Olivet Discourse – Part III
TRANSLATION
(24) “But in those days, after that (time of) tribulation, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, (25) the stars will be falling from heaven, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (26) And then those (on earth) will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. (27) Then he will send his angels and gather his elect from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.
(28) “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree. When its branches become tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. (29) Even so, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, right at the door. (30) Truly, I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. (31) Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
(32) “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. (33) Be on your guard! Stay alert for you do not know when that time will come. (34) It is like a man journeying to another country who puts his servants in charge when he leaves home. Each one has his work (to do), and the doorkeeper must stay alert. (35) Therefore, stay alert for you do not know when the master of the house will return whether in the evening or at midnight or when the cock crows or in the morning, (36) lest he returns suddenly and finds you asleep. (37) And what I say to you I say to everyone: stay alert!”
OBSERVATIONS
In this closing segment of his Olivet Discourse, Jesus strongly warned his followers to be ready for his return whenever he might come. Several repeated words and expressions emphasized the force of the Lord’s admonition. “Son” is found twice (vss. 26 & 32) as are the words, “angels” (vss. 27 & 32), “near” (vss. 28 & 29), “these things taking/take place” (vss. 29 & 30), and “pass away” (vs. 31). Three times the phrase, “no one knows/you do not know,” was repeated (vss. 32, 33, & 35). Finally, “keep/stay alert” occurred four times (vss. 33, 34, 35, & 37).
OUTLINE
I. Declaration: the Son of Man will return with great power and glory. (24-27)
II. Applications by means of two illustrations: (28-37)
– Illustration #1 – Learn from the fig tree.
Point: His coming is near. (28-31)
– Illustration #2 – Learn from the servants who do not know when the master will return.
Point: Stay awake and be ready for his coming. (32-37)
IDEA STATEMENT
Our responsibility in view of the master’s imminent return is to remain alert so that we are ready for his coming at any time.
APPLICATION
Despite Jesus’ clear teaching that “no one knows” the precise moment when the Son of Man will return, many over the years claim to have figured out the precise timing of the Second Coming. Sadly, this includes several well-known Christian authors in recent years. One reason why the Father has withheld such knowledge from us is so that we will not spend our time and energy in fruitless speculation but rather commit ourselves to living faithfully and obediently so that we may be ready for Christ’s return whenever he should appear.
Does the statement that the Son does not know what the Father alone knows prove that he is less than deity? Certainly not! Otherwise, how could Jesus make the astounding claim, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (vs. 31)? A rural pastor warned his congregation with the following admonition, “Don’t try to unscrew the inscrutable.” There are mysteries which we will never resolve this side of heaven, mysteries that are best left up to God’s infinite wisdom. The doctrine of the Incarnation, that the eternal Word (God) became flesh (man) and tabernacled among us, is a truth that we can never fully comprehend. Jesus as God must be omniscient which means he knows everything. However, Jesus as a human being could truthfully say, “no one knows, not even...the son.” How such a seeming contradiction is possible is something that we must simply accept as part of divine revelation, something beyond our understanding or ability to fathom. Perhaps someday, when we have new resurrection bodies, we will have the capacity to understand what now must remain what we can only see “through a glass dimly.”