Christ’s Two Appearances
Titus 2:11-14
December 17, 2023
’Tis the season for waiting. And waiting. Maxine Bland can empathize. A couple of decades ago she showed up to work and found a letter for her that was postmarked 14 years earlier. It had the correct postage for the time, the correct address and zip code; it just took a few years longer than normal to arrive. The letter was from her sister and contained a check for $150. That’s a long time to wait for a repayment. I guess the good news is that they had both forgotten about the letter and why the money was sent.
Christmas — in the biblical sense of the word — is also a time of waiting.
- The prophets waited for the Messiah — “As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.…” (1 Pt. 1:10-11)
- The angels also waited for the Messiah — “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven — things into which angels long to look.” (1 Pt. 1:12)
- Simeon labored long in the temple while he waited (he waited long enough that it seems he could have anticipated he would die before he saw his answered prayer) — “And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” (Lk. 2:25-26)
- Similarly, Anna served in the temple while she awaited the Messiah — “And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years and had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Lk. 2:36-38)
- The history of the OT is a history of faithful people who waited for the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham (which could only be fulfilled in the Messiah), as Hebrews 11 demonstrates.
- Joseph of Arimathea (who provided Jesus’ tomb) was waiting for the Kingdom (Mk. 15:43)
- The disciples were waiting for Christ to assume His throne (Acts 1:6)
- Even creation is waiting for the consummation of God’s plan (Rom. 8:19ff)
Waiting. And waiting. And still waiting. And then. A revelation. A child is born. And God appears.
While numerous NT writers speak about the appearance of God in the arrival of the God-Man, Jesus, this morning, let’s look at Paul’s letter to Titus, where Paul teaches his disciple (and us) that —
The two appearances of Christ serve as a motive for our service of Christ.
Why do we serve the Savior, the God-Man, Jesus Christ? We serve Him because He has come, and because He is coming — and both those appearances also have implications for our service…
- In His First Appearance… (vv. 11-12)
- Christ Brought Grace
- Christ Brought Salvation
- Christ Brought Sanctification
- In His Second Appearance, Christ Will Bring Glory (vv. 13-14)
Download the rest of this sermon on Titus 2:11-14.
The audio will be posted on the GBC website by tomorrow.
“Waiting for summer; Empty benches, the promenade – Birzebugga, Malta” by foxypar4 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
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