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Happy Anticipation
Mark 13:28-37

Picture
​        Every year come December many folks make time to watch an old black-and-white movie.  It’s their annual tradition to enjoy watching George Bailey and his angel Clarence in the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life”.   As the movie starts a Senior Angel says: “A man down on earth needs our help.” Clarence replies “Splendid. Is he sick?” The Senior angel says “No, worse. He’s discouraged.” 
     George Bailey felt hopeless because his life hadn’t turned out the way he planned.  He was working a job he never really wanted, the economy was lousy, his children and wife were relying on him, but circumstances were against him.  All the pressure and uncertainty overwhelmed him.  Have you ever felt that way?  Felt discouraged or hopeless like George Bailey?   If you happen to watch that movie this December, notice what God does when George is at his absolute lowest.
     This morning, no matter what you may be feeling as you look around you, or as you look toward your future, I want you to know there is HOPE.  Jesus Christ is the hope of the world!  In today’s Scripture lesson what Jesus told his disciples so long ago is a far-reaching, truth-filled word of HOPE that is very relevant for our lives this morning.  Sitting with his followers on the Mount of Olives he said:  “I want you to learn a lesson from the fig tree.”  Then, perhaps pointing toward one, he said that when their tender branches sprout new green leaves, summer is on its way.  He compared that sign, which can be seen in the natural world, with other signs we can also see that will mean Jesus’ return to earth, his “Second Coming” is getting closer.  For all who know God, that is Good News.
     Jesus goes on to say “Truly (I tell you the truth), this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened.”  Has anyone ever wondered what Jesus meant here, when he said there would be specific signs and events that would occur in the world, and they would happen before “their generation” passed away? Was Jesus implying He’d return to earth before any of his 12 disciples died?  Or was he predicting he’d come again before a “generation” – a lifetime span of 40 years or even 80 years passed?  If either of these was what Jesus meant – then his words have not come true.  Jesus has not returned. This verse from Mark 13 has confused some Christians and even been a stumbling block for their faith. 
      I’m eager to clear up that confusion this morning.  The key to understanding this verse hinges on the word “generation”.  When Jesus said: “this generation shall not pass away until….” He wasn’t referring to a time period or a life span.  The Hebrew root of this word is genea and the best translation for that is “a people group”.  So what Jesus was saying to his all-Jewish group of disciples is that they, as a “people group”, as Israelites, as God’s chosen “group of people”, will not pass away before his Second Coming. 
      Two thousand years have now gone by, and our world is still populated by the direct descendants of those who first settled in the Promised Land.   But it has been a very difficult struggle for them.  In 70 A.D. they were conquered and over time ended up scattered across the world.  For over 1600 years Muslims controlled the land God had promised His people, and they used most of its fields for their livestock.  Over time its once fertile soil became a barren wasteland. Fast forward to Adolf Hitler and his regime: they coordinated the mass killing of Jews across much of Europe. Six million people, one third of God’s chosen ones, died in just a few short years. 
     In 1947 some of the Jews who survived made their way back to the Holy Land, claiming it was their rightful possession, God had declared it was theirs.  So they began to wage a war for independence from the British and the Jordanians.   On May 4, 1948 they defeated those who had settled there, gaining back the precious land they had not occupied for nearly 2,000 years.  
     Do you know that there are numerous Old Testament prophesies that speak about Israel, the Jewish people, returning to and re-settling in their homeland?  One such example comes from the prophet Amos  who said God made this promise:  “I will plant Israel (back) in their own land,  and they will never (again) be uprooted from that land I have given them.” (Amos 9:15)  For anyone who is good at math, it has been almost 73 years that the Jews have lived in their reclaimed Promised Land.  
     I want to tell you why this matters and how it ties in to experiencing amazing  hope in our lives today.  Do you know that in the Old Testament, Israel (the nation) is symbolized by a fig tree?  The disciples listening to Jesus on that long-ago day would have immediately understood the Master’s fig-tree reference.  Jesus said that when the fig tree, the nation of Israel, begins to bud and green shoots come forth – it will be a sign that he is returning soon.  That was not the reality during their lifetime, because the Romans had conquered them.  But Jesus was predicting a future flourishing.   
     There is an earlier Old Testament prophet named Isaiah who declared the same message saying: “In the days to come Israel will bud and blossom.” (Isaiah 27:6)  During his lifetime, though, he and his 3,000 fellow Israelites were conquered and deported; they never again saw their homeland.  But Isaiah did assure them God would one day lead his people out of exile one last time and return them to their sacred land. 
     It is now the year 2020.  Do you know that in modern-day Israel the land is much-changed?  Not only have there been 21st- century advances in areas like technology, transportation, the medical field, etc. - one of the most striking differences can best be seen by flying in an airplane.  The view from the skies shows amazing changes. What might have been documented from an airplane in  the days of Moses would have been a land flowing “with milk and honey”, a land where there was abundant food and other natural resources for the first Israelites.  Other flyovers during the land’s long occupation would have shown how poor stewardship caused barrenness.  But now, the land of Israel is once again very fertile because great care has been taken to methodically irrigate the land, nurture its soil, and plant it with careful intention.  The result is lush, green fields and they produce over 40 kinds of delicious fruits that are exported to every continent. Israel is known today internationally for their high quality of diverse fruits.   Now… listen as I share the rest of what the prophet Isaiah said about the Promised Land:  “Israel will bud and bloom …and (will) fill all the world with fruit.” 
     So, the fig tree’s branches are definitely green with Israelites living in the Holy Land; they have restored the soil and are sending their delicious fruits around the world.  Jesus and the prophets have all said that these are signs that the Risen Christ will come again - soon.  That was just what Jesus went on to explain to his disciples when he talked about the servants who were put in charge of taking care of their Master’s home.  None of them knew his itinerary – his homecoming could happen any day of the week, at any hour of the day or night.  
     Jesus said three times that the servants needed to stay alert.  That implies attentiveness, like when someone is put on guard duty.  Any one of us assigned to such a duty would know that our eyes should scan our surroundings, our ears would need to be listening, and we would need a readiness to step forward to meet whatever event or person came near.  
     But here is the Good News we must keep before us.  Jesus wants his servants to be as alert, not on the lookout for trouble, but for something extraordinarily good! We shouldn’t wait for his return with a sense of dread, but with genuine eagerness.  We are meant to feel HAPPY ANTICIPATION, much like little children on Christmas Eve, thinking about presents under the tree they can open the next morning.  Such thoughts swirl in their heads as they try to fall asleep in their warm pajamas, tucked into their beds. They feel squiggly with HAPPY ANTICIPATION in the morning as well.  Can you remember that wonderful feeling?    
     May God help us feel much the same way as we move into this Advent season.   The word Advent means “coming”; it’s the season to remember Jesus came to earth as a baby and celebrate that He became our Savior. It’s also the season to remember Jesus is coming again, and when that Advent comes, that celebration will be extraordinarily good!

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