(The following is a transcript of the sermon as delivered by Rev. Tab Ottmers on December 1, 2024)

The text for our sermon this morning is the Gospel reading, and all of it. Jesus is warning at the beginning, saying, "there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world." And then Jesus concludes our reading by saying, "…stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." May God’s grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father, from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Please be seated.

Today we are encouraged because Jesus says you have no reason to panic. You have no reason to worry. We, as his people who live by faith, have nothing to fear. Even seeing the things of nature fall apart, Jesus says, take heart. Do not be afraid.

For all our advancements in technology, all the devices that we have, as obvious today, and all the jackets and clothing that we have, the weather, in spite of all technology, the weather still plays a major role in our daily lives. Whether you realize it or not, on a daily basis, you consider the location of the stars. The days on the calendar are of a main concern to you when it comes to your daily activities, the clothes you wear and just the activities that you’re going to do that day. Just as our ancestors, just as their lives depended on knowing what season it was for their crops, for food, so too we are still somewhat concerned about the weather outside. Maybe not to the same extent as our relatives, but nonetheless, everyone knows that you can’t order a pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks after Thanksgiving. It’s out of season, and if you do try that, you might cause the barista to have a panic attack when she can’t find the syrup.

Well, just like nature has seasons to prepare for, so too, the church has seasons. The Israelites in the Old Testament, they had a church season, a liturgical calendar: Passover, Feast of Booths. They also had many times that they considered their church year that was based not on the sun and moon and the stars, but it was based on the mighty acts of God. Our church year also is based on the mighty acts of God: Easter, Pentecost and Advent. And today, a new church year begins. A new season begins. Advent is Latin for “coming,” and when something is coming, you need to prepare. Today we are taught to prepare for Jesus’ advent by living by faith. And it’s not just His last advent that we’re preparing for. As you came to church this morning, you should have prepared–more than just figuring out what clothes to wear–but spiritually prepared for the coming of Christ on His altar, in our presence.

But to our text, Jesus warns, “there will be signs in sun and moon and stars and on the earth, you will see the distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.” Jesus is talking about His last Advent, when He comes to judge the living and the dead. People will be fainting with fear because they thought the sun and moon, the stars and the oceans will just carry on forever. They do not live by faith, and so they panic when the things that they thought would never go away are suddenly disturbed. They do not live by faith, but only by what they see and experience right in front of them. Those who are fainting with fear and foreboding had never exercised a life of faith. And that’s what we’re going to talk about today. Is how is our text instructing us to live by faith?

Hebrews 11 says, “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” But if you’re never taught what is not seen, you cannot have faith. Romans 10 reminds us the importance of the Word of God in our life of faith. Romans 10, St. Paul says, “faith comes by hearing, by hearing the word of Christ.” So the first thing we must remember to exercise our faith is to hear the Word of God, not just on Sunday, but daily. Just like someone who perhaps lived centuries ago when they saw the leaves turning brown outside, if they didn’t start cutting firewood or storing up food, come winter time, they would die. They only would live for the day and what they see in front of them–without faith, they didn’t think anything would ever be different. They never practiced faith in something that is greater than what they see in front of them.

People who don’t live by faith only know pleasure or pain. Most of the world judges what is pleasurable as being the ultimate good. There is no greater measure of what is truly good in their minds or hearts. If it makes them feel good, it must be good. And we as Christians can fall for this same trap when it comes to our lives and sin. Instead of examining our lives according to the greater good of God’s Law, if we just judge things according to how we feel, we will not be living by faith. St. Paul touches on this in Romans 10. He says, if it wasn’t for God’s word, I wouldn’t have known that coveting was a sin. Coveting, if you remember, is an unhealthy desire for something that God has not given to you. We can covet somebody’s home, somebody’s job, their car, their spouse, their workers or employers. We can daydream and watch television or be absorbed in social media, watching people pretending that their lives are just perfect, that they have no problems in their lives and things are just great. Their greatest challenge each day is what to order at the coffee shop. We can get absorbed into this, thinking that if we just have what they have, if we get absorbed in looking at what our neighbor has or what we see on social media, we can begin to be ungrateful for what God has given us in our lives. We’re no longer content with what God gives us. We don’t remember by faith the promise that God says He will give you whatever you need to stay faithful. This is sinful, this coveting. And our whole society is almost built on coveting nowadays. Advertising and marketing showing the perfect life. We can get sucked into it, just like the unbelievers. We must remember that even the things that we covet will be destroyed when Christ returns. And then what have you compromised your faith for?

