Sermon Central
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Be Ready Series
Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: Believers are called to be ready for the: 1) Desired Coming (Luke 17:22-24),the 2) Delayed Coming (Luke 17:25-33), and the 3) Divisive Coming (Luke 17:34–37).
Unable to grasp the scope of the judgment Jesus described, the disciples said to Him, in verse 37 “Where, Lord?” Failing to comprehend that the Lord’s coming would trigger a worldwide judgment, they wanted to know the specific location of this event. The Lord’s enigmatic reply, “Where the corpse/body is, there the vultures will gather,” was possibly a Jewish proverb based on Job 39:26–30. Just as dead bodies attract vultures, so the spiritually dead invite judgment (Whitlock, L. G., Sproul, R. C., Waltke, B. K., & Silva, M. (1995). The Reformation study Bible: bringing the light of the Reformation to Scripture: New King James Version (Lk 17:37). Nashville: T. Nelson.)
You do not have to know where just as you do not have to know when, Jesus told them. It will be in plain sight and will be as natural and inevitable as (a bird) sensing the presence of a dead animal and gathering overhead to eat. Just as you see the (circling birds) from afar and know what they are up to, so you will see the coming of the Son of Man and know what is happening. It is going to happen (Butler, T. C. (2000). Luke (Vol. 3, p. 283). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.).
Amongst all the common Christmas celebrations, do you ever find yourself uneasy? When people seem so self-consumed, perhaps even through being over-consumed, is there sometimes an emptiness? What difference would it make in our perspective if look at those in the gather to consider there eternal state. Leisure times allow the opportunity for one-on-one discussion. When the discussion is about how things are it provides a great opportunity for personal discussion. Asking how some is, should naturally lead to a discussion about how they will be. Are we looking for His return, and do we really want to see Him come?(Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 247). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Being Ready for His coming mean not only looking at our preparedness but for those around us. Let us not be so consumed with either leisure or busyness, that the whole reason for our delight is forgotten or we fail to watch for His coming. Even so come, Lord Jesus.
(Format Note: Some base commentary from: MacArthur, John F (2013-03-26). Luke 11-17 MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Macarthur New Testament Commentary Serie) (Kindle Locations 6989-6991). Moody Publishers. Kindle Edition).
