In this message we’re going to consider Jesus’ Parable of the Budding Fig Tree and see what it teaches us about the kingdom of God. “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you’ll know he’s at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out. “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.” Jesus in , MSG “In the New Testament the kingdom is affirmed to have come and yet it lies in the future. It is just about to happen and still far off. There are signs, but the timing of the fulfillment of the kingdom is to us unknown and unknowable.” Theologian Kenneth Bailey, Jesus through Middle Easter Eyes, P115 “The trees are coming into leaf Like something almost being said…” The Trees, Philip Larkin “But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I’ll probably never fully understand. We’re not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it’s over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we’ll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal.” 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, The Message (MSG) Pastor John Van Sloten Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Day... Twitter http://twitter.com/johnvs7 Blog http://www.newhopechurch.ca/jvsblog/

• published: 19 May 2015
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