Bible Passage: Matthew 24:36-44
Pastor: Joel Jenswold
Sermon Date: November 27, 2022

Bulletin November 27, 2022

In the name of, and to the eternal glory of, Jesus,

“How’s it going?”  “You know, same-old, same-old.”  How many times has that little dialogue been repeated?  Perhaps you have been the one to answer with the “same-old, same-old.”  Just what is meant by that… “same-old, same-old”?  Same-old, same-old means things are routine, normal, ordinary, unchanged and unchanging.  Some might say boring, tedious, unexciting.

Friends, today we begin a season of Advent.  It is a time for us to realize and remember that Jesus is coming.  All that we now say is “same-old, same-old” is soon to end.  Soon, the one enthroned in heaven will declare, Behold, I make all things new! (Revelation 21)  Our text for today speaks to us about the day when we will finally arrive at The End of “Same-old, Same-Old.”

Our text is a continuation of Jesus’ End Times discourse that took place on Tuesday of Holy Week.  In this extended discourse, Jesus is really addressing the question his disciples have asked about his return at the end of time.  And one of the things the disciples wanted to know is the most basic, and sought-after, answer of all:  When is Jesus coming?

This is the beginning of our text:  No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father. (v. 36)  That day is marked on God’s calendar alone.  Not even the holy angels get to look at God’s calendar.  How can Jesus say he doesn’t know the day or hour?  Only the omniscient God knows this information.  Jesus speaks the words of our text during the days of his “humiliation.”  This was the period of time when the Son of God humbled himself to be our Redeemer and he emptied himself of the use of his divine attributes.  He choose for this time NOT to make use of his omniscience.  So as Jesus speaks these words he can say that he didn’t know the date of his return.  And it hasn’t been given to us to know that day.

Jesus compares our world before his return with the world before the Flood.  Just as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man returns.  In fact, in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the very day Noah entered the ark.  And they did not realize what was coming until the flood came and took them all away. (v. 37-39)  For the people living at the time of Noah, it was the same-old, same-old.  Get up, have breakfast, go to work, lunch break, work, clock out, home for dinner, go to bed, wake up, repeat.  Oh, we have cousin Miriam’s wedding this weekend!  That’ll be fun!  Then Monday, same-old, same-old.  All until one day, the heavens opened up and water began to explode from beneath the earth, and that was the end of “same-old, same-old”!

It was the same way at Jesus’ first advent.  Life in Israel was normal, maybe even tedious.  “Same-old, same-old.”  Eating and drinking, engagements happening, fathers giving their daughters away to become wives.  And all of a sudden, an angel is sent to a virgin in Nazareth, and her name is Miriam…Mary, in English.  And she really is planning a wedding to her beloved, Joseph.  And the angel tells her that the Holy Spirit of God is going to come upon her and the power of the Most HIgh will overshadow her so that she, a virgin, will have a baby!  And God’s Son came into the world protected inside her womb!  And that was the end of the “same-old, same-old” for Mary!

It’s going to be the “same-old, same-old” while this world waits for Jesus to come again.  There’s a danger for us in “same-old, same-old.”  It can make us dull.  It can make us numb.  It can lull us to sleep.  It can lead to spiritual laziness.  Football coaches use this strategy.   The offense lines up in this formation ten times, and each time they hand the ball to the running back who runs into the 2 hole.  The eleventh time the defense believes it will be the “same-old, same-old.”  They wait for the running back to get the handoff and run off tackle.  Except this time they fake the handoff.  A speedy receiver has gotten behind the safety.  The pass drops perfectly into his hands.  Into the endzone for a touchdown.  The defense was caught off guard.  They weren’t ready.

Jesus says in our text:  So be alert, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming (v. 42)…You also need to be ready…(v. 44)  How is one ready for this unknown day and hour?  Faith in the Lord Jesus.  Trusting in his death as the payment for your sin.  Trusting in Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life, for you own future resurrection and life.  Let’s never let all this become “same-old, same-old.”  Let’s never hear this dialogue in our midst, “Hey, how’s your spiritual life?”  “Aw, you know, the same-old, same-old.”  If Jesus and repentance and faith ever become “same-old, same-old,” I will want to put an end to it!  I will need to say, “Snap out of it, man!  Wake up!  Jesus is coming!  Faithfulness to him in this world is everything!”

Jesus describes his return in interesting terms in our text:  At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left.  Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. (v. 41)  By the way, some use this verse to teach what is called “the rapture.”  The “Rapture” holds that before Judgment Day, Jesus is going to come and snatch away believers and leave unbelievers on this earth.  This is not talking about some “secret” return of Jesus.  It says “at that time” – the time of his return.  It’s going to be the noisiest day in the history of the world!  Jesus is talking about the suddenness of his return.

But I find it interesting, did you notice, the believer and the unbeliever are working side by side when Jesus returns?  The believing man is working side-by-side with the unbeliever in the field.  The believing woman is working side-by-side with the unbelieving woman at the mill.  It reminds us that until Jesus returns, there will be a certain element of “same-old, same-old.”  God has placed us into different stations and vocations in life.  And until Jesus comes, we will just do faithful work where we are – in the field, at the mill, in the office, in the factory.

Jesus will come soon enough and put an end to “same-old, same-old.”  From the throne in heaven will come the decree, Behold, I make all things new!  (Revelation 21:5)  And the eating and drinking of this age, will give way to the feasting in glory.  The marrying and giving in marriage of this age will be replaced with the eternal wedding supper of the Lamb!  And of that wedding feast it will never said “same-old, same-old.”

Amen.