They Will See the Son Of Man Coming

112-3-23

Hoonah-Hadley

Mark 13:24-37

Call to Worship Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Daily Verse Mark 13:26

In a recent ongoing conversation, a fellow expressed his doubt that Jesus Christ is the “Son of Man”. We could start off with the lesson of the withered fig tree in Matt. 21:21 “So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt…” We could preach on “Faith”. We could partially agree with the doubter and say, “we understand your concern, it really doesn’t make sense that a virgin could conceive a child.” We could go to Matt. 4 where Satan tempts Jesus and He responds 3 times with the same words, so it is etched in our minds and hearts, “it is written”. We could simply shrug our shoulders and say there are mysteries God would not have us know.

That intellectual understanding will never explain how the Red Sea parted or the 3 (4) survived the fiery furnace. Daniel 3:25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Now we have a predicament, how can Jesus Christ be the Son of Man and the Son of God? Good question. We could defer our ignorance to James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally…” We could go to the old stalwart in Matt. 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” How about the gospel of John in 20:31 “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, that believing you may have life in His name.” Heb. 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

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We could suggest 2 Tim. 2:23 “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and ignorant arguments, for you know that it breeds quarreling.” Dr. Vandyne, a pastor, was in the pulpit for 50 years, once said, “you can compromise the incidentals but never the principals.” Malcolm Vandevort a pastor and missionary, walked the hills of Ethiopia for 30 + years said, “The world doesn’t need another book.” The main thing is the main thing. Dr. John Botwell, a God fearing, preaching chiropractor said, “The source is the source is the source.” We’re welcome to doubt, fear, be anxious, worry, argue and a million other unproductive, unhealthy things, but what God is saying and what these gentlemen are saying, don’t try to think your way into understanding. We’re not saying there aren’t some good resources, some helpful books, some sound wisdom within humanity, surely there is. But at the end of the day when all is gained, or lost, there is one counselor, one judge, one king, one prince, one preacher, one teacher, one God, one Savior, one Father, one Son and one Spirit.

To question the virgin birth is not unusual, unreasonable. To understand the “Trinity” can be a bit perplexing. To believe that Jonah was in the belly of a whale (big fish) for 3 days is a bit of a stretch. Ecc. 12:12 “the writing of many books is endless and excessive study is wearying to the body.” There is a story about a young man and an old man hiking across the country. Every evening they would build a fire and have a meal before turning in for the night. And every evening the elderly man would root through his weighty and increasingly burdensome pack. Curious, the young fellow finally inquired as to what was in the sack that had the old fellow bent under its weight. To which the elderly replied: “All the cares of this world.” Prov. 3:23 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways…” Trust, believe, do not doubt.

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The coming of the Son of Man.

This title is not for Christ alone, God called Ezekiel “Son of Man”, some 93 times. In similar fashion, for Ezekiel the prophet and Christ the Savior, it is a reference to humility, servanthood, humanity, mission, ministry and so forth. But in Daniel 7:13-14 there is an overwhelming sense of the one to come. “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven…to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom…an everlasting dominion…which shall not pass away…which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel paints us a picture of things to come some 500 years before they appear. To remove all doubt from the argument, not one of God’s prophesies has failed. 1 John 4:2-6 “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God…We are of God, he who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” Herein the argument is settled, now let us be about our Father’s business.

In the Old Testament book of Daniel and the New Testament gospel of Mark, we are considering the end times, Christ 2nd coming. By some accounts, the “Son of Man” is referenced 82 times in the gospels. Mark 13:24-25 “But in those days…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give it’s light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.” Prophetic utterance of old, fulfilled in the new, tried, tested and true. These things “will” take place. Vs. 26 “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.” Christ first coming was marked by humility and suffering. His second coming will be marked by “great power and glory.” Praise God we will see the Son of Man coming, we will see it!

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Vs. 27 “And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect, from the four winds, from the farthest part of the earth to the farthest part of heaven.” Each verse is a proverbial rabbit trail. We have highlighted here “angels” and “elect” for a reason. When asked if we believe in angels, the answer is yes. Why? Because God’s word says He will send them. That’s the short answer. The long answer is your homework assignment. As far as “His elect” goes, the same things apply. When asked, “Do you believe in election?” Yes, we do. Why? Because God’s word says, “He will…gather together His elect.” As part of that homework assignment, you’ll want to reference “chosen” and “predestined”. If you’re having trouble with the word “chosen”, you can watch the television series “Chosen”, inquire about the “Chosen People Ministry” or go to the “Chosen Gift Shop” and buy a t-shirt. Vs. 28-31 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near—at the doors! …Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Alistair Beggs, “It is at the cross that the execution of divine justice has entered time and a moment. Heaven’s love and heavens justice meet at the cross.” Vs. 32-37 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is…watch therefore…lest coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” The question is not whether Jesus Christ is the Son of Man, the question is, are you sleeping? Do you see how easy it is to be distracted with all kinds of arguments and intellectual preoccupations that do us no service whatsoever? “They Will See the Son of Man Coming.”

Amen!