Waiting

Waiting for the Good News What is the season of Advent about? Waiting/Preparing, Anticipation/Expectation Waiting for what? Christmas, the celebration of the birth, the first coming of Jesus But our scripture today is about a different Advent, a Second Advent, a second coming of Our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ Contrast to First Advent - preparing to celebrate his first coming - humbly, as a child vs. His return - with great power and glory This and other scriptures promise us a second coming. Christ’s Return in other scriptures Matt. 24:30 Luke 21:27 John 14:3 Acts 1:6-11 Why should we have confidence in Christ’s “Imminent” return when it has been so long? Habakkuk 2:1-3 What should the promise of Christ’s return do for us? Help us to find the hope & courage in the face of difficult times. What should we be doing while we wait? Beware, keep alert, be on watch, keep awake Active Waiting: Looking, Listening, Giving Attention. Attention to what? Luke 12:35-36 Romans 13:11-14 Rev. 3:3 Fig Facts

Fig Tree is mentioned in more than 50 times in the Bible starting with the fig leaves sowed together by Adam and Eve to hid their nakedness. First Buds in February, about 2 months before the first leaves in late April Fig trees & vines often mentioned together The expression “sitting under one’s own vine and fig tree” as in 1 Ki. 4:25, Micah 4:4 and Zec. 3:10, symbolizes peaceful, prosperous & secure conditions. Used for food & medicine (2 Ki. 20.7)