Meditating on the Return of Jesus
By Jim Curtis
Many seminary students and young pastors gravitate early in their ministry toward a specific part of Scripture. While some may maintain that it is unfavourable to have favourite parts of the Bible, even favourite books of the Bible, I'm not so quite convinced—perhaps, though, that's just me hanging on to something of my youth.
As a young pastor, I have felt myself fit into this typecast. My favorite theme of the Bible? The return of Christ.
Now, as the youngsters say, this may seem like a "Jesus Juke" (a move to make others feel bad by invoking Jesus as their "favourite"; for a biblical example, see 1 Cor 1:12). I understand that, and I accept my fate. And yet, I also want to suggest that Jesus Christ's return, while an obvious choice for a favourite, is also a timely reminder for the Church. Let me explain.
Let's (Not) Get Apocalyptic
I am willing to stake a few quid—is that the right word? —that the vast majority of the time someone brings up the return of Jesus many minds turn to large questions about the book of Revelation. How are we to understand the seals, trumpets, and bowls? Who are the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse? What is the meaning of the Dragon, the Millennium, and the Binding of Satan?
While God does intend to communicate incredibly important things by those images, and while I am happy to get on a plane to grab a cuppa and discuss with you my understanding of them, this isn't the direction I'm heading. What I mean when I say a favourite theme of mine is the return of Christ isn't that I love studying the end times. I don't want to talk about how Christ returns, necessarily (much less try and guess when), but rather that he will return. And what does Christ tell us about his return?
Sooner Rather Than Later
Jesus tells us three times in Revelation 22 that his return is "soon." This may strike us as odd. Hasn't it been almost 2000 years since he was last with us? How is that soon? Great question—wrong text.
Jesus' words are less about precise timing and more about his intention and desire to be with his people. Put differently, Jesus' three-fold proclamation of his imminent return reveals to us the heart of Christ: it is his true desire as the redeemer of God's people to be with them. He is calling out to his bride (cf. Rev 19:6-10; 21:9-27) a promise of love. In fact, the true sense of the book of Revelation is that Christ has been continually meeting with his people throughout the Church's life, which only confirms the words of Christ from the Great Commission: And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matt 28:20b). This should remind us then that Jesus' promise isn't failing; far from that, this promise of the quick return of our Lord is a call to remember his abiding presence and eagerness to love and reside fully with his people.
This means that it is truly soon that Christ will make all things new (21:5). Soon, Christ will utterly end death's tyranny (21:4). Soon, Christ will fully satisfy our true and glorified selves (21:4). Soon, God's dwelling place will be finally and eternally with mankind (21:3). This will happen sooner rather than later, just as assuredly Christ is with his people now by his abiding Spirit and through his means of grace (prayer, the Bible, the sacraments, and fellowship of the saints).
So... Now What?
Certainly, it would be wonderful to have the time and inclination to sit around and daydream of this idyllic future. Meditation upon heaven should be a spiritual practice to call to our minds the promised reality of the New Creation in Christ. But I have a job and a family, I have responsibilities to the people in my church, I have a "real life." Do I really have time to reflect on some regular basis on this coming reality? Probably not. But we should make time for it for at least three reasons presented to us by Jesus himself:
Jesus says that his return is connected to personal holiness — that the evil doer will do evil, and the righteous will still do right.
Meditating on the return of Christ pushes us toward a likeness of Jesus Christ. Jesus' imminent return creates in his people a desire to be found by him as righteous. Just as little children call to their parents to tell them of the good they are doing, we, too, want Jesus to return and find us doing good and not evil. When we focus ourselves on the fact that Jesus eagerly desires to be with his people, it pushes us toward holiness by giving us a similar desire: a desire for our bridegroom.
Jesus tells the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. There, he instructs his Church that we should be at work with what he is giving us to sharpen, invest, fertilize, and otherwise use what he gives us in this life to the furtherance of his kingdom here on earth. Jesus instructs us to be a busy people, concerned and consumed with Jesus' glory by pursuing holiness both inside and out. His return invites us to do this with joy, knowing the one who returns is who we desire (and desire to be like!).
Jesus says that his return is connected to the punishment of the wicked — that he is bringing recompense with him, to repay to each what he has done.
Singlehandedly the biggest concern I come across from others when I discuss the return of Jesus is the excellent concern for loved ones who do not know Jesus. I encourage people regularly to pray "Come, Lord Jesus!" And I often hear the reply, "But what about my friend, mother, brother, cousin, grandmother, or other loved one? They don't know Jesus, so shouldn't I hope Jesus delays?" This seems right on the surface, but upon deeper examination this is right hearted but wrong headed.
The return of Jesus pushes us to evangelism; if Jesus delayed, what motivation would we have? The Gospel we proclaim is not "take your time, there is no rush!" The message of the prophets of the Old Testament, of John the Baptist, and now of Jesus is one of urgency: Jesus is returning soon to punish the evildoer; will you be caught working for Jesus or asleep at the wheel? Far from being a desire to see our loved ones not know Jesus, then, praying for, meditating on, and proclaiming the return of Jesus is the engine which drives us to evangelize more—not less.
Jesus says that his return is connected to unity — that the Spirit and the Bride (Church) are of one accord in saying, "Come!"
We see what feels to be unprecedented division in the Church (one does wonder how we might feel if we had lived in AD1054 or 1517!). When the Church properly fixes her gaze upon the Bridegroom, rather than her own garments (i.e., herself), however, unity becomes a Spiritual reality: the Spirit unifies the Church around Jesus Christ. This is the foretaste of the unity of God's presence with us, of the full and final removal of sin, and our glorious future with Christ.
This emphasis upon the return of Christ recalibrates the Christian by reminding of our true posture toward others: encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:25b). The Day of salvation, the Great and Awesome Day, is approaching soon. This truth calls us, then, to drop our selfish desires and ambitions and push one another not toward my way or your way, but rather to one unified desire and message: Come, Lord Jesus!
Beloved friends, here is our rallying cry, our true and lasting hope: Jesus is coming soon. Will you join me in praying for and meditating on his return?
Jim Curtis is an Associate Minister at First Reformed Presbyterian Church in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in Pittsburgh, PA, USA, where he lives with his wife and children.
