Luke 12:35-48 Please read it, otherwise I’m gonna sound even crazier than usual. Here’s a link if you need it: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2012%3A35-48&version=NLT
Don’t want to read? I got you. Here’s a link to You Tube https://youtu.be/xOYlDeeQGeI
Throughout the time that Jesus was travelling and preaching he often gave warnings about two future events. One was his arrest and execution which he also promised them would be followed by his resurrection from death. The second was a time much later when he plans to come rule the earth for a period of time. As we read the Old Testament we can see that both events are predicted and signs of the approach of each are given. In fact some of the confusion on the part of the Jews over what the Messiah would do was caused by thinking these two events were one and the same. We see more discussion of this second event, which is often called the Day of the Lord or the Second Coming of Christ, in the New Testament as well.
In this passage, Jesus is preparing his followers for that second coming. Jesus’ first stay on earth was for the purpose of providing a way to be saved, to become a member of his kingdom. He came gently, quietly, humbly. Angels told shepherds who told their friends in a sleepy little village in Israel. Most people didn’t even know it had happened.
His second coming, he warns us, will be a little different. We are told in other passages that he will suddenly appear and every living person will see it all at once. He is coming with military might and he is establishing his kingdom on earth. He is going to reign as king of the whole planet for a thousand years (some people think this is literally exactly 1000 years, others think it is a metaphor, Honey, I don’t know). And no, not everyone will be happy about it. I am really not clear on what this is going to look like. Anyone who thinks they are is probably mistaken, but we don’t have to worry about missing it. We are warned that there will be whispers and rumours and people trying to convince one another that Jesus has come and he’s setting up his kingdom here or there. For all the things the Bible says that I don’t fully understand, it is abundantly clear about this. When Jesus comes the second time, everyone will know instantly, so if you hear rumours and whispers, They’re lies. Don’t go looking for Jesus and chasing after some illusive kingdom. You won’t be able to miss it when he comes.
So, all that to say, in this passage, Jesus is saying, be ready. You don’t know when it’s happening. Strangely Jesus tells us that he doesn’t know. It seems that as a human he even gave up his omniscience, so he had to trust his father just as much as we do. But he knew his scriptures. He spent time with his father and he knew this time was coming. He wanted his followers to be waiting faithfully, ready for him. Because for those who love him, and are living in a way that will make him smile when he returns, that return is going to be a beautiful thing. But for those who have rejected him, it’s going to be scary.
Jesus tells his disciples not to become lazy or rebellious in the waiting. Jesus knows that soon he won’t be among them. When the boss is around it’s easy to be productive and responsible, but when the boss is on vacation, we can get sloppy. Jesus is warning them (and us) that the day of his return is going to be a surprise. No one is going to see it coming (which begs the question why so many Christian’s waste so much time and effort trying to interpret world events to predict when he’s going to come. I feel like if God said, “You’re not going to know” he probably knows what he’s talking about.) So, Jesus says, live your life in a way that whenever I do come you’ll be glad I showed up when I did. He says, You aren’t going to know when I’m coming because, quite frankly, if you knew, you would probably slack off and do your own thing and then clean the place up just before I get back. Believers in Jesus have work to do in his absence. We need to be living like Jesus, taking care of the poor and sick, acting with integrity, telling others about Jesus. That’s what he wants us to be doing when he comes back. And, just as importantly, that’s what he wants us to be doing every day between now and then.
Now this little dialogue with Peter is interesting. Jesus is using a parable as he teaches and Peter is curious. “Is this just for us, Lord? Are you just warning us who are leaders?” Jesus’ reply is fascinating to me. Basically he is warning them that they will be held responsible to the degree to which they know the master, who is Jesus in this parable.
I see what I think are three types of “waiters”. The first is the faithful and wise manager. He had been given a job to do in his master’s absence and he did it diligently. So when his master comes home, the master actually serves him! I don’t even know what to do with that, but clearly faithfulness is rewarded. The second is the manager who knows what he is supposed to do and decides the master isn’t coming back any time soon so he absolutely disregards what he knows he should be doing and is abusive to those for whom he is supposed to be caring. That ends horribly for him.
The remaining servants are not in charge. They have jobs to do but they have varying degrees of understanding of their tasks. Jesus says, they will be held responsible to the extent that they knew their job. If they were supposed to be taking care of the horses but no one ever gave them clear instructions, then if the horses are malnourished and their hooves are cracked and overgrown, that’s not ok and they will still be punished. I mean, if your job is caring for the horses, use your head, some of their needs are pretty obvious. But their punishment is somehow less because they hadn’t been given enough information to do their job well.
How does this translate into what will happen when Jesus comes back? I’m not 100% sure. This I do know, when he returns, we will all be given clear instructions on how to live well in the kingdom. And it will be a kingdom whose ruler is Jesus, so it’s going to be a really good place. And we will be given the opportunity to live in his kingdom or reject it. At the end of the time when Jesus rules this earthly kingdom he will finally bring an end to anyone who still chooses to oppose him. He will bring heaven to earth and restore the earth and anyone who wants to live with him. Pain and suffering and cruelty and injustice will finally be banished and we and the whole earth will be healed. Life will be the way it was when God created the world and called it good.
I am looking forward to that day. I don’t fully understand what all happens between now and then. There are bits of prophecy that hint at various things to watch for, but as Jesus just told us, no one knows but God. For us, who are living in the waiting, we have the opportunity to be faithful servants. We can live the way Jesus did, with integrity and compassion and joy so that, if today is the day he comes, we will be glad to see him.
