A little more ‘Maranatha’, than ‘merry Christmas’?

December: that cluttered time of year where Jesus’ first coming, his birth, is often highlighted.  

For Christians living on this side of Jesus’ death and resurrection and ascension, the New Testament epistles have a much more frequent emphasis on Christians looking to Jesus’ second coming, than to his first. We’re encouraged to live under the weighty and hope-filled reality of his return, and to have this shape the kind of lives we now live.

There are several Greek words tied up with Jesus’ return. One is where we get the English word apocalypse from – it’s an uncovering, a revelation. So, 1 Peter speaks of us waiting for the revelation/apocalypse of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7, 13; 4:13). Another Greek word is parousia. In Latin, this is translated as adventus, from which we get the more formal name of this time of the year, namely: Advent. And so, as Jesus’ birth became an annual Christian celebration, perhaps 200-300 years after the fact by some Northern hemisphere Christians, even in this time of year (this “advent season”) many Christians kept and keep a firm hold on also remembering Jesus’ second advent.

*******************************

Let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 as an example of the epistles picking up the return of Jesus.

I’ve been sitting in and under this passage recently. It’s been good for my soul, and excellent for my prayers. And as you will see, central to that reality is the return of Jesus.

Read 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12.

One of the things that stood out for me from this passage was the division created by the return of Jesus. That is to say, on that day (v. 10) at his revelation (v. 7) and advent, two distinct groups of people become evident. And Jesus’ return holds two distinct responses and results.

1.      Jesus’ return: a day of delight for believers

Some have believed the message about Jesus (v. 10), he is their Lord. And when these people, by God’s grace, mature under that Lordship they display a flourishing faith in God and an increasingly love for one another (v.3). Even in persecution and afflictions, there is perseverance and faith (v. 4) – proof in the end that they are genuinely part of God’s kingdom (v.5). For these ones, when Jesus returns and his justice is perfectly carried out, they will receive merciful relief (v. 7). And on that day, they will glorify him, and marvel (v. 10). Imagine a joyful and wide-eyed people basking in the goodness of their Lord and Saviour. For them the return of Jesus is pure joy and delight – the longing of their hearts perfected.

2.      Jesus’ return: a day of devastation for unbelievers

The second group are described as those who do not know God, and have not obeyed the gospel of the Lord Jesus (v. 8) – the gospel that comes with the call to repent and believe the good news. Their fruit is in contrast to the believers, namely: there is no faith at all, and in fact they may have been involved in afflicting God’s people. Rejecting the grace of God, they will sow what they have reaped. So, at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven, firstly, God’s justice will see them repaid with affliction for their afflicting of others (v. 6). And secondly, linked of course, is verse 9: they will pay the penalty of eternal devastation from the Lord’s presence and his glorious strength.
There are two ways to read the judgment of verse 9: they will either face the scary side of God’s presence and strength as those clothed only in their sin; or they will be shut out from the goodness of God’s presence and strength. That is to say, as they have denied those things, they will either face them, or be removed from them. Either way, that is hell. And it will be revealed at the return of Jesus.

That’s verses 3-10. They’re hectic verses. Sobering. Completely not politically correct. They show two distinct groups of people displayed at Jesus’ return.

*******************************

What kind of saints would we be like if the reality of Jesus’ return in verse 3-10 captured our hearts?

Would we be proud and arrogant, harsh in our words and attitudes? Well, Paul knows what kind of lives should flow out of knowing and looking to Jesus’ return. So, he prays in verses 11-12[1]

1.      He prays firstly that God would make them worthy of his calling.

God must do that, that’s why Paul prays this - he’s not asking the Thessalonians to just ‘try harder’. And what must God do? He must help God’s people to live and become what he has already declared and made them. By his grace, God called them. And by his grace, Paul is praying that God will make them worthy of that calling – to increasingly live as God has made them.

2.      He prays, secondly, that God by his power might fulfil their every desire to do good and their work produced by faith.

As God’s people we still struggle with old desires of the flesh and this world. But we also have new desires. Desires to tell our neighbour the good news of Jesus, to invite them to our bible study group. Or desires to love and serve that person who has just lost a loved one – to provide a shoulder to cry on, or meals. Whatever the case, those desires flow out of the new life we have been given. And Paul is praying ‘Lord, please take them from beyond thoughts to actual actions – fulfil them!’

What are you praying for the saints? Wouldn’t verse 11 be far more beneficial than many of our current prayers? Surely yes, and more than that, because as verse 12 picks up: the major aim is that Jesus might be glorified. Those lives, and those worked out desires, they’re good in and of themselves. But the ultimate telos/goal/end is that ‘our Lord Jesus will be glorified’. Him by us, and us by Him (cf. Col 3:14 and Rom 8:30).

So how will that happen? What’s needed? Verse 12 ends: ‘according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ By grace we began the Christian life, and by grace the Christian life is fruitful – so that in the end, on the day of Christ’ return it can be said: ‘All of God, him by his grace!’

 *******************************

I’m all for remembering and celebrating the actuality and implications of Jesus’ birth! Stopping and allowing that to stand in its own place from the Scriptures detailing that enormity. Oh the wonder of God the Son willing to take on our humanity. And of God being with us, and the opportunity for peace!

But in a world that is largely ok with keeping the 25th December in some form, it may also be worth remembering as God’s people now, that we no longer expectantly wait for the Son to be born. Instead, we expectantly wait for the Son to return - a day of delight and devastation. And in light of that we pray that we might, by his grace, live the kinds of lives that reflect that coming weighty reality.

I doubt unbelievers will join us in wanting to remember that coming Day! And so, slightly cheeky I know, but during this Advent season, personally (preference, not law) I’d much rather hear ‘marana tha, - come, our Lord!’ - on the lips of the saints, than the perfunctory ‘merry Christmas.’ Any person can (and will - as the 25th December will testify) say the latter. But the former…? As I remember the Lord’s first coming, I want to do so also setting my heart and eyes to his second.

[1] ‘In view of this, we always pray for you that our God will make you worthy of his calling, and by his power fulfil your every desire to do good and your work produced by faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’