He Is Coming

On the night before Jesus was crucified He had an incredible meeting with His closest disciples.  While all four of the Gospel writers record certain events from that night; including the specifics of the Last Supper and Judas’ decision to follow-through with his treasonous act, it is John’s account of that evening that provides us with the most detailed insider’s perspective.  As John reflected on that night, he recalled that one of the topics Jesus discussed was His return.  Even though, to this point, He hadn’t gone anywhere Jesus encouraged the disciples by saying, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3).  Within the next few hours these words would be lost on the disciples.  As they scrambled their resources to find a grave, they forgot that they didn’t need something permanent.  As they sat at home enduring a sabbath that intensified their restlessness, they invested a lot of emotional energy in an event that was intended to be temporary.  Imagine how different their lives would have been if they would have just remembered Jesus’ promise that He was coming back!

It is easy to criticize the disciples for their lack of foresight; but, do we suffer from the same ailment?  As we look at today’s world it is easy to lament the present and fear the future.  We are tempted to give up our quest to influence society and sequester ourselves in churches just trying to stay safe until we receive our reward.  We live in fear of the future of our nation, we fret about the next generation and wonder if there really is any hope.  When we do this, have we also forgotten the promise that Jesus is coming back?  The apostle, Peter, who experienced the first return of Jesus, described the Second Coming; then reminded his children in the faith, “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation …” (II Peter 3:11-15).  When we keep Jesus’ return foremost in our minds we become convinced that all is not lost – in fact, in the hands of God – there is hope that something better lies just beyond the fulfillment of His prophecy.


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