“Stay Awake: Living In Expectation of Christ’s Return”

 The Book of Mark

Encountering The Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ

Good morning and again…welcome to Eastern Shore Baptist Church. My name is Stuart Davidson and I am the pastor here at ESBC. Thank you for worshipping with us this morning. Since the beginning of the summer, our church has been in the midst of a series entitled “The Book of Mark:Encountering The Miracles and Mission of Jesus Christ”. We have been walking through Mark’s Gospel, chapter by chapter, verse by verse. Today, we will be in chapter 13 of Mark’s Gospel, verses 32-37. 

Today’s message is entitled, “Stay Awake:Living In Expectation of Christ’s Return”. 

Today’s Message:

“Stay Awake: Living In Expectation of Christ’s Return”

Friends, did you know that for every time Jesus’ birth is mentioned in the Bible, His second coming back to earth is mentioned 8 times? You heard me correct. For every 1 time Jesus’ first coming is talked about, His second coming is discussed 8 times. I recently read an article published January 11th, 2023 that looked at American’s beliefs concerning the return, the physical return, of Jesus Christ. The numbers may surprise you. Among evangelicals, that’s me and you friends, 92% of us believe that Jesus will return. 92% of believer’s in Christ believe that He will one day return. Makes you wonder about the other 8%. What about Americans? Americans that are not a part of a mainline denomination? 55% of all American adults aged 18 and over believe in the second coming of Christ. Friends that is 142 million Americans believe that Jesus will one day return for His Bride, the Church. 

Considering how rarely Biblical prophecy is taught in churches and in seminaries, and how droves of Americans are leaving the church, that is a really amazing number. 

The Second coming of Jesus, His return, is of vital relevance and importance. In fact, and I don’t mean to stir controversy, I would doubt one’s salvation if they did not believe that Jesus was returning or coming back. Why do I say that? 

Think about it like this…the new birth is mentioned in the Bible 9 times, baptism is mentioned 52 times, repentance is mentioned 89 times, but the second coming of Christ is mentioned 1500 times in the Old Testament, albeit prophetically. It is mentioned and extensively discussed 300 times in the New Testament. Clearly the prophets not only believed in the first coming of the Messiah, but they also believed that He would one day return, bringing with Him the final installment of God’s Kingdom. Obviously the New Testament authors, all of them, believed in the reality of the second coming of Jesus. 

How certain should we all be that Jesus will one day return? God, in His infinite wisdom, dedicated the last book of the Bible, His last Word to humanity, John’s Revelation to point our attention to the return of our Lord…our Savior…Jesus Christ. 

Recently, Christian’s have become divided and polarized over the issue of the second coming. Topics like: premillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, historic premillennialism, postmillennialism, millennialism, have served to put Christians into opposing and opposite camps. Will we suffer in the tribulation? Will Jesus rapture Christians before the tribulation? Are we living in the tribulation now? For some, these issues have become primary issues that have divided churches across America. 

Friends, these are fun topics of discussion but our differences on these issues should not break fellowship, split churches, and drive people from ministry. 

Do you know why the differing opinions of Jesus’ return should be considered a secondary issue instead of a primary one?

The answer is simple. We don’t know. No one does. As your pastor I can confidently tell you that I have no idea how, when, or where the second coming of Jesus will occur and anyone who tells you with certainty that they do know, that they can predict the date, is lying to you. 

This is a very important point that we will return to in a minute. No one know the hour. No one. 

Here is what we do know about the return of Christ. We know that it will happen. We know that Jesus wins. We know that evil will be destroyed. Period. That is what we know and that is enough. 

Here are a few other small details that we know about the return of the King. Fill in the blanks under “Today’s Thought”

Jesus’ return will be global. It will be glorious. It will be gripping. Now the question is “will you be glad”?

Scripture tell us that everyone in the world will be able to see, hear, and clearly underhand that Jesus has returned. It will be a global event and everyone will see it. It will be unmistakable. We know that it will be glorious and gripping. Jesus will come on the clouds with angels in support. It will be a loud event heralded with music and worship. The world will be gripped in fear. Especially wrongdoers, wicked people, and people who have willfully denied Christ. For the rest of us who have waited expectedly for Christ, we will be glad. Glad to see His arrival. Glad to celebrate with the angels. 

Today’s Thought:

Jesus’ Return Will Be Global, Glorious and Gripping. Will You Be Glad?

Years ago, Billy Graham wrote a book called “Storm Warning”. The book examines how earthly events may be pointing to the return of Christ. Listen to what he says in his book. 

“The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”

Today’s Quote:

“The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.”

-Rev. Billy Graham, “Storm Warning”

Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Jesus can’t get here quick enough can He?

Background and Context:

This morning we are reading from Mark 13:32-37. 

