1. The world ends for the Salvation

From today we enter to the period of the Advent. Almost 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was born at Bethlehem in Judea. We will await the commemoration day of the arrival of Jesus, Christmas Day during the Advent. The word “Advent” which became from Latin “adventus - arrival” means also the second coming of Jesus after the Ascension. The New Testament tells us that Christ will come again on the last day of the world to realize the kingdom of God on the earth. Thus, for christians, the Advent should symbolize also the end of the world.

However it is very difficult for us to understand what will happen on the last day of the world. We knew that Jesus had come. We recognize also the meaning of his death on the Cross. And we believe that he was resurrected among the dead too. But we don’t know how and when he will come again and what it signifies exactly.

Yet, regardless of our ignorance, the Bible teaches costantly that the History is progressing towards the goal, the end of the world. Therefore we must take the teaching as seriously as the Cross. Today we will reflect on the issue by reading Luke chapter 21.

The passage is considered to be a part of apocalyptic literature which reveals what happens at the end of the world. Certain christian groups think that the end of the world is the annihilation of the universe. Then they dare to fixe its date precisely to use it as a threat to push people to participate in their cultic movements. But, if we read attentively enough, the Bible tells us that the last day is the time of blessing, of accomplishment of God’s work as the salvation.

From chapter 21 verse 7 Luke portrays symbols which should appear ahead of the crucial moment. Diseases, famine, or calamities in the nature, for example. Jesus says ; - “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. (Luke 21:25-26)

Sometimes the readers understand the message and think that it predicts the destruction of the world by violent nature. But humans suffer also from human evilness, not only from natural disasters. So please read this verse which precedes of today’s lecturing portion; - They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.(Luke 21:24)

This world is filled with wars, violence, crimes which are generated by egoism of humans. From the beginning of the History till now humans were and are killing each other. They also betray neighbors continuously. Those sinful nature destroys personal and social relationships. Cheating, bulling or cold attitudes of family members make us nervous, even despair. As a result of that we lose confidence and fearful in the surrounding environment .

But such a situation would not continue longtime. Because Jesus said ; - At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."(Luke 21:27-28)

Facing the reality of evil, or more exactly wars and betrayals, we became pessimistic and lose any help. But Jesus teaches us that God will take action to save us from such a miserable world.

2. the Salvation promised

Furthermore the Bible says that the end of the world is already beginning. It might be true as obvious as birth and death destined to humans.

Recently I watched a documentary program on NHK, which reported a result of researches on nature of cancer, life and death. The reporter is Takashi Tachibana* who had been diagnosed with bladder cancer. Though he was cured he is always afraid of its recur or metastasis. Under such conditions he sought to know what is exactly the cancer through interviews with several specialists. Then he learned about a hypothetical theory obtained by analyzing IPS cells*. Among 4 forming genes of IPS cell the researchers found 2 types of genes which might trigger cancerous cells. It means that humans are predestined to get cancer if they do not die of any other causes. It means that our life starts in aiming at the goal of death.

And we might say that this world is likewise. In addition, the last phase of the world is now progressing as Paul’s message indicates it ;- But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1Corinthians 15:20)

The Resurrection of Christ triggered the process of Apocalypse which should be completed through the second arrival of Jesus, the other Advent. We are living in intervening period of those two events and perhaps rather near to the final point. Though we, as christians, are promised with eternal life, it is not yet accorded. Therefore we must choose a lifestyle which deserves it ultimately. Therefore we come to church to listen to God’s words, in which we are on the frontier between two universes, of God and of humans.

Acknowledgement of our situation, being near the end of the world, must change our way of living. It is true that the evil might prosper in this secular world and the good might suffer from misery. Nonetheless we should not forget that this absurd world must end. Because the birth, the death on the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ are revealing the achievement of God’s work in a future, beyond the Apocalypse. The Bible is always compelling us to face the fact. Jesus gave a lesson about the issue in the parable of the fig tree ; - “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.(Luke 21:29-31)

During the winter, fig trees have no leaves. But at the arrival of spring we see buds coming out. Then in summer branches give sweet fruits. One who look at them midst of winter cannot know whether they become fruitful or not.
Even simple fig trees get mature by following seasons. Why God’s words would not ? Therefore Jesus says ; - Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.(Luke 21:33)

