Why didn’t God tell Jesus when he would return?

“No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 24:36) From this statement we gather that Jesus was saying that certain features of God’s plan were kept secret from even him until he had finished his course. 

When Jesus laid down his perfect human life at Jordan to do his Father’s will without reserve—from that moment he became the Lamb of God slain. He received the holy spirit in full measure and was now worthy to be entrusted with his father’s scroll. (See Revelation 5) 

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.” (Revelation 5:12) 

As Jesus came up out of the water “the heavens were open unto him” (Matthew 3:16) meaning that higher things in the plan of God were made clear to him. In his pre-human condition as the Logos in heaven he was not permitted to read the scroll; as the boy Jesus, and as the young man Jesus he had not understood the deep meanings of the Scriptures. 

It was at the moment that Jesus made his consecration at Jordan, the moment of his death as the Lamb—that the scroll was handed to him by the Great Eternal One. Although his sacrifice would not be actually completed for three and a half more years, the surrender of his will was complete and was accepted as the sacrifice of his all. 

After his baptism at Jordan, Jesus hastened away to a solitary place in the wilderness so that he might deliberate upon the Divine purposes as they had been disclosed to him. Figuratively he had read and comprehended all that was written on the outside of the scroll—all which was necessary for him to know prior to his sacrifice at Calvary. 

We know from his statement to his disciples in Matthew 24:36 quoted above, that Jesus had not yet broken the seals of the scroll and had not yet comprehended all the things written on the inside of the scroll. We thus see that there were certain features of the Divine Plan still kept secret from our Master up to the time that he had finished his course. But, after his resurrection, he knew all things as he was rewarded with immortality and given all power in heaven and earth. 

“Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:13)

To learn more about why Jesus is returning to earth listen to, ” What Are the True Reasons for Jesus’ Return to Earth?”