Parable #8

Luke 12:35-40

Watchfulness Be Ready for the Lord’s Coming

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.…39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

Parable #8 Watchfulness

1. What is it like to wait for someone without knowing when he or she is coming?(Think hours, days, weeks, months.)

2. How long did Jesus say the servants should be willing to wait for their master?

38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.

How does this translate to you today?

3. For what are we to be watchful? What does watchfulness involve? Why iswatchfulness not a passive activity?

4. What has God given us? What has he given you? How much have we,individually and collectively, been entrusted with?

5. What responsibilities or duties might God demand of you? What can you do forGod in your area of responsibility?

35 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 

etc.

1. Christ is our Master, and we are his servants, not only working servants, but waiting servants, servants that are to honor Him while waiting on Him, in waiting on him, and serving Him: 

John 12:26…26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

If any man serve me, let him follow me. …Follow the Lamb where ever he may lead you. 

But that is not all: we should be like servants staying up late waiting for their master’ return, ready to welcome Him and serve Him.

2. Christ our Master, though now gone from us, will return again for his servants to complete the celebrations . Christ’s servants are now in a state of expectation, looking for their Master’s glorious return, and doing everythingnecessary and preparing for His return on that crucial day. He will be aware of each and everyone’s preparation effort, those that are ready will stay with himand those that are not will be cast outside.

3. The time of our Master’s return is uncertain; it could be at any time. 

40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”…without giving prior notice

4. He is expecting his servants to be dressed and ready to welcome and serve Him whatever the time of day or night.…36 as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. …5. Those servants that are found ready and prepared will be happy will be happy and be rewarded for that when the Lord arrives.…37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.[a] But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.………Our reward will be that He will honor as and serve us instead of us serving Him as our reward so that is almost unbelieveable.

For a bridegroom to wait upon his bride at the table is not uncommon, but to wait upon his servants is not  yet Jesus Christ once served his disciples like servant,when he washed their feet … John 13:4-5

4 So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

This signifie the joy with which they shall be received by the Lord Jesus, who has gone ahead to prepare everything , and at that time His Father willhonor them, …John12:26

26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

6. It may happen as unexpected as a burglar or thief breaking in to harm or steel from you that is how uncertain and unexpected it will be like , but if we are on guard we will not be caught by surprise …39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. …Scripture tells us to be wise and ready like a wise man guarding his house at all times, not to be caught by surprise

 “How are we to live our lives in light of Christ’s return?”

We believe that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, that is, His return could occur at any moment. We, with the apostle Paul, look for “the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” …Lets look at more verses from scripture regarding the glorious appearance of Jesus’ return…Titus 2:13

13 while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed.… Knowing that the Lord could come back today, some are tempted to stop what they are doing and just “wait” for Him.……However, there is a big difference between knowing that Jesus could return today and knowing that He will return today. Jesus said…Matthew 24:36…36 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[a] Only the Father knows.…The time of His coming is something God has not revealed to anyone, and so, until He calls us to Himself, we should continue serving Him. …In Jesus’ parable of the ten talents (A parable that we will be doing shortly), the departing king instructs his servants to 13  ‘……..Invest this for me while I am gone.’Luke 19:13……The return of Christ is always presented in Scripture as a great motivation to action, not as a reason to cease from action.

In1 Corinthians 15:58

Paul wraps up his teaching on the rapture by saying,

58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

In1 Thessalonians 5:6, Paul concludes a lesson on Christ’s coming with these words:

6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.

To retreat and “hold the fort” was never Jesus’ intention for us. Instead, we work while we can.

John 9:4

4 We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us.[a] The night is coming, and then no one can work.…The apostles lived and served with the idea that Jesus could return within their lifetime; what if they had ceased from their labors and just “waited”? …They would have been in disobedience to Christ’s command to 15 “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.”Mark 16:15…Then the gospel would not have been spread. …The apostles understood that Jesus’ imminent return meant they must busy themselves with God’s work.

They lived life to the fullest, as if every day were their last. We, too, should view every day as a gift and use it to glorify God.…

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