“At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens. 28 “Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29 Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it[d] is near, right at the door.30 Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Mark 13.26-31
How will Jesus come? On the clouds and with great power and glory. Great power… glory. The Son of Man will come again like this. How did He come the first time? Lowly and born in a manger as a baby. What a contrast! But upon His return, He will come as a conquering Messiah, holy, high and lifted up, and triumphant. For He has defeated sin, death, and the devil. When Jesus comes back in the end times, He will come not in a crib but as a king.
And when He comes, according to v. 27, He will do so with angels, gathering His chosen from the “ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” His victory will be complete, and all who know Him, who love and serve Him, who have committed their lives to Him, will be received by Him—but He will do the gathering, not us. We will be gathered, we will be collected. The one we have been seeking, searching for, and discovering will find us.
Jesus speaks of signs in the previous verses as He quotes from Isaiah 13: “‘the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” Some people are looking for these signs. They see an eclipse and get worried, or read about unique astronomical events and become concerned. But we do not know the time or the place, and neither does the Son of Man, only the Father in Heaven. But we know the one who knows what’s next. And we know the One who will return victorious.
So do not worry! Love God and love your neighbor. Follow His commands and seek to serve Christ each day of your life. For the Son of Man will return upon the clouds and will receive you back into His arms for eternity.
“O Lord God, I am in Italy and yesterday I went to what is called the Duomo or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It is magnificent! And I felt Your presence in this giant of a church through the worship, the gathering, the Eucharist. Thank You for being present everywhere. For allowing me to find connection in this city and in this place. Thank You for reminding me of who You are and for loving me deeply. I praise You, Lord, and glorify Your name. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen