46: EXPECTING HIS RETURN (Luke 12:35-48)

Jackie Watts

The Gospel of Luke: The Greatest Story Ever Told • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

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Bubble Creek

In case you haven’t noticed, we aren’t in heaven yet. We still have work to do and people to reach. And while trying to impact the world is often messy and frustrating, it is the eternal task Jesus has called us to.

He has commanded us to use our Time, Talents, & Treasure with eternity in mind, even exchanging our earthly treasure for eternal treasure. With eternity in mind, even selling what we have to demonstrate the love of God to others & offer heaven to them.

With eternity in mind, Jesus heads toward Jerusalem and the cross. And today as we dig in at Luke 12:35, Jesus begins to prepare His disciples for His departure to heaven. Yet Jesus reminds them that He will NOT be gone forever. Instead, they should live like they are Expecting His Return.

And 2000 years later, this is still our task - to live like we are expecting His return.

And as R.C. Sproul has noted:

We don’t know the appointed day or hour of his return, but we know two things with certainty. One, that he is coming, and two, that his coming is closer today than it was yesterday. With each passing moment, human history moves closer to the return of Jesus.

What will that day be like? Today we get a glimpse of what will occur.

PRAY

Luke 12:35–36 (NIV)

35 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.

First, it’s important to note that the focus of this story is NOT on the wedding, but the return of the master. This master had gone to the wedding of another and since wedding celebrations could last for seven days, the exact time of the master's return was not certain.

What WAS certain was that he WOULD return. As that was the case the servants were to be dressed and ready for service. This phrase comes from the literal rendering of the Greek to ‘to gird up the loins’ - an idiom like we might say, 'be sitting on go'. This is why most English translations (ESV, NASB, NIV) write it this way: 'be dressed ready for service'. (See Louw Nida 77.5)

For the Jewish audience Jesus is speaking to, this kind of language points to tucking the long outer garment under a belt to they can move quickly, the same thing the Jewish people were told in being prepared to leave Egypt in the middle of the night in Exodus 12:11.

So too, the people who keep the lamps burning are prepared - on the lookout - expecting the master to return. And when he DOES return, these servants aren’t caught off guard. They are ready for service and keeping the lamps burning.

Luke 12:37 37 It will be good [blessed - ESV, NET, NASB] for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

This is strange language. To have the master SERVE the servants was not the norm, because it is the servants’ job to serve the master. More on this in a minute.

Then Jesus says something strange. He compares the master of the servants with a thief. Let’s look at why He uses this comparison.

Luke 12:38-39 38 It will be good [blessed] for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

My first year in college on a Sunday night I came home from church on a Sunday night to find drapes blowing in the wind from an open window. ThenI discovered drawers open, the VCR gone, and several valuables missing. Our house had been robbed.

IF ONLY WE KNEW what time they were coming…I can assure you, my Dad & I would have been ready! Of course we didn’t even know they were coming. So too Jesus tells His audience…

Luke 12:40 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

He’s not coming to steal anything, but the Master WILL return…expecting His servants to be doing what He has commanded. Now let’s double back to the passage we read earlier to feel the WEIGHT of what Jesus has just said!

Luke 12:37 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.

The Master will serve those who have been serving Him! Can you imagine that!!! On the last night before His death, this is EXACTLY what occurred. The most powerful person in the room took a wash basin and washed their feet. Why would the MASTER serve the servants? Because THAT’S WHO HE IS - a SERVANT.

So too, in the distant future, the KING of KINGs will still SERVE His servants! What an incredible day, what a day of joy & humility that will be! When…

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…

I think that will be the time that we might respond like Peter did: “Lord, you’ll never wash my feet. (John 13:8) You shouldn’t serve me…I should serve you!”

But none the less, the Master will serve & bless His servants. Then…

Luke 12:41

41 Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”

What a GREAT question! This is the question the contemporary audience should be asking as well! Is this intended for just the disciples of Jesus within earshot, or is it meant for anyone who hears what He says? The answer is ultimately found in vss. 47-48. This parable should concern all who hear it, but especially those who claim to be servants of Jesus.

Luke 12:42–44

42 The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good [blessed] for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants…

This reminds me of the times my son has asked, “Daddy, can I have THAT?” and I have responded, “Everything I have…IS yours. Now, take care of what belongs to US.”

Did you know you will have responsibilities that the Lord will give you? Adam & Eve didn’t just sit around in the garden, naked playing a harp! They worked the garden! So too, the good servant will be given more responsibilities in the Kingdom.

But what about those who are disobedient to what the master has commanded?

Luke 12:45 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

This 'servant' begins to act like he is the master. He acts as though the master is not returning and he is now in charge. He treats others poorly & satisfies his sinful desires. Beware those who claim to follow Jesus who refuse to live like they will be accountable to the Master!

Luke 12:46 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

Where do we come up with this idea that people can pray a prayer, tell some people they believe in Jesus, live a life full of disobedience without any concern for eternal things…and be OKAY when Jesus returns?

This is just NOT Biblical. Where is the FEAR of the LORD? Where is the real sense of future accountability? You see…

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.

Cutting enemies to pieces and assigning him/her to a place with unbelievers means ETERNAL DOOM! And believe it or not, there are even different levels of judgment awaiting the disobedient. Jesus continues…

Luke 12:47–48a (NIV)

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.

Both end up in a place of punishment - one experience harsher punishment than the other - one experiences many blows versus few blows. Who experiences the most punishment? Those who KNEW what the Master wanted, but were NOT Expecting His Return.

This should cause a PAUSE to those who have been blessed to know God’s Word & God’s will. This should cause us to do a self-examination - to ask THIS QUESTION -

If Jesus returned today, would I be Excited or Ashamed?

For those of us who have heard the Gospel of Jesus - who have been taught His Word - who have been reminded that our Time, Talents, & Treasure belong to Him - we need to listen to the closing words from today’s teaching.

Luke 12:48b 48…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

What have YOU been entrusted with?

Has the Lord blessed you with His Word and those who teach it well?

Has God given you the task of raising a family?

Has God given you financial prosperity?

Has God given you given the ability to teach, encourage, administrate, or multiple other gifts and abilities to further the KINGdom?

ONE QUESTION: What am I DOING with what I’ve been GIVEN?

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.

Whether He Returns BEFORE you die OR you DIE before He returns…

You will NOT escape His gaze.

You will NOT deceive Him with your smooth talk.

NOR will you dismiss your actions of sacrifice & service with eternity in mind.

On the day that…

BIG TRUTH: The Master returns to bless His servants & doom the disobedient.

Give Jesus your LIFE. Surrender your sin & seek His forgiveness!

Give Jesus your BEST. Seek Him! Get in the Scripture. Live expecting His return! Lay your head on the pillow with this thought - I Gave Jesus my BEST today!

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