Notes from Sunday, December 16th, 2007

Jesus told the Disciples to pay special attention to the times in which he might be revealed...note his wording, and how these phrases were later echoed in the same Gospel, either literally, or implicitly...

Mark 13:33-37

33 Take heed, watch and pray: for you do not know what time it is. 34 For the Son of man is like a man going on a journey to a far away place, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch therefore: for you do not know when the master of the house will be returning. It might be in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning: 36 If he returns suddenly, will he find you sleeping? 37 What I say unto each of you individually, I say unto you all, Watch.

Each of these unique turns of phrase re-appeared in the same Gospel, either literally, or contextually, and each time it served to remind us of God's holy, appointed time:

• In the evening… Mark 14:17-18 – the Last Supper: “17 And in the evening he went with the twelve. 18 And they sat, and they ate…” (He warns Peter about denying him, and refers to the cockcrow again…)
• At midnight… Later, in Mark 14, we read of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying to the sleeping Apostles, in 14:41, “Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
• When the cock crows… Mark 14:66-72 – “66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there came one of the maidens of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied this, saying, I do not know, nor understand, what you are saying. And he went out onto the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And the maiden saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little while after, they that stood by again said to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech proves this . 71 But he began to curse, and to swear, saying, “I know not this man of whom you speak!” 72 And the cock crew the second time. And Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me three times. And when he thought about this, he wept.”
• Or in the morning… Mark 16:2 – ”And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.”

Humans have always struggled with understanding God's timing, because His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. As we make preparation for Christmas this year, may we be reminded that the Advent season is also a period in which we await the Return and Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us strive to do our best to be ready, so we won't be caught offguard.