32 “Now learn the parable from the fig tree: when its branch has already become tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near; 33 so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.”
The question of “When?” hovers over life. If there is no Christ, we stand naked before an absolutely holy God and we come up short. If there is no God, then fate or blind chance controls our future – over which we have no ultimate control. An atheistic belief system reduces the question “When?” to nothing more than a mere scientific inquiry. That’s because an godless reality is itself un-personal and has no meaning or purpose.
For the Christian, the future has meaning and purpose, because Christ said He would return. Therefore the question “When?” is legitimate as well as intriguing. The future is better than the present, Christ gives us this hope and thus we are motived by it.
The Lord fanned the flames that were inherent in following Him, for just as His life and present world teaching gave hope, now His words about the future give hope in a new way, a hope that will carry on in His absence, a hope that He will one day return. But when will that be?
Jesus resorted again to a parable, not to hide the truth from unbelievers, but to illustrate the truth in a way that would continually inspire hope. There will be certain indicators of His return. (He speaks of Himself in the third person, as the “Son of Man,” vs. 30). Just like the fig tree sprouting leaves is a sure sign that summer is near, the “generation” that observes the specified sign-events will be the generation that sees His return.
The return of Christ, as described in the preceding verses, is of such a magnitude that we humans naturally want to put a date on it. Such efforts have come and gone, like the book title, “88 Reasons Why Christ Will Return In 1988.” While human writings about the end-times fail, Jesus made it very clear that His words would not fail, or ever pass away. That can be counted on!
However, as for the specific dating (“day and hour”) no one knows or can know it. That is privileged information, which even Jesus, in His role as “Son” did not know. It is the Father’s prerogative only. In the incarnation, the knowledge of His return date is one of the aspects of deity Jesus laid aside.
Lord, I look forward to Your return, because I can count on Your word. Help me recognize potential signs of Your return and be spurred on to holiness.
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