In Mark 13, Jesus is with His disciples in Jerusalem, just days before His crucifixion. The disciples, curious about the end times, ask Jesus when the temple would be destroyed and what signs would accompany His return. Jesus responds with a prophetic discourse, warning them of the trials, tribulations, and false messiahs that would come. He urges them to be watchful, vigilant, and ready, as no one knows the day or the hour of His return—only the Father.

This brings us to Mark 13:32-37, where Jesus emphasizes the need to “Stay Awake” and be prepared, as His return will come suddenly and unexpectedly.

Think about the “prepper movement,” where people stockpile food, water, and supplies in anticipation of potential disasters. While there is wisdom in being prepared for emergencies, there’s an even greater need to be prepared spiritually for Jesus’ eventual return. Physical preparedness has its place, but it pales in comparison to the eternal significance of being ready for the second coming of Christ.

As we dive into this passage, we’ll explore the crucial question: What does Jesus want us to know about His second coming? Understanding His words in Mark 13:32-37 will help us live with a constant expectation, ready to respond faithfully when He returns.

Statement of Belief:

We believe the Bible to be inspired, God breathed, infallible, and authoritative. We believe the Bible is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training believer’s in righteousness. God’s Word gives life. It provides peace in trouble and protection in tribulation. It is alive, active, and cuts to the core of the human soul. Since there is no other book like it, let us stand to show our reverence and respect.  

Today’s Scripture:

Mark 13:32-37 NLT

"However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. [33] And since you don't know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! [34] "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. [35] You, too, must keep watch! For you don't know when the master of the household will return-in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. [36] Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. [37] I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!"

Pastor: “This is the word of the Lord.”

Congregation: “Praise His name, Praise His holy name.”

What Does Jesus Want Us To Know About His Second Coming?

1. Remain Alert vs. 33

So, let’s answer that question this morning, what does Jesus want us to know about His second coming? Number one, remain alert. 

And since you don't know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert! 

Last week, we prayed for our teachers, our students, and our school administrators. Adults, I have a question for you, do you remember what it was like to return to school after being out all summer? Do you remember the anticipation that you all had? How many of you, just days before school started, your parents would take you out to Gayfers or Parisian and buy you new blue jeans or a pretty new dress? Your parents bought you new shoes. Maybe your Mom and Dad took you to Wal-Mart or if you were living in Troy like I was, the store was the TGNY. Your parent’s would buy you new paper, new pencils, new trapper keepers. Remember those days. 

Maybe you were like me and before school started you sat down and said, “this year is going to be different”. You said “this year, I’m really going to buckle down”. You said, “this year, Im really going to stay on top of my studies. Im going to take notes, go over my assignments early, and prepare weeks in advance for those tests”. 

That was my mentality every year. I had the best of intentions. My motivations were pure. 

Something happened about week 3 of school starting back. I fell back into my routines. My bad study habits caught up with me. I wanted to study but Knight Rider was on. I wanted to memorize my note cards but the A-Team theme song just came on. I wanted devote time to studying, but my Nintendo wouldn’t play itself. Someone had to play it and it might as well have been me. 

I got lazy. Complacent. Apathetic. 

My best laid plans ended up as just that…plans. 

That’s human nature by the way. That’s all of us. At some point along the way, we have all embraced the poison of procrastination. 

I’ve got time. I’ll get around to it when I get around to it. Im busy. When my life isn’t so busy, I will devote myself to it. 

Jesus, talking to His disciples about the end of the age, His eventual return, tells them to be on their guard, to stay awake. This is an interesting statement from our Lord given the words captured in Matthew 26. 

Matthew 26:39-45 NLT

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, "My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." [40] Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Couldn't you watch with me even one hour? [41] Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!" [42] Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, "My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done." [43] When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn't keep their eyes open. [44] So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. [45] Then he came to the disciples and said, "Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look-the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Human nature often conquers our spiritual desires. We make God promises all the time but our human nature, also called the flesh, trumps our promises to God. 

Jesus tells His disciples to be on guard, to be alert, because Jesus knows more than anyone about the snares and pitfalls of human nature. People, most people at their core, are just plain lazy. We are all easily distracted. Jesus knew this. People are easily distracted especially when accountability is not readily available. Jesus knew that His death was coming. He also knew that He would return to the Father. Think about how we often perform when we know that accountability is not visible. 

I heard a statement along time ago, “you cannot expect when you do not inspect”. Meaning that in order to get the job complete, we need accountability to hold our feet to the fire. 

I don’t know who said the quote, but one of my professors at Samford used to say it all the time. It stuck with me. “Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.”

There is a lot of truth to that. 

