“Sun, Moon, and Stars”
Luke 21:25-36
Advent 2, December 5, 2010
Pastor Aaron A. Koch
Mt. Zion Lutheran Church
Greenfield, Wisconsin

✠ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ✠

God created the sun, moon, and stars on the 4th day of creation. God gave them to human beings for two reasons: He said that they were to be lights for the earth, and also that they were to be markers of time, for signs and seasons, and for days and years. The rising and setting of the sun mark the day. The phases of the moon mark roughly a month. The earth’s movement around the sun and it’s relation to the other stars marks the seasons and the course of a year. These heavenly bodies are God’s gifts to us that help order the times of our life.

They also point, however, to more than just the passage of time. They point to the fulfillment of time, to the end of time, and to Him who is the Lord of time and eternity, Jesus. Remember how it was a heavenly body, a star, that led the Wise Men to the Christ-child. Jesus’ first coming was marked by a sign in the heavens. Remember also how, when our Lord Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, that there was a sign in the heavens. Beginning at high noon, for three hours, all the land was covered with darkness and the sun did not give its full light. This was not simply an eclipse, since eclipses don’t last for three hours. This was at the time of the Passover, which is about the time of the full moon when eclipses don’t occur anyway. Rather the sun, you might say, bowed its head and dimmed at the sight of the Son of God dying to redeem the world from sin and the power of death.

In the same way, Jesus says, there will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars marking His second coming, His return for judgment. With these words Jesus calls to mind how He is like Joseph in the Old Testament. You remember that Joseph had a dream that the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him–a sign of how one day God would make him ruler in Egypt and his family would kneel before him as he provided grain for them and saved their lives. In the same way Jesus is our greater Joseph, who provides the Bread of life for us and saves us eternally, the One to whom every knee shall bow, both Jew and Gentile, all the powers shaken by His coming. The sun, moon, and stars will not only bow down to our returning Lord Christ at the end, but they will eventually bow out altogether as this old creation passes away and gives way to the new creation that Jesus is coming to bring to His people.

Jesus says that as men observe the signs in creation, groaning in its bondage to decay, and as people see the distress of nations and the shaking of the powers that be, their hearts will fail them from fear. That’s the way it will be for the world. Those who don’t fear God must fear almost everything else–the economy, the environment, politics, their health, family issues–all of it becomes an obsession and a stress and a worry. When fear runs the show, then you are drawn more and more to try to find your happiness and security in the things of this world. And in the end that only leads to despair or the raw pursuit of pleasure–“eat, drink, and be merry; what does it matter anyway?”

And so Jesus says, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.” Our Lord tells us about the coming judgment and destruction of the earth not so we will be terrified about it, but so that we will learn not to fall in love with what is passing away. God drives us to insecurity in ourselves, so that we will look only to Him for our security. God drives us to despair of ourselves, so that we will look only to His words for our hope, and fear, love, and trust in Him.

Repent then of your attachment to this passing life, of the fleshly loves that would cling to this world above the life of the world to come. Turn away from all that would keep you from praying, “Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Come to us now.”

For the truth of the matter is that Judgment Day and the second coming of Christ is not something to fear ultimately but to greatly desire and eagerly anticipate. Even when all around you seems to be coming apart and coming unglued, yet you have reason for great hope; for our Savior is close at hand. Jesus says, “When you see these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.” Your redemption draws near because your Redeemer draws near, and your life is in Him.

For us, judgment day has really already happened–Good Friday, a day filled with signs: not only was the sun darkened, but the Roman and Jewish peoples were in uproar, there was an earthquake that broke open many graves, and the veil in the temple was torn in two. That day and the Last Day are inseparably joined. The One who will come at the close of the age is the same One who already came to rescue you from all that would ensnare you and drag you down to hell. Jesus allowed Himself to be snared and weighed down with your sin and death in order to break their power over you. He did not escape the judgment of death so that you would have the gift of everlasting life. All of your sins were answered for on the tree of the cross. Believe that is so. You, the baptized, have nothing to be afraid of and everything to look forward to when He comes again.

That’s the only way you can understand those words that sound so terrifying: “Pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” How can we possibly hope to stand on that day? The Psalmist says, “If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.” You are counted worthy to escape the terrors of the end, and to be left standing before the Son of Man, simply and only because He Himself has made you worthy by His blood. You are given a holy standing before the Father because of His mercy and forgiveness in Christ.

Confessing that, trusting in Jesus as your Redeemer, is what it means to fear the name of the Lord, as Malachi says. Because of what Jesus did for you, the coming day of judgment is not your terror but your comfort: “For you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in Hiss wings.” Healing of the body in the resurrection, purification of the soul from sin.

Let these Gospel signs remind you, then, that you must endure only a little while longer, that your Savior is at the very gates of heaven about to return for you. Don’t give up hope, especially when you see the wicked and the ungodly prospering all around you with seemingly no consequences for their behavior. They will be burned up like stubble on the Day the Lord makes you His precious jewels. The kingdom of God is near. Hold on to Christ. You will be like Him, for you will see Him as He is.

“Come quickly, Lord Jesus; come to us now,” we pray. And He does in the Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus said, “Lift up your heads.” In the communion liturgy we say, “Lift up your hearts. We lift them up unto the Lord.” For our Redeemer draws near with His true and living body and blood. He comes to cover you with His own forgiving mercy.

So look up and lift up your heads. Learn from the sun, moon, and stars–not in the superstitious way of the astrologers. Rather let these markers of time remind you of the ending of time, stirring up your hearts to greater faith in Christ and a greater desire for His return and your deliverance from this world. For the heavens and the earth will pass away. But Jesus’ words will never pass away. They are the words of eternal life, for you.

✠ In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit ✠