We must keep in our mind the teaching above to live throughout the end of the world. As long as we think this world exists eternally we continue focusing on secular interests. As a result we become greedy. In contrast, by knowing that this world end someday we will seek to raise wealth in Heaven, regardless earthy disadvantages. Christians must recognize that spiritual value is much more important than that of money. From such a point of view, we arrive to help the poor and to share even limited food with neighbors. Those who eat more than they need or who ignore the reality of war and violence on the earth are unawakened. Jesus might say to them ; - “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."(Luke 21:36)

3. Live by aspiring to the Savior

Today’s invocation verse is Revelation 22:20 ; - He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

The book of Revelation* is a compilation of letters addressed to early churches who were under oppression in around 95 CE. In general, today’s scholars contribute its authorship to John of Patmos. * In the writer’s time the new born church was suffering from Roman persecution administrated by the Emperor Domitian. Because believers refused to worship statues of Domitian who pretended to be a god. Those who denied Domitian’s divinity should be arrested or executed. As a result, many christians who would not worship any pretending gods but Jesus Christ were killed or casted our. John of Patmos was one of them and is now called this way because of the name of a little island Patmos to which he was sent.

Under such harsh conditions, many believers became unstable in faith. They might wonder why God did not intervene to save them. But, in contrast to them, John meet God and wrote his experience in those letters. John tried to appeal thus that their pains are temporary, as Jesus said “Yes, I am coming soon”.

A lot of christians were encouraged by the expression afterwards. We will sing a hymn titled “The night is advanced…” Its writer, Jochen Klepper, was one of them. He wrote the lyric in 1937 when Nazi’s domination was culminating. And, in parallel, the oppression against Jewish people became monstrous. Jewish deportation was accelerated by Hitler’s policy.

Klepper was a German writer, poet and journalist. He was ostracized by the Nazi Party due to his marriage with Johanna Stein, a Jewish widow with two daughters. He was also fired from Ullstein Publishing House. From that time he concentrated on writing lyrics for hymns. His words are exhorting the faith which must overcome surrounding difficulties by trusting in God.

Todays’ “The night is advanced…” is a one of emblematic works of his lyric-writing activity. I present the first verses translated from German :
” The night is advanced, The day is not far off.
So, friends, let us sing now to praise the bright morning star.
Even we wept at night we will wait the time
when the morning light casts away our fear and pain. ”

He appealed that despite the darkness of the world we can always be awaiting the light. And, 4 years later, Nazi party ordered him to divorce his wife. He rejected the order. Then Nazi decided to sent her and his two daughters in law to a concentration camp. Klepper knew well what was the destiny for Jewish persons there. Therefore he decided to commit suicide with his family by opening a main tap of gas. It was during the Advent period, the 10 December in 1942, the preceding night of their departure to the camp.

His last record in the dairy reads : - This evening I discussed with the authority. And we are about to die now. All things is in hands of God. Tonight we will die together. At this very moment Jesus who fought for our sake is standing up over us. We finish our life in his eyes.-

Klepper did not die in despair. He chose the way to protect and respect the dignity of his wife and daughters. The the 4th stanza of the hymn sings:
” Yet many nights are falling to people who are suffering from evil.
But now, with all the moves, the star protected by God is brightening in light.
It won’t keep you in dark any longer .
By God’s presence the star comes here to rescue you.

The son of God came on the very Christmas night. The light pierced the darkness. He entered into the dark world and was laid down in a manger. He died on the Cross. But the writer of Epistle to the Hebrews said : ‘ During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.(Hebrew 5:7)

The son of God who took human’s body and shared our weakness and misery on the earth is now in Heaven. But he promised that he would come back soon to save us ultimately. Therefor the period of the Advent is the time during which we pray ” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” to witness to him by trusting in his words.
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* The book of Revelation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation#Modern_Views_of_Authorship
* Takashi Tachibana http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takashi_Tachibana
*IPS cell http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induced_pluripotent_stem_cell
* Jochen Klepper http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jochen_Klepper
In the Shadow of Your Wing http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Shadow_of_Your_Wings
Epistle to the Hebrews http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_the_Hebrews