And I hope you'll turn with me in your copies of God's Word to Mark chapter 13. Mark's Gospel chapter 13, that's on, the verses we'll consider this morning are on page 1171 in the Black Pew Bible in front of you. Mark 13, we'll begin at verse 28 today on 1171. Just remember, we've been considering Mark 13 in the evening service together, but we'll finish it here this morning. And remember that the disciples asked a very specific question about when the temple would be destroyed. And in the last two weeks, we've seen Jesus answering their question that before the temple is destroyed would be a period of difficulty and opportunity for the church. And then we saw last Lord's Day evening, very specific signs that the disciples could look for that this destruction was about to take place. The signs of the Roman legions coming to Jerusalem to destroy the temple. But this week we'll see, as we go through the text, a shift in focus as Jesus moves even to the very end of time. And so we'll look at verses 28 to 37, but like we did last week, I'll read verses one to four, just so we have the context. Mark 13, beginning at verse one. Listen to God's word. Then as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, teacher, see what manner of stones and what beautiful buildings are here. And Jesus answered and said to him, do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down. Now, as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? And then over to verse 28, after Jesus has given those signs. Verse 28, now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near at the doors. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the son, but only the father. Take heed, watch, and pray, for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country who left his house and gave authority to his servants and to each his work and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch, therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning. lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all. Watch. Amen. This is God's word, and let's pray and ask for his blessing as we consider it together this morning. Heavenly Father, I thank you that you have given your church clear instruction, that you have been clear with us what we are to do, to watch. And I pray, Heavenly Father, that this morning you would help us to be watchful and bless your word to that effect. We pray in Jesus' name, amen. In April of 2001, my dad took my older brother Daniel and myself on a short backpacking trip. Two or three nights, I forget how many, in Red River Gorge, Kentucky. several other dads from the church, Southside RP in Indianapolis, several other dads came and brought many of their kids. There were lots of our friends on this trip and it was a great time. And on the last night of the trip, we were camped right close to the trailhead. We were maybe a mile or so from the end. So we were gonna camp one more night, and in the morning we'd hike out, a very easy hike. And that afternoon when we were there, a few of the dads, not all of them, they didn't leave us alone, but a few of the dads hiked out to get some supplies. I think probably they were getting a fresh supply of coffee after several days on the trail without it, but they left some of us behind. And my dad, when he went, he gave my brother Dan and I a task, set up the tent and fill our water bottles, do the water purification and fill our water bottles. But, with many of our friends, we instead built dams by a waterfall, we played with our friends in the creeks and rivers, and we just generally goofed off in the woods. We were having too much fun, and we thought there'd always be time to get our chores done later. But of course, you know how this story ends, don't you? Dad comes back, none of the chores are done, and now the sun is setting. And if you were at the fall party yesterday, you know that when the sun sets in the woods, it sets quickly. And so then we were setting up the tent in the dark. We were filling up water bottles in the dark, all while catching a pretty good earful from our father, whose sons had completely disregarded his instructions. We weren't ready. We weren't ready. We'd been given a task to be about, but laziness and carelessness won the day. Of course, the stakes weren't very high. If we told this story at a family gathering, it would get laughs and smiles, no tears or wailing. It didn't matter that much. It was still a great trip. But I trust, even from a quick reading, that you see the connection to our text. Jesus has given his disciples a task to do. In the whole chapter, he's given them the task of sharing the gospel, but here specifically, the task to watch for his coming. And here we see the stakes are much higher, aren't they? In our text, Jesus is anxious that his disciples be prepared for his arrival. He gives them assurance because of the sureness of his word that he will come. And the task while they wait, what we could call the task of spiritual watchfulness. Spiritual watchfulness. And this, I think, sets up our main point this morning, that because the words of Jesus are infallibly true, watch for His coming with patience and prayer. Because the words of Jesus are infallibly true, watch for His coming with patience and prayer. And if you look in the bulletin, you can see the three headings under which we'll consider this main