Of fig tress and not knowing the time
Matthew 24:32-44
32 ‘From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So also, when you see all these things, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
36 ‘But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. 42 Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.
Jesus’ words here feel confusing.
On the one hand he seems to say there will be signs that the end is coming, that Jesus’ return is imminent. That is the meaning of the fig tree – the tree begins to show signs that spring is coming, and then one day it bursts forth in leaves. So, there are signs that should be indicators that Jesus will soon return.
But in vs. 36 Jesus says, “about that day and hour no one knows”, not even Jesus knew when the end would be – only God the Father. The return will come suddenly, unexpectedly. Life will be going on as usual and then Christ will return. It will be a shocking surprise. So, this would say that the end comes unexpectedly, without warning.
Jesus puts these two together in vs. 42-44. The call is to be ready, to be awake, because we do not know when the end is coming. To be ready now for the end. To be ready means following Jesus now, not putting it off to a future time; it means keeping short accounts, if we need to ask forgiveness of others in order to be reconciled to others, we should do that now. To be ready means paying attention for signs of Jesus’ coming again, being ready also means living the Jesus way in our lives, seeking forgiveness, showing care.
A wise pastor, A.B. Simpson, said, “Live as though Jesus is returning tonight; plan as though Jesus is not coming back for 1,000 years.” Or in the words of the Scouts, “Be prepared.” Scouts make plans for the future even as they are prepared now for the unexpected.
PRAYER:
O Lord, teach us the balance to be ready for your return at any time, even as we make plans for years even decades down the road. In Jesus’ name. Amen.