"The Master Knows the Times"
You can spend time, you can waste time or you can even kill time. We say “time is money”, “time waits for no one” and “a stitch in time saves nine” (whatever that means!).
It is only natural that at this time of the year, the very end of the year, people’s thoughts turn to time itself. All the more at the closing of a decade, as the 2020’s are about to begin. We look back, and we look forward – in fact the Roman god “Janus”, from which we get “January” had two faces – one looking forward, one looking back.
We Christians are not immune to thoughts of time. We live in the world, even though in some ways we are not of it. We have a set number of days, a limited amount of time in this world. We mark the days, the seasons, the years of our life with various calendars and systems. And yet time is still somewhat of a mystery to us. We can’t control it, stop it or reverse it. It comes and goes and is gone. But like all things, our Triune God is its master. He created time after all.
Creation itself occurred in time. God spent 6 days, morning and evening, making everything that is – and then set aside an entire day of rest – not because he was tired, but really for us! He set the sun, moon and stars in the sky to serve as signs for the times and seasons. And he set all of it in perfect motion, so that it literally runs like clockwork. All of this is a gift to us, even before the fall into sin. Time itself is part of the order of his creation.
But of course, we sin. We misuse the time he gives us. We spend it doing things that are not helpful, kind or loving. We don’t occupy our time in love for God and neighbor. We use it selfishly. We’ve even coined the term, “me – time”. That’s the way the sinner views everything, in terms of “me”. It’s my life, leave me alone.
But the God who created time also redeems it, along with all things. He sends his Son, born of a woman, born in time, to live a human life just like ours yet without sin. That means he, the Lord of time, placed himself under it. The eternal, immortal God becomes subject to the tick tock of minutes, days, and years. He learned and grew, just like us. He worked and rested, just like us. He observed the festivals and celebrations of the people of his day, just like us.
And when the time was right, he went to the cross. Jesus knew the plan. He even said things like, “This is the hour of the power of darkness”. And so he would suffer and die. But he also knew his time in the grave was limited, and that on the third day the Son of Man would rise from the dead. And so he did. Right on time. Death held his body not a second longer than he allowed it to.
After 40 days of appearing to many witnesses, alive, the time was fulfilled and he resumed his rightful throne in heaven. And he reigns and rules all things there, with the earth itself as his footstool, until that day, that hour, that time appointed, when he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Our Gospel reading today is just one of those times in which Jesus warns and promises about that appointed time. He uses to parables, really, to illustrate his point.
First, a comparison to a group of servants waiting for their master to come home from a wedding feast. They know he’s coming home, but they don’t know when. And so they could goof off or lollygag, become complacent and fall asleep. But who would want to miss the return of this master? He sounds like quite a guy. Not a cruel taskmaster, a mean old slave owner, but kind and humble. A blessing to his servants! Yes, he even dresses himself for service, and serves THEM!
What a fitting picture of the servant-king Jesus! The master who came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. But his character doesn’t change. When he comes again in glory, it will also be for the good of his people – to bring us to the victory celebration. To serve us in a new way, ushering in the feast in his kingdom which will have no end.
The second parable begins, “But know this…”. Here Jesus shifts to another perspective – now you are the “master”. The master of a house who is perhaps caught unawares when the thief comes. This fits with Jesus’ other teaching about his return being sudden – at a time when no one expects. But here, also, the implication is that one who is not ready will see that arrival as a curse, not a blessing. So be awake! Be ready! He may come at any time!
And while we are not given to know the day or the hour of Christ’s return, or the day or the hour of our own departure via the passage of death – the Master knows the times! Our Lord Jesus Christ, who reigns over all things, is in complete charge of history on the grand scale, and of the number of your days on the smallest scale. And this ought to comfort us.
For instance, in Romans 8 St. Paul lists a long series of possible forces or situations we might face – death, life, angels, rulers, height, depth, etc. But among those things we need not fear he mentions: things present nor things to come.
One of the most anxiety-laden thoughts for many people is fear of the future. What will tomorrow bring? What will I have to face in the new year? What problems and challenges, what sickness and sorrow is just waiting for me around the corner? Tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or sword?
Or even if it’s nothing in particular, just a general fear of the future – a sense of malaise with no specific target – maybe just a sense that things are never quite as good as you hope, that bad things happen, that moth and rust destroy and chaos ultimately wins the day. Such could well be the despair we arrive at, the nihilism that has embraced so many today. In a way, it’s indicative of an eyes-open view of this fallen and corrupt word in which we live. “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:19.
But this world, this life, this present time and all things to come within it – are but a breath. This life is short. This world is coming to an end. There is an appointed hour at which the clocks will stop, and eternity will begin. And this, for the Christian, is good news!
This means the return of our Master! This means the coming of the king. It means the raising of the dead into bodies built for eternity, glorified like Christ’s own glorified flesh. When he comes he will judge the living and the dead, and those who are alive in him by faith will live forevermore! We will see him face to face. We will reunite with those we love who have died in the faith. We will join in the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. And God himself will wipe every tear from our eyes.
That’s your future, Christian. That’s your hope. Beyond the bounds of this time of decay – into the ages of ages in his eternal courts of joy!
So come have a foretaste of it all today. Come, while we wait for the master to return, for even now he prepares us a feast. Even now he comes under bread and wine, though one day he will come riding the clouds. Even now he comes with forgiveness of sins, though one day sin will be no more.
So spend your days and hours wisely, servants of the master. And look forward to the future with hope and expectation. For our master holds all things, even time itself, in his care. And he rules all things for your good. And one day he will come to bring even history to a close. Thanks be to God that the Master knows the times, and holds them all, and us, in his loving hands.
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