point. First in verses 28 to 31, we'll consider why you can trust Jesus' words. Why you can trust Jesus' words. Then in 32 to 36, we'll look at why you should obey Jesus' words. And then finally, using verse 37 as something of a springboard for our application, we'll consider how you can obey Jesus' words. So why you can trust them, why you should obey them, and how you can obey them. This is how we'll consider the passage this morning. And first, look with me at the first paragraph or so of our text, verses 28 to 31, where we'll see why you can trust Jesus' words. And the first thing we see here is that Jesus gives a parable about his words. Jesus gives a parable about his words. Verse 28, Jesus says, now learn this parable from the fig tree. When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. And Jesus draws his disciples' attention to the fig tree, and from it, he gives them an object lesson. The Mount of Olives was famous for olive trees, but just second to that, there were many fig trees on the Mount of Olives. And we should keep in mind that of the trees in Palestine, the fig tree is one of very few trees that shed its leaves season by season. Most of the trees there don't shed their leaves, but the fig tree sheds in the fall and winter, and then the leaves come back in the spring. And since Jesus is speaking at Passover, since Jesus is speaking in the spring, the disciples would have been able to look around and see leaves starting to bud. This is where the illustration comes from. We're in a different season now, but think to yourself, or look out the window, what do golden and red and orange leaves mean? That autumn is here and winter will shortly follow. And what's the point of Jesus' illustration? He wants the disciples to be watching for the signs he's given and to respond accordingly. Verse 20, so you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near at the door. These things that Jesus references must be what he was speaking about in our last study. Signs that when you see the Roman armies coming, when you hear false Christs being preached or false Christs preaching, when you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you know that it is near. When Jesus says, it is near, he's referring again to the disciples' original question about the destruction of the temple and when it would take place. And Jesus is telling the disciples, just like you're able to see budding leaves and know that summer will follow shortly, so you should be able to look at these specific signs that I've given you and know that Jerusalem's judgment is at hand. Jesus had told his disciples what to look for, and he had told them how to respond by fleeing from judgment. And so when Jesus is speaking here, it had yet to come, but we can look back through history and see that it did come, as he said. And so this, I think, is the basis for our confidence in the words of Jesus, that our confidence should be just the same, and we should pay attention and obey. And so Jesus gives a parable about his words. But notice next, notice next that Jesus gives a pronouncement about his words. He gives a pronouncement about his words. Verses 30 and 31. Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. I think that Jesus' words here have proved a stumbling block for many, because many will look at the verses that preceded, especially 19 to 27, and think that Jesus is preaching about the end of the age, and the end of time, and there can be uncertainty. Why didn't the end come like Jesus said? But here, I'd just remind us of what we've been considering the past several weeks, that in the Olivet Discourse, Jesus has kept thus far the destruction of Jerusalem and the years leading up to it primarily, almost exclusively in view. And if that's the case, if that's what Jesus is talking about, we're not left in verse 30 with some kind of embarrassing or faith-shaking unfulfilled prophecy. We're actually given a piece of comforting evidence that shows Jesus' sovereign knowledge and sovereign control over the course of history. Remember that biblically speaking, a generation is 40 years. Right, when God judged that the rebellious generation coming out of Egypt, how long did they wander in the wilderness? 40 years. Jesus is speaking in the spring of about 30 AD. About 40 years later, the abomination of desolation, the Roman legions came and Jerusalem was destroyed. Within 40 years of Jesus' prophecy, all the things that Jesus had spoken of thus far had taken place. That generation of Christians had seen persecutions and wars and rumors of wars, like we saw in verses five to 13. They'd seen the desolation of the temple's worship, like 14 signals. They had seen Christians flee from Jerusalem, like Jesus had told them to. They had seen the temple destroyed block by block, like Jesus said. When Jesus says, When Jesus says, assuredly I say to you, his words are good. You can take them to the bank. And then in the next verse, verse 31, Jesus makes a pronouncement about his words that no mere man or woman could ever make except blasphemously. Jesus says heaven and earth will pass away but my words will by no means pass away. Jesus is saying that his words are more sure and more reliable than the rising and the setting of the sun and the coming and the going of the seasons. And we should hear echoes of Old Testament language in Jesus' pronouncement about His words. Psalm 102, 25, the psalmist says, In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain. Isaiah 40, verse 7, the grass withers. The flower fades, earth will pass away, but what does Isaiah say? Grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our Lord, but the word of our God stands forever. James Edwards comments on this verse. For Jesus to assert that his word will outlive heaven and earth is a remarkable claim of authority. The only being who could reasonably make such a claim is God. And brothers and sisters, Jesus wants us. He wants you and he wants me to have confidence in his word. Every jot and tittle is infallibly true and trustworthy. