Living in Light of the Lord's Return

Introduction

Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead His disciples watched Him leave the ground and ascend into heaven. But when Jesus returned to heaven, He left us with the promise that one day He will return. One day, there will be a shout, there will be the sounding of a trumpet, and then we will see Jesus as He comes through the clouds to gather His people unto Himself.

Of course, the most natural question is, when is that day? When will Jesus return? But in this passage Jesus makes it clear that we can’t know the day of His return. In fact, He will return on a day when we do not expect Him.

With that said, in this passage Jesus encourages us to remember that while we don’t know when the day of His return will be, as we wait, we should strive to ready and we should strive to be faithful.

The Lord is Coming – Be Ready (12:35-40)

• Parable one – The master is coming (vv. 35-38)

• o Ready servants (vv. 35-36) – In order to encourage us to be ready for His coming, Jesus tells a story about servants who are waiting for their master to return from a wedding feast. While they don’t know when He’s coming, they remain ready, watching for His return.

• o Blessed servants (vv. 37-38) – In this story Jesus makes it clear that the servants do not know when the master will return. He may return in the middle of the night, but Jesus wants us to know that those who stay awake until their master comes are blessed.

• o The nature of the blessing (v. 37b) – When the master returns, he does something shocking. Instead of letting his servants serve him, he takes on the role of a servant and serves them. When Christ returns, we will be the ones who are blessed as Jesus welcomes us in and invites us to feast at His table.

• Parable two – A thief was coming (vv. 39-40)

• o A ready homeowner (v. 39) – Starting in verse 39 Jesus tells a second story in order to emphasize the fact that we cannot know when He will return. He compares His return to that of a thief – who comes at a time when his coming will not be expected (1 Thess. 5:1; 2 Peter 3:10; Rev. 3:30).

• o A call for readiness (v. 40) – The charge of this first section is for followers of Jesus to remain ready for His coming. Because He will come when we do not expect, we should remain ready for His return.

The Lord is Coming – Be Faithful (12:41-48)

• A question (v. 41) – Before Jesus continues Peter asks a question about who these parables are for. The response of Jesus makes it clear that these parables are meant to encourage His followers and also to warn those who would claim to follow Him, but who are in fact unbelievers.

• A parable – Managing the master’s household (vv. 42-48)

• o A faithful and wise manager (vv. 42-44)

• His responsibilities (v. 42) – In v. 42 Jesus tells the story of a faithful servant who is put in charge of his master’s household. He intends to encourage us to be good stewards, caring well for the household of God while we wait for His return (1 Cor. 4:2).

• The master’s response (vv. 43-44) – Similar to the earlier story, Jesus calls this servant blessed and promises reward for his faithfulness. In the same way, Christians who are faithful until the return of Christ will be blessed in the eternal kingdom of God.

• o An unfaithful servant (vv. 45-46)

• His actions (v. 45) – In contrast to the faithful servant, Jesus tells the story of another servant who did not expect his master to return. In the master’s absence he turned to gross and purposeful rebellion that inflicted harm on the master’s house.

• The master’s response (v. 46) – When the master returned and found the servant in rebellion he responded with a swift and devasting judgment. In the same way, Christ will severely and eternally punish all those who show themselves to be unbelievers by intentionally harming the household of God.

• o Punishments for unfaithful servants (vv. 47-48)

• A parable (vv. 47-48a) – The final parable teaches that judgment is sure for all those who are unfaithful and who prove that they are not true servants of the master. While there are varying degrees of punishment, all those who are unfaithful will be punished.

• A proverb (v. 48b) – The proverb of verse 48 reiterates the truth of the parable – the level of judgment is proportionate to the level of knowledge, but judgement is coming for all who are unfaithful.

Summary – Jesus is coming again, and while we don’t know when He will come, we should remain watchful and ready for His coming, living faithfully and stewarding well what He has entrusted to us.