Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign
Luke 21:25-36 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And on the earth nations will be in anguish, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the surging waves, 26people fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near.”
29He told them a parable. “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30As soon as they are sprouting leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is actually near. 31So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. 32Amen I tell you: This generation will not pass away until all these things happen. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34“Watch yourselves or else your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly. 35For it will come like a trap on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Stay alert all the time, praying that you may be able to escape all these things that are going to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
May the Lord increase your love and make it overflow for each other and for all people, just as ours does for you (1 Thessalonians 3:12). Amen.
As part of my theological research this week I listened to the Five Man Electrical Band singing, “Sign, sign, everywhere a sign, blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind, do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus is talking about signs. The disciples had heard Jesus talking earlier in the temple courtyard about the End Times. Now they are on the Mount of Olives looking over the temple area (Mark 13:3). Three of the disciples ask Jesus when these End Times will be and what signs will precede them. Jesus gives his answer in Luke 21.
Jesus says, “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars” (Luke 21:25a). Last week astronomers saw a huge flare that erupted from the sun. Astronomers discovered a small asteroid roughly the size of a bus orbiting the earth like a “mini moon.” Astronomers are also studying black holes sucking in stars far out in space. You have to be pretty geeky with science stuff to notice these signs.
Jesus continues, “And on the earth nations will be in anguish, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the surging waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the things coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Luke 21:25b-26). You don’t have to be geeky to notice these signs. You just need to pay a little attention to the news. Last week NATO’s Admiral Rob Bauer warned businesses to prepare for WWIII because of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Hurricanes Milton and Helene brought devastation across many southeastern states of the US. There were deadly floods in Nepal, Spain, Tanzania, and Kenya. There were earthquakes in Japan and Turkey. Tiawan was struck by a super typhoon.
Christ left his Church with a catalog of calamities that will characterize life in the last days. The unbelieving world sees these great terrors and faints with fear. We Christians are tempted to look at these worldly signs and become afraid, too. We see nature rise and we doubt that Christ is in control. As we see creation falling apart, we might believe that the Lord of creation is no longer in charge. We fear that evil has taken over the world.
Jesus tells us why he gives us these signs in nature. Every time we hear of wars or natural disasters, they are to remind us that Christ can return at any time. Jesus teaches, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is near” (Luke 21:27-28). Unbelievers see these signs and bow their heads as they cower in fear. Christians who are looking forward to Christ’s return see these signs, lift up our heads, and wait. We continually pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”
These signs mean our final redemption. They signify our final deliverance from all the evil in the world – sin, death, and the power of the devil. For good reason Jesus urges disciples to lift their heads in hope when these End Time signs begin to unfold.
Jesus moves from discussing the signs in nature to the signs of summer when he tells them a parable, “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. As soon as they are sprouting leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is actually near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:29-31).
We don’t have a lot of fig trees around here. We are more familiar with apple, pear, and cherry trees. When the branches become fat with sap, the buds appear ready to burst, and the leaves look ready to break out, those are the signs that summer is near. So, it is with Christ’s eternal kingdom. We see the signs of the End Times all around us and realize that our world is in the dead of winter. But the signs Jesus gives to his disciples are not signs of death, but of life. The fig tree is budding. That means that summer is near for God’s saints, even in the dead of our winter.
Perhaps you wonder every Wisconsin winter like I do, “Why do I live where my face hurts?!” It can be difficult and dreary living during a brutal, gloomy, blistering cold Wisconsin winter. It can be even worse when we remember we are living in a brutal, gloomy, depressing, dreariness of this world’s winter.
Look around you. Read the signs. Christ is coming soon. His Advent is near. When you step outside it feels like winter, but when you look at the Scriptures, when look at the signs in the world, and when look up to the sky in faith, you can see that summer is coming. This world’s winter is almost over. Christ’s first Advent was God entering our world as Man in the dead of its spiritual winter. Jesus came to our spiritual darkness and barrenness. He lived among all the signs of death – leprosy, lameness, tears, and graves everywhere he went. He took on real desolation and physical hardship.
