24.188 | STAY AWAKE | Mark 13:32-37 | God’s Word for Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

God’s Word For Today

Text: Mark 13:32-37 (ESV)

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 guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

STAY AWAKE

The imminence and unpredictability of Jesus' coming can’t be overemphasized. Even Jesus, in His humanity, does not know the time of His coming. While in His physical body on earth, Jesus is not omniscient. Paul explains that Jesus, "who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men" (Phil 2:6–7). Part of being emptied means Jesus abdicated His rights to manifest the full nature of deity, what theologians call the ‘kenosis’. That doesn't mean that Jesus was ever not-God. It's more like part of His deity was in sleep mode. He knew what God intended Him to know (John 15:15).

The point Jesus specifically says is that the timing is not for us to know (see Acts 1:6–7). That should serve as a warning for the rest of us. Anyone who claims to know the date or time of Jesus' return is, by definition, a false teacher. They are claiming to convince others they know what Jesus says cannot be known.

His exhortation for us is to keep awake. It’s like a servant having been in-charged of the house. He is waiting for his master to arrive from a long journey who did not tell him what time he would arrive. He might be knocking at the door during the time he was sleeping. He must stay awake.

James has enjoined us to wait patiently, saying, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” [Jas 5:7-8]. Also Paul has exhorted, “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”[Titus 2:13]

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