Be Ready!

Opening Comments:

Please meet me in your copy of God’s word today in Luke 12:35-40 If you’re using one of our church bibles, you can find your place on pg.819. This is the Word of the Lord.

Luke 12:35–40 ESV

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Prayer

"Dear Heavenly Father,

As we gather to study Your Word today, we come acknowledging our need for readiness. May we as a congregation be ready to hear and ready to respond to your word, and ready to serve you with our lives.

We pray that You would stir our hearts to faithful vigilance, that we may be found watching and waiting for Your Son's return. Help us to live with eternity in view, and to steward the resources and opportunities You've entrusted to us.

By Your Spirit, open our eyes to the truth of Luke 12: 35-40 that we may be challenged, encouraged, and transformed.

We pray in Jesus' name. Amen."

Introduction

One of the most important doctrines of the christian faith is the eminent return of Christ. We call this Doctrine the Second Coming (Eschatology). The doctrine of the second coming teaches us that human history will end when Jesus returns to earth to take his bride (all the saved) with him, establish his kingdom and ultimately and finally punish Satan and all his forces. This is something the scripture teaches as a historical fact every bit as much as the first coming of Christ. The belief that Christ will one day return is not a secondary issue, it is a primary one. Though the timing of the events of his return have been much debated.

Theologian Arnold T. Olson has written this:

Ever since the first days of the Christian church, evangelicals have been “looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” They may have disagreed as to its timing and to the events on the eschatological calendar. They may have differed as to a pre-tribulation or post-tribulation rapture—the pre- or post- or non-millennial coming. They may have been divided as to a literal rebirth of Israel. However, all are agreed that the final solution to the problems of this world is in the hands of the King of kings who will someday make the kingdoms of this world his very own.

R. Kent Hughes, Luke: That You May Know the Truth, Preaching the Word (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1998), 58–59.

To illustrate just how vital of a doctrine this is to the Christian faith allow me to share with you some statistics that prove my point.

The New Testament consists of 260 chapters.

The return of Christ is mentioned 318 times in those chapters.

that equates to one verse in every 25 mentioning the Lord’s return.

For every time Christ first coming his mentioned his second coming is mentioned 8.

Scholars have identified 1,845 biblical references to the return of Christ in the entirety of the Bible.

Jesus himself mentioned his second coming at least 20 times

Only Galatians (which is a polemic against legalism) and the tiny letters of 2 & 3 John do not mention the second coming of Christ.

Needless to say, the return of Christ is not something ambiguous in Scripture, it is a vital and central element of orthodox christianity. Some would even go as far to say that the truth of Christ second coming is the most vital doctrine of our faith. Because it identifies and describes the culmination of the entire arc of redemptive history. Every detail of it that is spoken of in the Bible will be fulfilled.

It is so important that the Bible ends with a warning regarding any one who misrepresents or tampers with the doctrine of the second coming.

Revelation 22:18–20 ESV

18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!

While it is a central doctrine of the faith, sadly those who do not outright deny Christ return often live as if they believe it is not going to happen. Going about our lives as if there is no eternal consequence to our actions.

Our passage this morning here in Luke 12:35-40 reveals to us though that the return of christ is both a certain and uncertain reality. Certain in that we know Christ will return, but uncertain in that we do not know when he will return. Therefore we must always be ready. That is the warning of our passage. Which fits into the flow of the narrative of rest of Luke 12.

The parable of the rich fool, was a warning against greed. Which resulted in Christ warning against anxiety over material things. Now, in cautioning his audience to be ready for his return, we see that this readiness makes the things of this world far less important.

Our passage in front of us gives a call to be ready (v.35-40)

Jesus here uses two analogies; a faithful servant and a wise homeowner; to demonstrate our readiness for Christ return.

1.) We are to be ready like a faithful servant. (v.35-38)

Luke 12:35–36 ESV

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.

A first century Jewish wedding was quite the affair and the celebration could go on for days. If a master of a home were gone to a wedding, his servants would have no idea when he would return. Because of this, faithful servants would stay dressed and ready for the masters return regardless of the time of the night.

A.) Dressed for action

Literally “Let your loins stay girded” (LSB “Gird up your loins”)

People in this day, male and female alike would wear long flowing robes. Before they could work, fight, or run, they would have to gather up the loose flowing material and tie it up with a sash or belt. This allowed them to move quickly to the door to let the master in should he return.

The same phrase is used by Peter in 1 Peter 1:13 as he exhorted his readers

1 Peter 1:13 ESV

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Preparing your minds for action- literally “girding up the loins of your mind” (LSB “Having girded your minds for action”)

This is a call to readiness in light of the Lord’s imminent return.