Turn from covetousness. Be thankful to God–we just had a day of Thanksgiving–each day, be thankful to God for the things he gives you. Repentance is saying and confessing to God that sometimes I desire things that are contrary to God’s will, thinking they will make me feel good. But we also remember the other part of repentance, the desire for forgiveness and the faith that knows for the sake of Christ Jesus, God forgives you. And he isn’t going to withhold from you, but is going to continue to make the rain fall on the just and the unjust alike. He cleanses you with his Gospel, his forgiving Word, you are forgiven. Jesus gave his life because He was not content to let you be lost to your covetousness. He desired your salvation. If you think about it, the gospel is the antidote, or the anti-coveting. Jesus desires your life to be as His life is: holy and blameless. The opposite of coveting. He desires the best for you and gives it to you. He died on the cross and was thankful to trust His Father even to the point of death. And Jesus says He will strengthen you to do the same.

Now, on the other side of the spectrum of those who don’t live by faith, we heard how they think the ultimate of good is what is pleasurable. The other side of that, if you don’t live by faith, is that you will only define bad by what causes pain. Suffering is seen as the greatest enemy to be avoided in our world. Suffering forces you out of your self absorbed world and recognizing that you are not God. You are not in control of your life. When you’re suffering, you want to change your situation so desperately, but you’re powerless too. This is why drugs and alcohol or burying yourself in social media is so dangerous, because it numbs you. It is a false escape from your suffering. But what does God’s Word teach us to do with suffering? Are you ready for this? This is going to blow your mind. In Romans five, St. Paul says, “we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, endurance produces character, character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” The promise that God’s love and suffering of Christ is defined on the cross, where there the sins of the world are being died for. The suffering of Christ is more real and enduring than your suffering right now, which is just a little short amount of time. Your suffering is for a blink of an eye. It may not seem like it at the moment, but it’s meant to lead you to Christ’s suffering, where the result of His suffering, lasts for eternity. To give you eternal joy, to save you. Suffering forces you to call out to God, whether physical, emotional, or even spiritual, suffering leads you to rely on the hope that Christ has promised you. Not just that He’s with you, but He will bring you through any difficulty, even the difficulty of the things we will see when He returns. And He’s not just going to bring you through it, but He is going to glorify you. Things are going to be even better than they are now.

Suffering forces you to exercise your faith. It works your faith because you have to believe contrary to what you are feeling. And let’s face it, we sinners, we think our feelings are always right. And this is what Jesus says in our readings today, when He says, “I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place.” This generation, that means those who reject the coming of Christ, who aren’t living by faith, but God’s word and promise is more sure than your feelings. This is why we have seasons in the church year. This is why we have signs, even in our church, that are exercises in faith. You exercise your body to stay healthy. We should remember we need to exercise our faith, and we do that in church. Like, we have the candles, right? The candles remind you of God’s presence in the Old Testament and at Pentecost. That God’s presence was shown by fire. Yes, it’s just a candle. There’s nothing particularly special about it. But you are exercising your faith in remembering what God has promised–to always be with us. We have an Altar to remind us of the Sacrificial Lamb, and that Christ is the Lamb, the Altar, the Cross. All of this exercises your faith. It leads you to things that are unseen but are true.

And, even when we come to God’s house, we act differently here than we do in our own house, or when we visit a friend’s home. We don’t see anything around here that is particularly earth shattering, or heavenly, or spiritual, but we acknowledge by faith that when we are gathered together here we are in a holy place. Our church building itself, the steeple, it points to heaven to show us that this is a place where heaven and earth collide. It is an exercise in our faith that this building is no ordinary building. It isn’t built like a Starbucks or a Home Depot. They change decorations for the seasons, just like we do, but there’s much more at stake here with faith. Jesus said that even if that his disciples are silent, the rocks will cry out. All of these–our church building, how we behave during the worship service with honor and respect. These are all exercises in faith that strengthen your faith, and their chief purpose is to point you to the ultimate signs of Christ’s forgiveness–the Sacraments.

