Lesson 37
Alert and Waiting
Luke 12:35-48
There are certain things I do not like. I have told my wife many times that I would enjoy driving if it were not for traffic, stoplights and stop signs. The last two of these are necessary because there is so much of the first. Even though we must have them they sure makes any trip take longer which is the reason I do not care for them. I know that patience is not only a virtue but also is among the list of fruit listed in Galatians 5.
Patience, the ability for things to come in its own time is one of the qualities that is needed in today’s world. As I long for the Second Coming of Christ in my mind I have to wonder if I am really ready for Him to show up. The signs are all around us that it could be soon, but what if He really came today. It has been so long since He returned to His Father with a promise to return. After so long a time it becomes harder to stay awake and alert spiritually until that day comes.
I need to be patient and remain vigilant in my walk with the Lord. What He has called me to do with my life should be all I need as I wait for Him to come. I may not live to see the Second Coming but even if it does not come in my life time He commands that I wait patiently.
Sometimes in the church we have a tendency to take matters in our own hands. Rather than waiting on the perfect time of the Lord we make decisions that come back to plague us for years. It may be building a new building or starting a new program. We act like the kingdom work depend on us. Although the lesson today refers to the coming of Christ and how we should wait for Him there is a message to the church about total dependence on God before making decisions. Preparation for the future through prayer and faithfulness in the things we are doing now are signs being in tune for what God has planned for us. It is better to do what we have been commanded to do than take matters in own hands as if there was no tomorrow.
Luke 12:35-36
It almost appears as if Jesus is completely going on to a new discussion in these two verses. In reality it is a continuation of understanding what is truly important. He does turn to what is going to happen in the future and how man is to be prepared for receiving that treasure stored up in heaven. He gives three commands concerning the preparation. The first is about man’s mindset and actions. The follower of Christ is to always be ready to welcome Jesus who is to come for His people at a moment’s notice. The Jews would have understood what He meant by those words.
To be dressed in readiness or being alert would indicate that the person would have pulled up his robe and tucked it into his belt. By doing so he would not be slowed down or hindered in accomplishing the task ahead of him like soldiers going into battle. Secondly He told them to keep their lamps lit.
The second command was the image carried over from the idea of keeping the lamps lit in the tabernacle. The lamp needed constant attention because the fire was produced by a wick floating in a pool of oil. The burned part had to be trimmed away to allow the fire to continue burning. Both of these examples portray a continued vigilance to the possibility of the imminent return of the master. To let the lamp to go out would put the person in the dark. It would make it impossible for the guest to make his way to the master’s home.
His third command was to make everything ready for the coming of the bridegroom. They are to be waiting with such anticipation that they immediately open the door for him.
- Why did Jesus use the images of being dressed in readiness and keeping lamps lit? (The Jews would have recognized both practices.)
- What modern terms would be used if Jesus were to speak today? (Carry a flashlight or turn on the front porch light.)
- How can we be prepared for the return of Jesus?
- Why is it important to remain ready for His return? (Do not want to do anything to miss that day. We also do not know when He will return.)
Luke 12:37-38
Surprisingly Jesus turned the standard practice of the day on its head. Usually when the bridegroom or master would return home the slaves would immediately set out to serve him. He told them that rather than be served the master would begin to serve them. Those servants would be treated with such kindness because no matter what time he returned they would be faithfully waiting. Those servants would be full of joy at the realization that they were sitting at the table in the presence of a master that loved them enough to serve them. It is a picture of what will happen in heaven at the end of time.
- How did Jesus turn the normal practice on its head?
- What does what he said say about leadership in the church today?
- What does the promise in these words make you feel?
- What did Jesus mean by using the word blessed?
Luke 12:39-40
Once again Jesus emphasized the fact that no one knew or even today knows when He will return. If one did he might live a life away from God only to become a believer at the last moment. In these verses He used the metaphor of a thief who might break into a home when the owner might least expect him. If the owner knew he would make preparations for that event. He may have gone for years not doing anything to keep the thief out of his home. Man is not to wait until the last moment to be ready for the coming of Christ but always keep his house in order.
- What is the problem with the way a thief operates? (He breaks in when one least expects him.)
- How is this an image of the way Christ will appear? (He will come suddenly like a thief in the night.)
- How can we be prepared for the thief in our own lives?
- In what ways do many act as if Jesus will never return?
- What is the danger in living in this way?
Luke 12:41
Peter understood that Jesus had been again using a parable to teach a lesson. He was not sure for whom the parable had been shared. It would have been difficult for anyone to understand what was out in the future. Peter wanted to understand what it all meant.