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. And since Jesus' words are true, since they are trustworthy, it's not too much of a step then to reason from that, that Jesus' words ought to be obeyed. And we'll consider reasons for obeying Jesus' words under our second heading, why you should obey Jesus' words. And we'll see this in 32 to 36. Why you should obey Jesus' words. but before we consider reasons that Jesus gives us, we should note something about this verse, verse 32. We should note a change in view, a change in view. Perhaps some of you, as we've been preaching through Mark 13, perhaps some of you have said to yourself, surely in this chapter, Jesus has something to say about the end of time, or about the end of the age. And I'd suggest to you that we find it here in verse 32, where Jesus says, but, but of that day and hour, no one knows. The word but in verse 32, it functions as what we grammatically call an adversative. That is, the word but is a signal that what comes after will be contrasted and set against what came before. We could dynamically translate verse 32 as Jesus saying, but on the other hand, or in contrast to what we've said thus far, that day is unknowable. In verses 14 to 27, Jesus focused on a time when the abomination of desolation and the horrors of the Roman siege would take place. And notice that Jesus has drawn our attention to a period or a season of times. If you, a season of time, if you glance back through the chapter, you'll see in verse 17 that Jesus speaks of days, plural, days when those who were nursing would be in trouble. Verse 19, days when there would be tribulation and trial. Verse 20, days that would be cut short. Verse 24, days when Jerusalem would be destroyed. In other words, thus far, Jesus has been focusing on discernible, knowable days that were at the time yet to come in history. But in verse 32, Jesus shifts his focus from discernible, knowable days in history to an indiscernible, unknowable day at the end of history. In the scripture, when we speak of a singular day towards which the people of God are to look, then we move quite decisively into what we call eschatology, or the doctrine of the last things. During the Sermon on the Mount, we can see this in scripture. During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking about the final judgment. When he says in Matthew 7, 22, on that day, many will come and say to me, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not cast out demons in your name? And I'll say, away from me. Jesus is speaking about the end when he says, that day. We could think of Paul's words, 2 Timothy 1 verse 12, where Paul says, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that day. And we could multiply examples of this. And so we can see in verse 32 that Jesus has shifted our focus to a singular future day which is unknowable and therefore a future day which he calls us to watch for faithfully and diligently. Whereas the emphasis of Jesus' teaching on the destruction of Jerusalem was, if you look for the signs, if you look at the fig trees, if you look for the signs that I've told you, you will be able to discern the season. Here the emphasis is there will be no signs, so you must always watch. Nobody knows, not the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father. It's probably worth noting and commenting on that verse 32 is famous for this statement of Jesus, that not even he, not even the Son of God knew the date for the end. No one knows, not even the Son. And it can almost seem like Jesus is suggesting that he doesn't have all of the divine attributes, that he doesn't have divine omniscience. Actually, early in church history, many heretics looked to this verse to try and prove that Jesus is sub-divine. And if that has ever concerned you, let me just suggest two things, perhaps as a bit of a theological aside, but two things for us to keep in note about this statement, not even the son knows. First, First, during his earthly ministry, Jesus willingly did not use all of his divine attributes. He had them, they were his because he was God, but he chose not to use them. God neither slumbers nor sleeps, but Jesus willingly subjected himself to sleep in the boat. As God, Jesus is omnipresent, and yet he limited himself in his ministry. And as God, Jesus is omniscient, but he willingly let himself not know this piece of information for a time. There's a mystery here. I don't want to disregard that, but the mystery is ultimately that of the incarnation, that God became man. That's a mystery. That's a mystery that'll stretch your mind. Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. A mystery, but we understand that it's clearly what Scripture teaches. But second, we should know that since Jesus' earthly ministry is over, He knows the date now. John writes Revelation 1.1, the revelation of Jesus Christ. which God gave him to show his servants the things that must soon take place." Jesus knows now. And so this statement, it's limited to Jesus' earthly ministry. As I said, perhaps surprising or even mysterious, but not more surprising nor mysterious than the whole of the incarnation, God in the flesh. And so here we've taken a moment to notice in verse 32 a shift in view, a discernible move to teaching about the end of time. But we should also note that with this shift in view comes a clear command, a clear command. After moving our focus to that day, Jesus gives commands for his disciples. Verse 33, take heed, watch, pray, Verse 34, the doorkeeper is commanded to watch. Verse 35, watch therefore. Verse 37, what I say to you, I say to all, watch. I think that Matthew Henry is helpful when he points out that while Jesus is speaking about his return at the end of days in verse 32, that we're right to broaden our application of the exhortation to watch. Henry writes, we know not when he will come, and he has very wisely kept us at uncertainty that we might all be always ready. This is applicable to his coming to us in particular at our death, as well as to the general judgment. Our present life is a night, a dark night compared with the other life. We know not in which watch of the night our master will come, whether in the days of our youth or middle age or old age. And so Henry says we all need to watch. And with this command, Jesus gives several reasons for us to watch. In this second illustration, the illustration of a landlord who goes far away and gives commandments to his servants. And in this illustration, one of the reasons for us to watch is because of our ignorance of the time of his coming. We need to watch because of our ignorance of the time of his coming. Three times in these verses, Jesus says that we don't know. Verse 32, no one knows. Verse 33, take heed for you do not know when the time is. Verse 35, watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming. Students, students, why should you be always mastering your class material? You do not know when a pop quiz may come. Or employees, why should you always be working diligently? You do not know when your manager will come and inspect your work. The same principle applies spiritually. Not knowing the time of inspection should lead us to constant preparedness. Another reason that we need to watch as seen in this illustration is because sleeping at your post is dangerous. We need to watch because sleeping at your post is dangerous. Jesus seems to focus especially on the doorkeeper, one who is in charge of watching the house, watching to make sure that dangers and enemies did not come near as he was waiting for the master. In context, we could think of the responsibility to watch for the false teachers and the false Christ that Jesus has warned about. Elsewhere in the New Testament, spiritual drowsiness is seen and given to us as a time when sin and worldliness can creep in. So we need to watch because sleeping at your post is dangerous. And finally, we need to watch so that we can anticipate his coming with joy. We need to watch so that we can anticipate his coming with joy. When Elsa and I know that a guest is coming to stay, we do our best to follow our chore chart more carefully than normal, if I'm honest. We're excited for the guest and we want to greet them with joy. Jesus desires that we would be excited to see him. Dear Christian friend, Jesus is excited to see you. Jesus is excited to see you and he wants you to watch so that you could be excited to see him. And he says that watchfulness is key. So that, as 1 John 2.28 tells us, we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. Jesus doesn't want, he doesn't want you shrinking in shame at his coming. The father, the father doesn't want his children shrinking in shame. And so he says, be watchful, be sober minded, be spiritually minded, spiritual watchfulness. It will help our prayers to be genuine. We are called to pray in scripture, thy kingdom come, come quickly, Lord Jesus. But aren't there times, if you're honest, when you would have been ashamed at His coming. Jesus is telling us that spiritual watchfulness will cause us to anticipate His coming with joy. And if this is our task, spiritual watchfulness, we might well ask how. How am I to watch? What does it look like practically to be watchful in the Christian life? And we'll consider that under our third heading, how. How you can obey Jesus' words. And we'll consider this using, like I said, verse 37 as something of a springboard. Verse 37 is Jesus' final words of the Olivet Discourse as Mark records it. And it's a call to all, right? What I say to you, I say to all. This is not just the apostles who need to be watchful. It's not just Christian leaders who need to be watchful. Jesus is saying this to all his disciples. And while Jesus doesn't here give specific instructions, we can still survey the scripture and learn principles for how we are to watch. And I'll specifically suggest four ways, four ways for us to watch. First, first watch by close communion with God in prayer. Watch by close communion with God in prayer. Verse 33 of our