Meet Jesus
October 8, 2026
The Best Man’s Story
October 13, 2026I’ll be back!’ said the Terminator (1984). ‘I shall return’ was the iconic phrase of General MacArthur (WWII, 1942). For many centuries, millions of believers have recited or proclaimed the Christian Creed’s line: ‘He will come again.’
On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus Christ shared this promise: ‘I will come back and take you to be with me’ (John 14:3). Such words are crystal clear, above any theological differences.
One may come back with a vengeance; another like the Phoenix; yet another to take a second chance. None of these applies here. Perhaps before talking about Jesus’ second coming, we need to understand why he came the first time.
Why Bethlehem? Why Calvary?
Following the first man’s sin, our world was ruled by evil, evidenced by degradation, suffering, and death. Yet God promised the coming of One who will destroy evil (Genesis 3:15; see also Revelation 12). This was the first Good News!
And this promise was fulfilled by the One born in Bethlehem. Every Christmas we are reminded of the words spoken to Joseph:
‘You are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins’ (Matthew 1:21).
Thirty years later, John the Baptist introduced him: ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ (John 1:29).
This was Jesus’ first coming: a humble baby born in a manger, a heaven-sent Saviour, a sacrifice for the world. The apostle John wrote: ‘The devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work’ (1 John 3:8). Coming ‘to seek and to save the lost’ (Luke 19:10), Jesus announced: ‘now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out’ (John 12:31).
Did he succeed at the cross? Lifted up on Calvary, Jesus shouted: ‘It is finished’ (John 19:30). The universe could see God’s love for humanity, the perfect plan of salvation (1 Peter 2:24,25).
Why then a second coming? Perhaps a prior question is: ‘Where is Jesus now?’ Raised from the dead, he said to Mary Magdalene: ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God’ (John 20:17). The apostle Peter proclaimed him as ‘exalted to the right hand of God’ (Acts 2:32,33). He became our representative, as ‘he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence’ (Hebrews 9:24). ‘He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:24,25).
In conclusion: ‘Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him’ (Hebrews 9:28).
This is the full picture: the first time he came to bear the sin of the world; the second time, to bring salvation.
When will he return? The apostles were the first to ask: ‘What will be the sign of your coming?’ (Matthew 24:3). Jesus’ answer is comprehensive, covering signs of the times (wars, earthquakes, famines), specifics on religious elements (false prophets, counterfeit signs and wonders, persecution), and unmistakable cosmic events. And only ‘then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven’, coming ‘with power and great glory’ (Matthew 24:30). There is no specific date (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:7), as the signs will be enough to ‘know that it is near, right at the door’ (Matthew 24:33).
How will it be?
Personal: the angels said, ‘This same Jesus . . . will come back’ (Acts 1:11).
Glorious: ‘Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him’ (Revelation 1:7).
Triumphant: ‘the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God’ (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The end of this world will not be decided by humans: a red button pushed by a tyrant in an atomic bunker, a wrong AI command, the Earth’s resources becoming depleted, or a natural catastrophe. It will be God’s sovereign decision.
For believers it is ‘the blessed hope: the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ’ (Titus 2:13).
Jesus’ last words in the Bible confirm this promise: ‘Yes, I am coming soon’ (Revelation 22:20).
Worth a try?
The Try Jesus! invitation is simple: come and see for yourself. Not through someone else’s filtered opinion, not relying on secondhand claims. But getting the eyewitness accounts, the primary sources, their own stories. As if you were there, front row.
Take your time. Doubts are welcome. Questions are honoured, and answers are promised. We know: it’s a journey.