- Why did Peter ask the question? (He was not sure what all of the words meant.)
- Why did Jesus share the parable? (To prepare the people for what would happen in the future.)
- How could they understand? (The events are still out in the future even for us.)
- How can we relate to Peter’s question? (See below for the answer.)
Luke 12:42-44
Jesus did as He had many times before. He did not directly answer Peter’s question. His answer would have been in a way another riddle. He talked of faith. The person of faith is one who the master could put in charge of providing for the other servants while the he was away. That servant would receive the praise and blessing of his master for doing such a good job while he was gone. Jesus expected Peter and the others to be that faithful servant. This can be seen in the command that Peter was given in John 21 to care for the followers of Christ.
- Why did Jesus not answer Peter’s question directly? (Peter’s did not need to know the time of Jesus’ return but what his task was to be until the end of his life.)
- What was the important lesson for Peter to learn? (What a faithful servant is to be like.)
- In what ways are we an example of the faithful servant?
- How can we follow in the footsteps of Peter?
- In what way did Jesus finally answer Peter’s question in John 21?
Luke 12:45-46
There was another kind of slave about which Jesus spoke. He was completely different than the first example. He first of all did not believe the master was going to return for long time so he could act in any manner he wished. He mistreated the slaves left in his care. Rather than taking care of the slaves he spent his time in eating and getting drunk. To his surprise the master came home unexpectantly. Rather than receiving a commendation he received a death penalty and was cast into hell.
- How different was the second slave than the first?
- Why did he act as he did?
- In what ways do some of us act like the slave?
- What can we expect if we continue to reject the teachings of Jesus?
- Why did Jesus pronounce such a horrible demise of the slave?
Luke 12:47
There is a second group of servants. They knew what their master expected of them. These people, although they knew, did not act according to the master’s will. Their punishment was not as severe or immediate as the first servant but would be judged in accordance to their actions.
- Who would the second group represent? (Those who have tasted of the things of the Lord and drifted away?
- Why would they receive a judgment different than the first slave? (Their actions were not as flagrant as the first. His sin was intentional theirs were more slipping away from the way of life called for by the master.)
- What are some actions that represent the actions of those slaves?
- Why were they not judged immediately? (They might respond to the punishment given to them and return to faith.)
Luke 12:48a
Finally there was those who had not heard the words of the master. These might represent all of those in places in which the word of God has not come. They were unlike those spoken about in Romans 2:14-15 who kept the law unto themselves even though they had never been exposed to it. These particular slaves committed acts that deserved punishment. God will be the ultimate judge who will deal with those who are completely ignorant of the words of God.
- Who are the third group? (Those who have not heard the instructions of God.)
- What are actions of those who have not heard?
- Why will God deal less harshly with this group than the other two?
- Which of the three groups represent you at one time?
- How do we keep from being guilty of the actions of the three different groups?
Luke 12:48b
A tremendous responsibility falls on everyone who has received much from the Lord. Every follower of Christ has received at least one gift and many abilities to be used in service to Him. The greatest gift of course is eternal life. There are those who use what God has provided for them to take care of the sheep. God expects a great deal from each of them.
- Why does God expect more from those to whom He has given much?
- What are the gifts God has given to you?
- What does He expect of each of us? Why?
- Why does He give certain people certain gifts and abilities?
- What is the danger of not using the gifts God gives us?
- In what way does the service we give Him differ from the three different groups?
- From Scripture understand that God is not delaying the return of Christ but is working out all things in its time.
- Do not let the events of this present age disturb you God is fully aware that all of these things must come to pass before the second coming of Christ.
- Live every moment as if Christ could come any moment.
- Realizing that Christ could come at any time you are to be about the business of serving Him passionately and sharing the gospel at every opportunity.
For two thousand years the church has been on the alert in preparation of Christ’s return. Today more than ever we can see events unfolding that should lead us to sense a greater urgency to present the gospel to the unbelievers. We are to be the faithful servants that Jesus will find if He would come today. The way we go about being the church should reflect our desire to please Him and to ready for Him to come for His bride. Our focus is not to be on His coming but the task He has given us to accomplish while we are here on earth.
We are the only organization that has the good news that God loves us, has given us eternal life and is coming again for us to be with Him. How important that message is will determine the eagerness we have of taking care of those He has brought together in His church. We should with joyful hearts look forward to the day when He says to each of us in His body, Well done good and faithful servant.