B.) Keep your lamps burning

A lamp only served one purpose, to give off light. A faithful servant would be diligent to make sure to keep the oil in the lamp full and the wicks trimmed in order to provide the maximum amount of light in the house for when the master returned.

Light is used as a metaphor for knowledge in the scripture.

We are not to be ignorant of the soon return of Christ; stumbling around in spiritual darkness. No, we are to be watchful and making certain our lamp is lit for the masters return.

Romans 13:11–14 ESV

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Friends, if Jesus was instructing his disciples to be constantly vigalent for his return, and Paul told his readers they were closer to Christ return than when they first believed. How much more ready should we be?

Friends, Jesus could return at any moment, people need to be alert, with their lamps lit not walking in spiritual darkness.

Application: A faithful servant does not give in to fatigue, or become grouchy because the master has not returned yet. They keep a bright house and bare legs so they can jump up at any moment to joyously greet their masters return. This is how believers are to wait for the second coming of Christ. We are not to be passive and lethargic. No, we should be filled with active service, continual preparation and joyous anticipation that our Lord and savior will return at any moment.

C.) The Masters response

Luke 12:37 ESV

37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.

Jesus goes on in his parable to say that when the master returns home and finds his home well lit and being greeted by his eager servants and maybe a snack on the table. He rewards their faithfulness.

Instead of sitting down at the table, he girds himself and tells his servants to recline at the table and serves them.

This is exactly what Jesus did for his disciples at the last supper when he stripped himself of his outer garments, wrapped a towel around his waist and washed his disciples feet in John 13:1-17. A meal that was prophetic in pointing them to the great Marriage supper of the Lamb in heaven.

Luke 13:29–30 ESV

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

This same event is described in the book of Revelation

Revelation 19:6–9 ESV

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

This is why Jesus said in v.38

Luke 12:38 ESV

38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!

The second and third watch are literally the late hours of the night and the early pre dawn hours of the morning.

Jesus is saying we will be blessed if we are alert and ready at his return because we are going to sit down at the feast of feasts as the honored guest of the King of Kings.

Those who are ready for the Lords return aren't lazy and sitting around the church dressed in their finest clothes. No, they are actively serving Christ so when he comes he finds them serving like he has called them to do.

2.) We are to be ready like a wise homeowner. (v.39-40)

Luke 12:39–40 ESV

39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

The picture here isn’t a returning master but a thief coming in the middle of the night. In this day, Homes would often be made of clay, so thieves would dig into the side of the wall. In this parable, Jesus is saying if the homeowner had known when the thieves were going to come, he would have been ready for them.

Thieves rely on the element of surprise and come when you are not expecting them too.

Jesus here is saying he is like that thief who will when we do not expect him too. Like a theif in the night.

This language is repeated often throughout the New Testament.

Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:2-4

1 Thessalonians 5:2–4 ESV

2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

Peter used this analogy as well in 2 Peter 3:10

2 Peter 3:10 ESV

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Even Jesus himself in Revelation would repeat this analogy

Revelation 3:3 ESV

3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Revelation 16:15 ESV

15 (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Friends, the point is that Jesus return could be at any moment. It is unexpected, like a thief coming in the middle of the night and when he returns the world will not be prepared.

But the faithful will be ready.

3.) How to be ready

A.) Salvation

Give a gospel plea

Earlier in the book of Luke Jesus said these words as he called people to repent of their sins or face rejection at his return.

Luke 9:23–26 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

Be ready, Jesus is coming and you dont want him to be ashamed of you when he does.

Later in Luke 21:34 Jesus will say

Luke 21:34 ESV

34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.

Friends, this is a call to salvation. The only way we will be ready to stand before King Jesus is if we have acknowledged him as our Lord and savior by repenting of our sin and placing our faith in him.

B.) Sanctification

Once we have come to Christ, we then start living for him and as we do, he forms us into his image a little bit at a time. THis is called sanctification

2 Peter 3:14 ESV

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

We want to be ready for his return by living for him to the best of our ability.

2 Peter 3:11 ESV

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

Conclusion:

Christ is coming . It is expected, the Bible is clear. We know the Lord will return. But, it is also unexpected. Just as sure as we know he will return, we do not know exactly when that will take place.

You need to come to Christ for salvation in order to be ready when he returns to be taken to heaven. Otherwise, you will live through unspeakable horrors down here (expound on this) until one day you are ultimatley cast into hell.

Christian, you need to be living a godly life, serving Christ in order to receive a full reward at his retuning.

I’m going to pray, after that prayer, our pianist is going to play a verse of invitation and meditation. This is a time for us to reflect upon and respond to what we have heard.

Call unsaved to repentance and christians to holiness.