The Sacraments are the ultimate exercise in faith. And the fact that we come to the altar on Sunday morning, it reminds us that we are preparing for His coming. As you approach this Altar, if you approach it with laziness or just as any other meal, that is how you’re going to approach Christ when He returns, if you don’t exercise your faith. This is practice, but it is something is truly happening. Christ is truly present here. As we remember our Baptism, we don’t see anything exceptional happen with our eyes, but by faith, the Holy Spirit was given to you. Your sins were forgiven. You were put to death, but raised to a new life. For the Lord’s Supper, we see bread and wine, but we believe by faith it is the true Body and Blood of Christ present for the forgiveness of our sins. These are gospel signs. They are the antidote to doubt and worries and even panic. Not just looking forward to when Christ returns, but Christ promised that He’s here with you now. That even if it might feel like your own personal world is falling apart, if it feels like your own life is coming to an end, when things in your life might come crumbling down, you have a Savior who’s given you reason to believe everything will turn out just fine. Don’t give up. Not just on the last day, Jesus’ instructions, to stand up and to be ready, but even today, dear Christians. Do you remember the story of King Herod, when Jesus’ birth happened when he was in Jerusalem? He didn’t pay attention to the word of God, and so he missed the signs in the sky. Remember the Star of Bethlehem? King Herod didn’t know God’s word, so he wasn’t aware of the season or the signs in heaven, and he missed out on the birth of Christ, the coming of Christ. The wise men, they were anchored in the Word of God, and when they saw signs in nature, they rejoiced. Their faith was strengthened. They went great distances to be with Christ. They sacrificed their greatest treasures, because they knew in that little baby they had everything.

So now, when you see what Jesus describes happening in nature, as we see storms, as we hear of floods and natural disasters, when we hear of nations panicking, foreboding. Let these remind you that Jesus warned us of these things. This is a testament to Jesus’ knowing all things. He is truly God. So when you roll up to Starbucks now, don’t try to order a pumpkin spice latte. They’re out of season. You might cause a panic attack. Today, Jesus reminds us we never have reason to panic. Not because this life doesn’t have its challenges. But we Christians have no need to panic, because Christ Jesus always has your back. He always has forgiveness and eternal life for you, no matter the season of life that you’re in. Suffering, joy, feast or famine, He’s always with you. And His Word endures forever.

May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Stephen Hand

Grace, mercy and peace be unto you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The universe is a really big place, and even light, which travels so fast that science wasn't even able to measure its speed until the 19th century, even that light takes about four and a quarter years just to travel from the sun's closest star to reach us here on Earth. Our own galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars, and it would take light about 100,000 years to travel from one edge of the Milky Way to the other. And if you think that's big, consider that scientists estimate here that there are about 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe. Each galaxy is unique, ranging in size from 10,000 light years to hundreds of light years. This is really a universe that is far bigger than most of our imaginations can really handle. And the reason that I bring this up is that I want you to have some kind of feeling for what's happening in today's Gospel, when Jesus teaches us that someday it will all go away.

Jesus said the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Someday, the entirety of the universe, with all of its trillions of galaxies, each holding hundreds of billions of stars, will simply no longer be. It is as if God has turned off the great big universe switch. And he is going to turn it off indeed. The sun, the moon and all the stars will simply just stop.

It's hard for us to imagine the end, the end of everything on that last day. We all tend to be fascinated, though, at the end times, "what will happen on that day?" Every pastor knows that he will be asked to teach a class on Revelation at some point, piles of books and movies fantasize about the mayhem and destruction, the obliteration by asteroid or earthquake or maybe being "left behind," doomed on some airliner. During the 50s and 60s, duck-and-cover exercises were held for every US citizen by the Civil Defense from children to the elderly, as we were encouraged to practice so that they could really be ready for the events of the inevitability of nuclear war. During the 14th century, many thought that the black plague and the epidemics that it brought were the end. Such disasters fall far, far short to the end that Jesus has described here.

The apostles were also fascinated by this as well. And so they asked, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?" Our Lord is clear on this. And so also, at Augsburg in 1530 the reformers were able to state, from scripture, "our churches teach that at the end of the world, Christ will appear for judgment and will raise all the dead. He will give the godly and elect eternal life and everlasting joys, but He will condemn ungodly people and the devils to be tormented without end."

The last day will be entirely different than any of the most grandiose of imaginations. The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to describe it in this way, "the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed." The universe will go back to the beginning, when the earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. This would be absolutely terrifying if it weren't for one thing--those who live to see that day will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory, and the vision of the returning Lord will totally occupy all of our thoughts. Nothing else will matter.

There will be two responses, then, to Jesus' return. Those who are not ready will be terrified as they see Jesus return to judge and condemn. But those who are ready will see Jesus with joy as their Savior and Redeemer approaches. Those who are not ready will have nothing to look forward to except an eternity of punishment, while those who are ready will have nothing to look forward to but an eternity of joy. It is much better to be ready upon his return.

