Luke 19:11–27

While We Wait?

While they were listening, Jesus told them a parable. Jesus told them a relative short story with a symbolic meaning. Jesus had two reasons for telling them this parable.

First, Jesus was near Jerusalem.

Second, His disciples supposed that the kingdom of heaven was going to appear immediately.

Jesus’ disciples had become accustomed to Jesus speaking and things immediately happening.

When approaching Jericho, Bartimaeus "called out, saying, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me. Jesus stopped and “said to him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ And Bartimaeus said, ‘Lord I want to receive my sight.’ Jesus said to him, ‘receive your sight; your faith has made you well.’ Immediately Bartimaeus regained his sight and began following Jesus, glorifying God.; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God” ().

When Jesus entered Jericho, Zaccheus, being small, did everything possible to see Jesus. Zaccheus even climbed up a sycamore tree. Jesus saw Zaccheus, seeking to see him, and said “Zaccheus, hurry come down, for today I must stay at your house.” He hurried and came down, repented, and gladly received Jesus. Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because Zaccheus , you are a child of God.

Jesus said the reason “the Son of Man has came is to seek and save that which has been lost.”

Bartimaeus and Zaccheus had lost sight of God. Jesus says, he was seeking us before we began looking for him. Jesus immediately restored Bartimaeus and Zaccheus. Salvation is immediate. Jesus calling us to follow him is immediate. Jesus saying today, I must stay at your house is immediate. Us gladly receiving Jesus into our house is our immediate reaction to Jesus saving us.

However, following Jesus, living with him; serving Jesus, living for him is an ongoing endeavor, which often requires waiting. While Jesus disciples were listening to him, they assumed that when he reached Jerusalem, He would immediately right all wrongs, wipeout all their enemies, restore God’s rule, and, as God’s people, they would again finally have charge of their own lives.

If we put ourselves in the disciples place, we should understand that they would be surprised to know they had to wait for God’s kingdom to be fully realized. Luke has been building toward Jesus’ inauguration, since 9:51: “When the days were approaching for his ascension, Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem.” The people supposed Jesus was going to Jerusalem and ascend to the throne. As the descendant of King David, and as the Son of Man of , and as the Lord of , Jesus’ disciples thought the wait was over.

But Jesus was going to Jerusalem to ascend the cross. Jesus explained to his disciples, in , that “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

Jesus was going to Jerusalem to ascend the cross. JESUS ASCENDS THE THRONE, AS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, BY WAY OF A BLOODY CROSS. Jesus explained to his disciples, in , that “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”

For a kingdom to exist, a king must exist. For a king to exist, he must have rule over his people, which populate his kingdom. We have all rebelled against God’s rule over our lives. We have lost the privilege and benefits of belonging to God’s kingdom. Jesus came to save a people who could enter the kingdom, by his restored rule over our lives. Jesus immediately saves us from the destruction of sin. However, we have to wait to fully enjoy the reward of belonging to the kingdom of God. We do enjoy the benefits of salvation in everyday life, but this is no as good as it gets. Jesus has prepared a life for us that is beyond our earthly imagination. The problem with waiting for eternity is that none of us like to wait.

None of us like to wait. We live in a microwave minute. We fulfill our immediate desires at the drive-thru. We order online and expect next day free shipping.

The truth remains that everything is not immediate. When we face unexpected delays, we impatiently wait. teaches us that impatience is not how God expects for us to wait for him to act.

We all are waiting and wandering “when.” When will God end this pandemic? When will church reopen? When will social distancing end? When will we have a vaccine for the Covid 19? When will we get back to work? We ask what am I suppose to do until April 17, when stimulus check arrives. None of us like to wait. We especially do not like to wait, when we don’t know how our wait will last.

Jesus tells us this parable so we will know what to do while we wait.

Jesus tells us this parable, so we know what to do while we wait?

We need to examine the characters of the parable to properly interpret it.

They are three main characters; a nobleman, who represents Jesus; his slaves or servants, who represent Jesus’ disciples; and his citizens, who represent the the religious leaders and the nation as a whole. The nobleman’s servants like Jesus’ disciples are divided into two categories.

The mind of the Jewish disciples and the Jewish nation were familiar the concept of someone of noble birth going to receive his kingdom. Rome had named Herod the Great king over the jewish people as a reward for his help in defeating their enemies. At Herod’s death, he divided his kingdom between his three sons: Archelaus, Antipas, and Phillip. Archelaus went to Rome to request He be named king. A delegation also went to Rome to oppose his kingship. Caesar’s decision satisfied no one. Caesar gave half the kingdom to Archelaus and named him ethnarch and promised if Archelaus proved worthy, he would make him king. Archelaus never proved to be a worthy king. This parable reminds us that a worthy king is worthy of our wait. We do not wait as those without hope. The resurrection proves Jesus is our worthy king.