translation, Jesus says, take heed, watch, and pray. There's some difference in the New Testament manuscripts here. Maybe some of your translations have that command as a footnote. But regardless, we can be sure that communion with God in prayer will help us be watchful for his coming. Maybe some of you have had the experience of running into an old acquaintance somewhere. And then maybe there's some awkwardness. Because the last time that you saw them, when you departed, there were big promises to stay in touch. We're gonna call, we're gonna text, I'll write emails, we're gonna stay in touch. And then you see them 18 months, two years later, and it's like, I haven't said a word to you in two years. How are things going? How many kids do you have now? Where do you live? These sorts of things. But then compare that to seeing a dear friend or a family member who you're constantly in contact. with, who you text every day and FaceTime every week. There's no awkwardness when you see them. There's an immediate embrace and immediate fellowship. Communion with God in prayer, speaking to Him daily. It will make you ready to speak with Him eternally. Watch, watch by close communion with God in prayer. Second, second, watch by praising God in worship. Watch by praising God in worship. I'm thinking especially of what we're doing here this morning, corporate worship, but certainly private and family worship too. In worship, we have our hearts and we have our thinking reoriented to heavenly realities. As we sing to God and pray to God and hear from God's word as we read it and as it's preached, worship reminds us, it reminds us and it testifies to the world that there is an eternal God with whom we have to deal. When we come into worship, we are about eternal work. And that work, it has the effect of making us circumspect and heavenly minded in our thinking and in our watching. The Puritan Jeremiah Burroughs, he tells the story of an old godly saint who was approaching the end of his life. And that saint was constant in prayer and constant in worship. And as he thought about his death, he said with beautiful Christian assurance, I shall change my place, but I shall not change my company. I shall change my place, but I shall not change my company. That is our goal, brothers and sisters. to be so watchful for the Lord, to be so much with God on earth by praying to Him and hearing from Him as we read His word and being with Him in worship, to be so much with Him that when He comes, we can almost say we've never been apart. We'll change our place, but not our company. So watch by prayer, watch by worship, Third, watch by consistent self-examination. Watch by consistent self-examination. When sin creeps in, it makes us drowsy in our Christian duty. It lulls us to sleep. And so Jesus would have us watch out by self-examination. Paul tells young Pastor Timothy, 1 Timothy 4.16, take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Take heed to yourself. Pay attention to your Christian life. Be honest in your examination. Are you promptly repenting for sin? Are you killing sin? Or are you nursing sin? Paul says take heed of yourself. Take heed of your doctrine. Pay attention to what you believe. Is it according to the pattern of sound words given to you in the apostolic gospel? Or have false Christs and false prophets deceived you and lulled you to sleep? Pay attention to your life and pay attention to your doctrine. We could also add examine your company. Examine your company in self-examination. Romans 16, seven. Paul says, watch out. For those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught. Watch out for your company. Examine your company. I might just offer an additional word of application here on this point. We're coming to the Lord's table next Lord's Day. Next Sabbath day we'll come to the Lord's table. Brothers and sisters, let's come examined. Let's come examined. The Lord's Supper is a miniature of Christ's coming to us. Christ visits us at this meal. And being examined and watchful as we come to his table month by month will help us to prepare to be in his presence moment by moment in eternity. Read Psalm 139. Read your vows of church membership. Read question 97 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, what is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's Supper. Brothers and sisters, come examined. Come examined. So watch by prayer. Watch by worship. Watch by self-examination. And fourth, watch by faithful Christian living. Watch by faithful Christian living. Jesus' goal, Jesus' goal in these exhortations to watch is not that we would become paranoid Christians. His goal is not that we become unable to function, so frozen with fear, thinking and imagining that any thought besides that of the Lord's coming is therefore unwatchfulness. That's not Jesus' point. Think about how we've applied this call to watch. live a life of prayer, live a life of worship, live a life of regular self-examination. All that describes is the Christian life lived faithfully. Jesus' call to watchfulness is not a call to all-night prayer vigils and severe asceticism. This watching for the Lord's coming can be fulfilled in the ordinary course of the Christian life lived faithfully. J.C. Ryle, J.C. Ryle is helpful here. J.C. Ryle asks, does our Lord require us to neglect any of the duties of life in the expectation