3.10.2005 | ...though He may tarry

The full quotation, from the Thirteen Articles of Maimonides is:

And Ma'amin, I believe with a full heart in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may tarry, I will wait for him on any day that he may come."

Even though he may tarry. Which brings us to the Messiah, Jesus who became Christ.

We have separated from our elder brothers, the Jews, of course. They rejected Jesus as Messiah, yet we share with the Jews the uncertainty of His return. Or, as a faithful Jew would say, His (first) coming.

We, however, have been assured by God, through His Scriptures, that Jesus will return. Mark Chapter 13 tells us of the end times:

24 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Jesus' disciples, while He walked the earth as one of us, were told to repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. It turns out that meant the incarnation, Passion, and resurrection of Jesus. As for when He will return in glory, Mark 13 also tells us

32 "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.

We now stand with Maimonedes, when we say of Jesus' return, "I believe with a full heart in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he may tarry, I will wait for him on any day that he may come."

Amen.

| technorati tag | Christianity|