While we wait, consider Jesus’ Generosity

Consider what Jesus has entrusted to us. Jesus has provided everything we need to invest in kingdom work and receive a reward.

what Jesus has entrusted to us.

Jesus has entrusted us with a gospel life and the gospel message.

This parable is similar to , but not the same message. In , the man gives his servants talents. God gives talents and abilities to differing degrees. Jesus entrusts us equally with a gospel life and the gospel message.

Each slave receives one mina. A mina is equal to 100 days of work. So, in light of median income of Lee Country, the nobleman entrusted each servant with $ 10,000. He entrusted them with the purpose of doing business with the money, until he returned.

The citizens are not entrusted with anything, because the refuse the kings rule over their life. No waste time waiting, because other people are not doing what God want them to do. Some people reject the gospel message and do not receive the gospel life. The gospel message is good news. The gospel life is the good life.

Jesus was entrusting believer’s with the good life way before LG made the first TV, Blue-ray, or refrigerator. Life’s Good not because we have modern conveniences, but because we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus.

The truth remains that everything is not immediate. When we face unexpected delays, we impatiently wait. teaches us that impatience is not how God expects for us to wait for him to act.

Jesus’ kingship was inaugurated by His incarnation, his ministry, his death, his resurrection, and his ascension. Has has gone to heaven, he has received his kingdom. Jesus has entrusted us to do business on behalf of his kingdom, until he returns. Every believer has received capital to invest in kingdom work.

We all are waiting and wandering “when.” When will God end this pandemic? When will church reopen? When will social distancing end? When will we have a vaccine for the Covid 19? When will we get back to work? We ask what am I suppose to do until April 17, when stimulus check arrives. None of us like to wait. We especially do not like to wait, when we don’t know how our wait will last.

While we wait, remember Jesus settles accounts

Jesus tells us this parable so we will know what to do while we wait.

Jesus died to invest in us. He has entrusted us with a gospel life so we can invest in His kingdom.

When Jesus returns he will settle all accounts.

Jesus will interview each of us. This is called the judgment seat of Christ.

2 cor

2 Corinthians 5:10 NASB95

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

2 Timothy 4:1 NASB95

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:

Titus 2:12–14 NASB95

instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

2 Peter 1:1–2 NASB95

Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

2 peter 1

While we wait we have two choices. We can invest in the gospel life, anticipating our kingdom reward, or we can do nothing and end up with regret. There are people who invested in Apple computer and never dreamed of an iPhone. They are reaping the benefits today. Other people did not believe the computer was a good investment. Today the live with regret. The return for today’s kingdom investments are far beyond anything we can imagine.

While we wait, let’s invest in the gospel

Are we investing in Jesus’ business while we wait for his return?

Are we investing our money in the gospel?

Are we investing our prayer time in the gospel?

Are we investing our time in the gospel?

Are we faithful to invest regularly in gospel?

While we wait, let’s avoid regrets

The third servant’s earthly investments in the gospel yielded only regrets.

Here is his excuse for being unfaithful with the life and the message Jesus died to give him. If I make money you will take it. If I lose money you will punish me.

Jesus says if you think that little of me you should have at least entrusted someone else to invest in my business for you. Drawing interest requires no work, so he must have had another reason for investing in Jesus’ business.

The third slave was unfaithful. His unfaithfulness, while he waited, returned only regret.

Being unfaithful to Jesus and doing kingdom work, causes us to forfeit of joy of fellowship with Christ. At Jesus’ return we will experience joy, at hearing Him, “I will put you in charge of much.” But also here and now, in this moment, while we faithful wait fro our heavenly rewards, we experience joy, when we share the gospel. When we live Jesus’ way, we find joy.

We often do not invest in the gospel, because we are saved. We have got our, they should get theirs. Why should I work and God give them the benefits. What difference does it make if I go to church, tithe, read my bible, pray, fellowship with other Christians. What benefit is it for me to pour my life into someone else?

Jesus pour his life out for us. While we wait, we are to pour the life Jesus gave us into someone else.

Only one group suffered loss. The citizen who rejected the king and worked against him, became objects of his wrath.

God has entrusted every believer with a gospel life and Gospel message. While we wait, what will we invest?

The unfaithful slave wasted waiting. The faithful slaves became rulers with Jesus. The received more return than imaginable.

While we wait, lets invest the the future

Story of contractor and his foreman.

Application: wait faithfully working for reward and regret.

today we have the choice between life and death?

If you choose life, you also have the choice between reward and regret.

Invest in others and in ourselves, by developing a testimony of gospel faithfulness.