#DailyDevotion Sign, Sign, Everywhere A Sign!
Mark 13:28-31 28“Learn this lesson from a fig tree: When its branch gets tender and grows leaves, you know summer is near. 29So also when you see those things happen, you know He is near, at your door. 30“I tell you the truth, these people will not pass away until all this happens. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”
So you’re supposed to know something about a fig tree. I actually own several figs trees and it’s true, as things start warming up summer isn’t far behind. Verse 20 is the lesson you’re supposed to learn, when you see those things happen, you’ll Jesus is at the door. Well what things? Everything Jesus has been talking about since verse on of this chapter: “ wars and rumors of wars,” “Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom,” “earthquakes in different places, and famines.” On top of that the disciples both then and now will be suffer persecution; the Jewish one in their synagogues, by governors and kings, we’ll be imprisoned, tortured, killed, enslaved, and betrayed by our own family. Jerusalem and the Temple would be destroyed.
So other than Christ’s visible return how are we doing on signs that Jesus is near? I tell you the truth, with the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, we all need to be on high alert. Jesus could come at anytime. There just aren’t any warning signs left to be fulfilled. So Jesus tells us to watch, keep alert, don’t get lazy, don’t get unkind with your fellow Christians and don’t get drunk, or you may be really embarrassed and kicked out of the kingdom when he returns.
Now we went over it before about what this looks like. I’d like to introduce to you pare of the Book of Concord, Formula of Concord, Solid Declaration, Art. XI, 21, “That He will also strengthen, increase, and support to the end the good work which He has begun in them, if they adhere to God’s Word, pray diligently, abide in God’s goodness [grace], and faithfully use the gifts received.” What does this mean? Keep meditating on the Word of God, believe it and live it. Pray diligently-when you see a need pray about it and when good happens give thanks. Abide in God’s goodness-always rely upon the free gift of God’s grace and mercy for everything, especially your salvation. Faithfully use his gifts—make use of the means of grace: the Word, Baptism, the LORD’s Supper, Absolution, Preaching and the Mutual Conversation and Consolation of Fellow Christians.
Nothing will invalidate Jesus’s words here. These things will come to pass and have come to pass. They all happened during the generation of the Apostles and continue until this day. We should not fear this Great Tribulation that we are going through. We should not fear a one world government run by the Antichrist. Some of us will experience more of these things than others. Jesus is not going to rapture us out of the Tribulation. He is going to cut the time short because of the elect. So again, be prepared at any moment for Christ return. Look joyfully towards that day because it is the day of your redemption. You’ll receive a new body in which sin no longer has sway because it is no longer there. You’ll never have any worries any longer. There will be no more disease or suffering. Best of all, we will see God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and gaze upon their glory forever.
Merciful Father, grant us your Holy Spirit that we may persevere in faith using the means of grace you have given us, being alert all our days until the revelation of your Son Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.