. He gives us a promise: He is coming back to get us. Look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is, even now, drawing near. He is not slow to fulfill His promises as some count slowness. For a day to the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. He is not slow to fulfill His promises. Seeing these signs means that He is coming soon.

And even though there are these terrible signs of the end all around, there is a great mercy among us right now, a sign that there is hope for the future, that God is still active. We have all noticed it and rejoiced over it, but it should be named. Throughout 2023, this last year, our prayer list has contained the names of four pregnant ladies, all of whom are members this congregation. Within the last two months, we have baptized three babies, and in the next few months, we’ll baptize another baby. But think about that—within six months, we will have baptized four babies. Four babies in just six months. Four baptisms in six months in a church our size. That’s not to say we’re a small congregation. Because in the grand scheme of things, we aren’t that small of a congregation. To be sure, we aren’t the largest congregation to ever exist but we certainly aren’t the smallest. But four babies, all within six months, in a congregation of our size. All of them will be raised in this church and I hope their parents continue to bring them to Divine Service, bring them to Sunday School, and VBS, and all other activities at the church, so that they would be well-prepared for the deadly days and dangers that they must face.

So even though babies require work and babies consume valuable resources and may even babies will hasten global warming and the end of the world, we don’t care. We will gladly receive more babies, as many as God will give, because we love babies. We don’t care if they cry during Divine Service or if they smile and wave at us and become a slight distraction. And even though it might not seem like it at times, babies, toddlers, and children all benefit from being with us in the Divine Service, by hearing God’s Word, praying, singing hymns, and giving thanks. We want babies here with us worshiping God because we love babies. And so does Jesus. Suffer the little children to come unto me and forbid them not. For of such is the Kingdom of God.

And part of the reason we love them is because there is no greater sign of life than a baby. There is no miracle more essential to God’s nature and promise, nothing greater in all of the world than a baby. Some, of course, are too old and frail at this point to have any more babies. And some were never allowed to have babies biologically in the first place. But God continues to bless us as a community, as His Church, with and by life. And in this, the Lord shows us the way, His way, that He is the God of the living.

The days ahead will be hard but it is coming to an end. We have a Savior, who first came into this world, also, as a baby. We are not alone. He is with us name is Emmanuel, God with us. We do not face the accusations of our sins, but are forgiven. We will not die but we will live and we will rise. And in the meantime, God gives us babies. He gives us Christmas. He gives us His Body and Blood. He gives us a promise, that His words will by no means pass away.

This is the answer to the fear of the signs that are happening in sun, moon, stars, in the sea, and distress of nations in perplexity. This is the answer to men’s hearts failing them for fear of those things that are happening upon the earth.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve you with pure minds.

In +Jesus’ name.