Jesus could certainly return at any time, but Jesus said, "But concerning that day or that hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." That is the reason Jesus taught His disciples and us to be ready at all times. Now, there are many who get all hung up on when Jesus will return. They try to predict what the political situation will be on the last day, even though Jesus specifically said that no one knows the day or the hour. People try to guess. They make maps. They make plans. They try to construct Jesus' itinerary as if He was going on a trip. But really, none of us know. But none of these things are really important.

Jesus tells us what is important, though. Instead of wearing ourselves out on useless diversions, why not listen to the words of Christ? His main teaching for us in the Gospel today is repeated by several words, be on guard. Keep awake. Stay awake. Stay awake. Stay awake. It's almost as if He's trying to tell you something. Notice how often Jesus repeats Himself. When someone repeats themselves like this, we know that it's pretty important. And here Jesus tells us to be on guard and to stay awake five times. How important this teaching must be. For Jesus used the word picture of a doorman waiting for his master to return from a trip.

Now, the reason the doorman must keep watch or stay awake is that he is to be ready when the master returns. Thus to stay awake means to be ready for your master. Since Christ is our master, we have to ask, how then can we be ready? Certainly, our material wealth can't help us. When the sun darkens, the moon fails to give light, and the stars fall from the sky, our material wealth will certainly be long gone. Our stuff will disappear with the rest of the universe.

But what about our good works? Consider your life in the light of the 10 Commandments. Have you loved God with all of your resources? Has God's name always been holy to you and used only to call for help in times of trouble, for prayer, for praise, for Thanksgiving? Have you gladly heard and learned God's word, or have you despised God's Word by making Sunday School and the Divine Service a low priority in your lives? Have you loved your neighbor as yourself? Have you always respected your parents and other authorities? Have you respected other people's life, property, reputation? Have you kept your thoughts pure.

I know that when I examine myself in this way, all I see are not works that are good, but works of shame. Now if we relied on any of our own resources on that day, we shall wish that the earth was still there so that we could hide and call to the mountains, "fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb of God. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" On the last day only the true God will remain. All the false gods will pass away with the earth. The only salvation that remains will be the very One who reveals Himself in all power and glory coming in the clouds. That One is Jesus, Christ.

He is the only one who can give us salvation. And how does He do this? Jesus, who will come in power and glory, came once before, not in power and glory, but in poverty and in humility. And although He is the master of all, He came not as master, but as servant of all. He lived the perfect life that we could never live, and then He allowed men to crucify Him so that He could offer Himself as a sacrifice that we could never make. In His death, He conquered death so that the grave could not hold Him. And on the Sunday after His friends laid Him in the tomb, He rose from the dead to live forevermore. And now He makes an offering to us. He offers to take away our sin and cover up us with His righteousness. He offers to restore our broken relationship with God. He offers us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation. He offers these things to us as He reveals Himself in both God's Word and in the Sacraments. The Holy Spirit uses those Words and Sacraments to build and sustain our faith in Jesus Christ. And it is by that faith that we are on guard, that we are awake, that we are watchful. It is the Holy Spirit's gift of faith that in Jesus Christ that keeps us ready for the return of the Son who comes in power and glory.

Indeed, there is something quite wonderful about the readiness that the Holy Spirit gives us through faith in Christ. It prepares us for the end of our time on earth, no matter how it happens. After all, many will not see that last day before they leave this earth through death. For death comes to young and old, to rich and poor, to athlete and couch potato. Just as no one knows the day that the world will end, so too none of us knows if we will be around when He indeed comes.

The same faith in Jesus Christ that keeps us watchful and ready for the one also keeps us watchful for the other. Whether we leave this world at the end of our own lives or at the end of the world, the same readiness saves us no matter how it comes. It is God who saves us by His Father's Grace, for the Son's sake, through the gift of the Holy Spirit and faith. Jesus will return on the last day to judge all humanity, fulfilling not only Old Testament prophecy, but His own predictions. And while no one will enter the kingdom of God by works, nor will any religion save anyone, because Jesus died and rose for us, and because the Holy Spirit created and sustained, saving faith in His people, we can be sure of our salvation no matter how fearsome that day may be.

Indeed, you have been redeemed. God has taken care of all. There's nothing that you need to do but have faith, believe, come to this place to hear God's word, to receive His gifts, not only for the strengthening of our faith, but for equipping us to stay awake. To be on the ready.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Please stand.

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.

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