of His return? He requires nothing of the kind. He does not bid the farmer neglect his land, or the laborer his work, or the merchant his business, or the lawyer his calling. All Jesus asks is that baptized people should live up to the faith into which they were baptized, should live as penitent people, live as believing people. To live in this way is to be truly happy. because it is to be truly prepared for anything that may come upon the earth. And boys and girls, I want you to notice what Ryle said. He said, live as baptized people. This watchfulness, it's not just for your parents. This watchfulness, it's not just for grownups or people who have taken their vows up here. If you're baptized, you need to be watchful too. but it can be done in the ordinary course of Christian life. Maybe some of you have heard the account of John Wesley. John Wesley was asked by a woman in his congregation, I don't know if it was in his congregation, he was asked by a woman, what would you do If you knew that you were gonna die tomorrow night, how would you spend your time? Maybe some of you have been asked that question, and there's kind of a pressure to say, oh, I'd never be more spiritual than in those 24 hours. Wesley said, in effect, I'd spend my time as I intend to keep it now. He was scheduled to preach that night, so he said, I'd preach as scheduled. I'd go to a Bible study where I was expected. A friend had invited him for dinner. He said, I'd go to my friend's house for dinner. And at 10 o'clock, he'd go to bed and quote, commend myself to my heavenly father, lie down to rest, and wake up in glory. That is Christian watchfulness. A life lived faithfully quorum Deo, before the face of God, and ready and excited to meet God. And so watch brothers and sisters, watch by prayer, watch by worship, watch by self-examination. and watched by faithful Christian living. But as we draw to a close, let me just suggest two additional things, perhaps addendums to add to our watching. Two additional things. First, as you watch, exhort your fellow servants. As you watch, as you watch yourself, exhort your fellow servants. We've focused so far on how we are to watch. It's been personal, and we've made personal application. But let me also suggest that there is a corporate nature to watchfulness. And here first, I'd especially address the elders of the congregation. Paul's parting words to the Ephesian elders finds many parallels with the warnings that Jesus gives in Mark 13. Acts 20, 28 to 31, Paul says to the Ephesian elders, pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock. I know that after my departure, fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. And from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore, be alert. Elders, we will give an account on judgment day for how we kept watch over the flock of God. We need to be faithful in prayer, faithful in visitation, and faithful to encourage the saints in their watchfulness, and even faithful to warn those who aren't being watchful. This applies to elders. But elsewhere, Paul applies this more broadly than just to elders. He writes in 1 Thessalonians 5.14, we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle. If you see, congregation, if you see your fellow servants idle, when God has called them to work and to watch, Paul says to you, warn them. Warn them. And so as you watch, as you watch, exhort your fellow servants. And finally, keep this in mind. As you watch, put your trust in the true watchman. As you watch, put your trust in the true watchman. Jesus' words to us in Mark 13 are full of imperatives. Full of commands and exhortations. But as readers of the gospel, there can be no confusion about what the ultimate basis for our salvation is, the ultimate reason for our confidence and assurance, and it is not our personal watchfulness. We are not saved because we are perfect watchmen. We are not saved because our elders or our friends are perfect watchmen. We are saved because Christ, who gave his life up as a ransom for many, watches over those whom he has saved. Psalm 121, four. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. He is watching over us. He is interceding for us. And He will guard us until that day when He appears. And while the watchfulness of Jesus, it does not give us presumption for carelessness, it does give us a basis for Christian, for confident Christian living. Striving for faithfulness ourselves. even as we trust his continuing work on our behalf. As you watch, put your trust in the true watchman. Brothers and sisters, we've seen this morning that Christ's word is infallibly true. We've seen it played out in history, and we will one day see it played out in eternity. And whether Christ returns soon or brings us to glory together or comes for us individually at the end of the days that he has numbered for us, we ought to watch for his coming. Because the words of Jesus are infallibly true, watch for his coming with patience and prayer. Amen. Lord Jesus, we thank you for this word that you have given to your church. While it is a sobering word and a word that gives us serious responsibilities, we thank you for it and we ask that you would cause us by your spirit to be faithful in our charge, cause us to be a watchful congregation, Lord, so that we could look for your coming with great joy. We ask it in Jesus' name, amen.