Christ has gone through this world’s spiritual winter for us. He endured the cold-hearted rejection by the world. He suffered the wrath of his heavenly Father upon humanity’s sins. He was stripped of all his divine beauty and majesty. The God-Man lay dead upon the dead tree of the cross. His dead body was buried in a borrowed tomb with soldiers making sure his corpse was not disturbed.
It appeared as if God was dead, and Satan was supreme. It seemed like sin had succeeded. It looked like death had displaced life once and for all. This world appeared brutal, gloomy, and depressing – like we would endure the endless dreariness of this world’s winter.
But the Son of God did not stay dead. Jesus had sacrificed himself for humanity’s sins on the bloody cross. Three days later he burst forth from the dark tomb. He brought light and immortality upon the world. He brought the summer of life upon the earth.
Jesus’ first advent was humble and quiet. He entered our world once in the manger. Jesus continues to enter our world humbly and quietly. Christ now enters our world in the waters of Baptism, in the bread and wine of the Lord’s Supper, and in the spoken, sung, and read Word of God.
The kingdom of God that Jesus talks about is Christ’s activity in the hearts and minds of his people. The kingdom of God is near every time you remember what Christ accomplished for you in your Baptism. The kingdom of God is near every time you receive a vertical unity with Christ and a horizontal unity with Christ’s disciples in the Lord’s Supper. The kingdom of God is near every time you hear a sermon, study your Bible, or sing a hymn, because you are listening to words that will never pass away. Jesus promises, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Luke 21:33). In his Word and Sacraments, Christ comes to you and brings you life and light – he is bringing summer to your soul.
Jesus talks about signs in nature, the signs of summer, and then he concludes by telling us to look for signs in ourselves. “Watch yourselves or else your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, and that day may come on you suddenly. For it will come like a trap on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth” (Luke 21:34-35).
Jesus is warning us to watch ourselves. We can get sucked into the sexual sins that are so prevalent in our culture. We can go to a college or end up in a workplace where our Christian theology is constantly under attack. We can give in to our addictive behaviors of drugs or alcohol. Those are certainly real ways where we may give up our faith. But the greatest danger is apathy. Look at declining worship attendance in churches – in our church. People are not giving up their faith because of some great crisis. They are giving up their faith because of boredom and busyness.
The relentless ticking of the clock and perpetual flipping of the calendar can lull us to sleep. They convince us that Jesus’ return is a distant, future event. In the meantime, we easily become preoccupied with both the pleasures and worries of this life. Weighed down by these concerns, we risk the day of Christ’s advent springing on us like a trap.
Jesus offers us a remedy to getting sucked into sin. He encourages us, “Stay alert all the time, praying that you may be able to escape all these things that are going to happen and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man” (Luke 21:36). Instead of filling up your life with basketball practices, holiday parties, and Christmas shopping, fill up your life with spiritual vigilance and prayer. Your hope is not in your flesh or in this world. Your hope is in the One whose first Advent was as a Baby laid in a cradle and then the Christ laid on a cross. Your hope is in the One whose second Advent will be the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
How many of you have been to Buc-ee’s? Since we’re talking about signs, there’s a new sign going south on I-94 in Kenosha that reads, “469 miles to Buc-ee’s.” That’s a lot of signs and a lot of miles to arrive in Richmond, Kentucky so you can get beef jerky, BBQ brisket sandwiches, homemade fudge, beaver chips, and, of course, fill up your gas tank.
Jesus is promising us something far better than anything we might get at a Buc-ee’s or a Wall Drug or any destination we see signs for. Jesus is giving us signs in nature, the signs of summer, and the signs within ourselves so that we remain alert and praying all the time. We want to be prepared for Jesus’ second Advent. Lift up your heads, because your redemption is near. Lift up your head and look at the signs. Sign, sign, everywhere a sign. Amen.
May the Lord establish your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus comes with all his saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Amen.