Oh friends, there is a myriad of ways where we do the opposite of being on guard. There are a host of ways where we do the opposite of remaining alert. We can be spiritually complacent. When Christians become comfortable in their faith, they might neglect regular prayer, Bible reading, and fellowship with other believers. This complacency can lead to a lack of spiritual growth and dull their sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. What about worldly distractions. The busyness of life, including work, hobbies, and entertainment, can consume time and energy that should be devoted to God. When worldly pursuits take precedence, spiritual vigilance diminishes. Worrying constantly about money, about business, about the stock market, about politics, it all takes our eyes off of the eternal. 

Friends, we may say that we believe that Jesus is coming back, but for many of us, our actions say otherwise. If we truly believe that Jesus was returning, we would share our faith more, advance the Kingdom more, and give more responsibly. 

If you ask me, we are getting closer everyday to His return. Will you be ready?

Romans 13:11 (CSB) 

“Besides this, since you know the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, because now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”

2. Ready For Action vs. 34

So, let’s go back to that question this morning, what does Jesus want us to know about His second coming? Number one, remain alert. Number 2, be ready for action.

[34] "The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.

If Jesus is indeed coming back, we should make the most of our time. Scripture tell us that our time is limited. According to Scripture, we are a vapor, a mist, that is here one day and gone the next. If that is true, than every second counts. Every day matters. 

How are you and I using our time. After all, at the end of days, Jesus will judge all people according to their words and works. Will He say “well done my good and faithful servant” or will He say “depart from me for I new knew you”?

In Mark 13:34, Jesus instructs us to be ready for action, using the image of a master who leaves his servants in charge while he goes on a journey. This readiness is not about idleness or laziness but about a state of active preparedness, vigilance, and commitment to our calling.

Over the last several weeks I have been reading about heroic missionaries. Books like “Rescued: The Unexpected And Extraordinary News of The Gospel” and “His Faithfulness Reaches to the Skies”, and “The Greatest Missionary Generation”. As I was reading I came across the story of William Borden. Borden is nicknamed the “Millionaire Missionary”. His family was unusually wealthy. So wealthy in fact, that in 1904, when William graduated from High School, they gave him a trip around the world. He traveled through Asia, the Middle East, and Europe among many other places. As he traveled, God moved in his heart for the millions of people who had never heard the Gospel. 

After the trip, he came home and declared that he would devote himself to being a missionary. 

His friends told him that he was tossing away his life. Giving up on his fortune. On friend wrote him and tol him that he was foolish for pursing such a crazy dream. He wrote back simply, “say no to self and say yes to Jesus every time”.

Borden attended Yale and then Princeton Seminary. He was called to the people of China, a man after my own heart as I too love the people of China. Sadly, he never reached his goal. He traveled overseas to learn the language. In his travels he contracted spinal meningitis and passed away. When news of his death made its way back to America, people were inspired to follow in his footsteps. A newspaper article is quoted saying, "A wave of sorrow went round the world . . . Borden not only gave (away) his wealth, but himself, in a way so joyous and natural that it (seemed) a privilege rather than a sacrifice,”.

William Borden had a motto that he lived his life by, “no reserves, no retreat, no regrets”. Talk about being ready for action. 

Your ability to be ready for action may not involve traveling around the world to China. Your ready for action may be like me and Angela…adoption. We didn’t live in China but we chose to have China live with us. Your ready for action moment may be sharing Christ with your neighbor or the kid at the end of the lunch table. Your ready for action moment may be stepping up to help here at church in some way. Teaching. Ministering. Who knows?

Luke 12:35-36 (NIV)

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.”

3. Respond With Accountability 35-36

So, let’s go back to that question one last time this morning, what does Jesus want us to know about His second coming? Number one, remain alert. Number 2, be ready for action. Number 3, respond with accountability. 

[35] You, too, must keep watch! For you don't know when the master of the household will return-in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. [36] Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 

This passage underlines a crucial point: accountability. Jesus is calling us to live with a sense of responsibility, knowing that His return could happen at any moment. The question we must grapple with is, “How should we respond to this call for accountability?”

Bottom line folks, we are accountable to one another, accountable to this church, and more than all that, we are accountable to God for what we do and what we don’t do. We are accountable in all of these ways because it brings God glory and it conforms us to His image. 

Jesus, in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 12, talks about readiness and accountability. 

Luke 12:35-40 NLT

"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, [36] as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. [37] The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! [38] He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. [39] "Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. [40] You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected."

You must be ready. I must be ready. We must be faithful. 

Listen to Paul’s words captured in I Corinthians 4.

1 Corinthians 4:2 (NLT)

“Now, a person who is put in charge as a manager must be faithful.”

“No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets”

Let us pray:

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word and the wisdom it imparts. Help us to remain vigilant and watchful, living each day in readiness for Your return. Grant us the strength to act with purpose and dedication, and the grace to hold one another accountable in love. May we embody the spirit of William Borden’s motto, living with no reserves, no retreat, and no regrets, as we faithfully serve You.

Guide us as we leave this place, and let our lives reflect the readiness and commitment You desire from us. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.