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by The Rev. Charles Henrickson
Acts 1:1-11;
Rev. 22:1-20
Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."
So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
Revelation 22:1-20 (ESV)
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.
And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."
"And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me, but he said to me, "You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers the prophets, and with those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy."
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.
"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."
The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
Take a look at the picture over our altar. Of course, it is a painting of the Ascension of Our Lord, when Jesus ascended into heaven. But if you didn't know that, and you just look at Jesus there midway in the sky, you might wonder: Is he going up or is he coming down? It could be either, you know. For just as Jesus ascended into heaven on Ascension Day, so too will he come down from heaven when he returns in glory on the Last Day. That's the point we will make this morning, that Christ's ascension points us to his return. Not only so, we're even given a glimpse of what's in store for us when he does return. For today our ascended Lord gives us his promise, "Surely I Am Coming Soon."
Ascension Day was forty days after Easter. Over those forty days, the risen Christ appeared to his disciples and spoke about the kingdom of God. Then at the end of those days, Jesus led his disciples out to the area of Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. The curious disciples ask Jesus if he at this time is going to implement the final phase of his messianic reign. "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" If we stop and think about it, maybe we would like to ask the same sort of questions:
"Lord, when will it be? Tomorrow? Next week? Next year? A thousand years from now? How long, O Lord, how long? How long will we have to put up with the evil that surrounds us in this sinful world? How long will we have to put up with our own weakness and sin? How long will you keep us in suspense? Can't you give us a timetable, a schedule, a specific date?"
But our Lord says to us as he said to them: "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority." God has not given us that information. The exact time of Christ's return is not something we need to know--nor can we know it. Despite all the date-setters who have come down the pike--those who claim that just now the biblical prophecies are all being fulfilled and that Jesus therefore will be here any day now--despite their claims, the fact is, no one knows. It could be this year, but it could be in a hundred years. The words of Jesus on that Ascension Day still stand: "It is not for you to know the times or seasons."
"But there is something I do want you to know," Jesus adds. "In a few days, I'm going to send you the Holy Spirit. Then you will have the power to bear witness to my salvation all over the world. That's something important for you to know, because as my church that will be your mission. To preach the good news of my death and resurrection and what that means for people. Preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in my name. Tell everyone what I have done to rescue them from death and hell and bring them to life forever. I will empower you for that mission."
Leaving them with that promise, Jesus then was taken up before their very eyes. The scene must have looked like we see it in the painting. In a moment, a cloud will come by and take him from their sight. But then a couple of angels appear and say to the disciples: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."
The angels here would have us make the connection in our mind: Whenever we think about our Lord's ascension, we should also think about his return. Keep in mind that your ascended Lord is coming back. Just as you saw him go into heaven in majesty and power, so will all people see his glorious return from heaven. On Ascension Day, "Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels." On the Last Day, "Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending." This Jesus, who died and rose for you--this Jesus, who promised you, "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, you will be also"--this same Jesus is coming back, for you! That, my friends, that is what you need to know.
That's the same message we get in today's reading from the last chapter in the Bible, Revelation 22. Jesus is coming back, for us! And what's more, he is coming soon. "And behold, I am coming soon," Jesus says in verse 7. Again in verse 12, "Behold, I am coming soon." Then in verse 20, just so we would have this promise ringing in our ears as we close the Bible, our Lord says the same thing a third time: "Surely I am coming soon." Apparently, Jesus really wants us to know this and take hold of his promise.
"Behold, surely, I am coming soon." The word "soon" adds an urgency to our expectation. Jesus could come at any time. We are not to grow complacent as we wait for his return. Rather, we are to be ready, always ready, for that glorious day. "I am coming soon."
When he comes, that day will be a day of judgment. That's what we confess in the Nicene Creed, isn't it? "And He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead." And that's exactly what Jesus tells us here in our text: "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done." For those who have done evil, in keeping with their persistent impenitence and unbelief, the judgment will be swift, certain, and severe. They will be barred from God's presence forever: "Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
But for those who have done good, for those whose lives display the evidence of the living faith that has been planted in their hearts, for them--for us--Christ's gracious reward will be sweet, certain, and serene. We will enter into the full enjoyment of God's presence forever: "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates."
What a blessed hope we have, my friends! Entrance into the holy city, the new Jerusalem, that beautiful, shining city where God will dwell with his people. A city of life, where death and mourning and crying and pain will be no more. A city of joy, where God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. What a blessed hope we have! Access to the tree of life. Paradise restored. Healing and wholeness, eternal life in a place of perpetual fruitfulness and vitality. This is the blessed home that is waiting for us when Jesus comes again.
Such blessedness is promised to us because of the gift of Christ's righteousness. "Blessed are those who wash their robes." Our sinful robes have been washed clean and pure in the waters of Holy Baptism. By faith we have washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. His holy, precious blood cleanses us from all our sins. His cross is for us the tree of life.
And so the invitation comes to us again and again to partake of God's gift: "And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price." Yes, eternal life in Christ is a free gift. You don't deserve it, you can't earn it, but it is yours, entirely by grace. This water of life will quench your thirst like nothing else can. It will refresh and revive you as you wait for Christ's return.
Refreshed and yet still longing for her Lord's return, the church cries out, "Come!" With eager expectation, the bride of Christ looks forward to the bridegroom's arrival. Every Christian who knows his need and knows his Lord likewise cries out, "Come!" Come and rescue us from this world of sorrow and sin and pain and sadness. Come and save us, Lord, as you have promised. Come take us home, where we belong.
This is what you can bank your whole life on, my friend: At the Last Day, when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ comes again, you and I will be raised up with restored, glorified bodies, and we will see him face-to-face. This great hope is ours because of Christ's sure promise, "Surely I am coming soon." Although for the moment he has been taken from our sight, this same Jesus will come back in heavenly glory and will restore all things. And we will see his face.
"Behold, I am coming soon," our risen and ascended Lord says to us today. Hold on, hold tight, it won't be long now. He who ascended into heaven will come again from heaven to take us home to himself. Until that day, then, hold on to his promise, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
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