If Jesus Didn’t Know . . .

Matthew 24:36-42

³⁶“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.

³⁷For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

³⁸For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark,

³⁹and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

⁴⁰Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left.

⁴¹Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left.

⁴²Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.

⁴³But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.

⁴⁴Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Back in the 60’s and 70’s (and probably well into the 90’s!) you could always count on dire prophecies making their way into the headlines of the gossip magazines. The most famous of those prognosticators was Jean Dixon. Her predictions always made the cover of the magazine. I still remember reading those headlines as a kid and experiencing some fear. How did this lady know these things? Was she right? My mom assured me that she didn’t know anything and time would prove her wrong. (My mom was always the brains of the operation.) Then, as I read more of the Bible I came across this verse; “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” If Jesus didn’t know when He was going to return how could any of us know? And there’s the peace – we don’t. Anyone who tells you a specific date hasn’t read their Bible. God isn’t going to let that information out to anyone. And He hasn't instructed us to try and figure it out. That just isn't a part of our work here.

But – He does warn us that He is indeed coming. It took Noah 120 years to build the ark. Do you suppose that those who watched him didn't asked a few questions? Noah was called “a preacher of righteousness” by Peter (2 Peter 2:5) so you know that he shared the truth with anyone who would listen. But, they didn’t believe and perished for their hardheartedness. The same is true for us. We see the signs and know that Jesus is on His way back. But we have not been given any information as too exactly when. That is for God the Father alone to know. This does create a tension. How can the Father know something that the Son does not know when they are One? I don’t know. It’s a dichotomy that we live with inside of the faith. All we know for certain is that Jesus is going to return when the Father tells Him to do so. Until then, we wait in readiness.

As well as calling Noah the preacher of righteousness, Peter also discusses the end and when it might happen.

2 Peter 3:7-10

⁷But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

⁸But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

⁹The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Peter actually heard Jesus say that no one knows when it will happen. He was there during Passion Week to receive these instructions first hand. Peter confirms that Jesus will return when the time is right. Every single day that the Father tarries allows time for more souls to come to know Jesus. He wants all to repent and know Him; more time equals more souls. Once again, grace abounds.