Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Sermon Video: "On the day the Son of Man is revealed" Luke 17:20-35

During Jesus' public ministry there was much speculation that he was the one who would usher in the Kingdom of God by driving out the Romans and re-establishing the Kingdom of Israel.  Jesus did indeed bring the Kingdom of God into our midst, but it was a very different kingdom than the physical/political kingdom that many longed for.  The kingdom that John the Baptist prepared the way for, and Jesus inaugurated, was a spiritual kingdom, a kingdom built upon repentance and reconciliation, a kingdom without borders or barriers, one open to any and all who were willing to accept it.  So, while the Pharisees, the Zealots, and the disciples, scanned the horizon looking for signs that a revolt was about to happen, Jesus went out spreading the Good News that God was already offering forgiveness from sins.
After his death, resurrection, and ascension, that kingdom grew rapidly from its core of dedicated followers, helped along by the Holy Spirit's power at Pentecost, until it spread throughout the known world within two generations, a remarkable feat unprecedented in history.  But when would he return, when would Jesus sit upon the throne that he had secured through suffering and receive the glory due him?  Beginning with that first generation, Christians have speculated about when the Son of Man would return, and while a natural urge drives that desire, it has remained unfulfilled thus far, for that day awaits the decision of the Father, and only he knows when the trumpet will sound.
What do we do in response?  We know that Jesus will return, but we don't know when, so what do we do?  Our task, our obligation, is to live our lives, here and now, for the betterment of the kingdom of God, i.e. his Church, by living out the Gospel's teaching and spreading the Good News to the ends of the earth.  We may have personally, days, years, or decades left on this earth, and it may be days, years, centuries, or even millennia, until Christ returns.  Our task remains the same: do our part by making the love and mercy of Jesus known, through us, to all we meet.

To watch the video, click on the link below;


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