The Final Chapter: Living Awake to the End Times
This sermon focuses on Mark 13:28-37, a passage from the Olivet Discourse where Jesus teaches about His second coming and the importance of spiritual readiness. The pastor begins by explaining the parable of the fig tree, clarifying that in this context, Jesus is not referring to Israel (as the fig tree often does in Scripture) but is using it as an illustration of recognizing signs. Just as one can tell summer is near when the fig tree’s branches become tender and put out leaves, so too can believers recognize the approach of Christ’s return by the signs He describes.
The sermon then moves to the importance of trusting in God’s unchanging word. The pastor quotes Mark 13:31, where Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” This truth is reinforced with references to Psalm 119:89 and Isaiah 40:8, emphasizing the eternal nature of God’s word in contrast to the temporary nature of the world.
A significant portion of the sermon is dedicated to Jesus’ call to “stay awake” spiritually. The pastor notes that this phrase is repeated four times in the passage, underscoring its importance. He relates this to Peter’s experience, as recorded in Luke 9:32 and Matthew 26:40-41, where Peter struggled to stay awake at crucial moments.
The sermon then explores what it means to live life awake, breaking it down into three main aspects:
1. Embracing responsibility: The pastor explains that God has given believers authority (exousia in Greek) and responsibility. He uses examples like Jonah and the parable of the talents to illustrate the importance of not neglecting our God-given duties.
2. Doing our assigned work: Jesus speaks of each servant having their work. The pastor emphasizes that this is a call against idleness and misplaced priorities, using examples like the rich young ruler and Solomon to show the consequences of wrong priorities.
3. Staying alert as a doorkeeper: This metaphor is explained as a call to avoid distractions. The pastor provides examples like Martha, Peter during the storm, and Samson to illustrate how easily we can become distracted from our spiritual focus.
Throughout the sermon, the pastor weaves in additional Scripture references to support his points, such as James 2:26 on the importance of works as evidence of faith. He also addresses the tension in the text regarding Jesus not knowing the day or hour of His return, acknowledging it as one of the mysteries surrounding Christ’s divine and human natures.
The sermon concludes by reiterating the main message: believers are called to live in a state of spiritual readiness, actively working for the Lord while avoiding apathy, misplaced priorities, and distractions. This readiness is crucial because, as Jesus states, we do not know when He will return. The pastor’s final challenge to the congregation is to consider what they are working at in light of this teaching.