Are you ready for his return? A young woman was expecting a date. She was dressed up and waiting patiently. However, by the time he was an hour late she figured she’d been stood up. So, she took off her makeup, put on her pajamas, gathered all the junk food in the house and sat down to watch TV with the dog. As her favorite show was just coming on, the doorbell rang. It was her date. He stared at her wide-eyed: “I’m two hours late, and you’re still not ready?”
We hear a LOT today about the return of Jesus. Many are hopeful that he will come soon and rescue us from all of the turmoil we have been facing.
The trouble is, every generation or so faces trouble and hopes for the return
“Troublesome times are here. . . Jesus is coming soon” is a WWII song
What does the bible say about the return of Jesus?
1. He IS coming – 2 Thessalonians 4:16-18 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
2. Only the Father knows – Matthew 24:26 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
3. Be Prepared – stop speculating and start preparing/doing – Acts 1:6-8
Luke 19:11-27
• The basis of this parable is the false expectations that the people had with Jesus. Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem for the Passover and it seems that many believed that he was going to establish His kingdom immediately. (11)
• At the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus had to undertake a long journey “to receive kingly power.” He could not be king in Judea until his claims had been ratified by the government in Rome. Because of his unpopularity, a group of 50Jewish subjects went to Rome to complain against his kingship.
• The Nobleman in the story is Jesus; he would go through the DBR, the ascension, and WILL return
I. Before Going Away . . .
A. He Gives His Servants Work to Do (12-13)
1. 10 men/10minas (1 each; approximately 100 days’ wages)
2. “Occupy” (KJV) or “Do Business”
3. We have received wealth to put to work: Treasure in the field; Pearl of Great Price; Gospel; HS within us – [Division of Labor among Communists to advance their Agenda; Patience to do their part and pass the baton; “The issue is not the issue; the revolution is the issue.” What if we followed a similar pattern? – Patiently working to advance the KoG according to our abilities and interests with EVERYTHING in our lives being about the Kingdom? What if we put the gospel to use in our lives via prayer; repentance; dependence on HS; doing our vocations for the glory of God?
B. He Knew He Was Not Always Popular (14)
1. He had enemies
2. No King but Caesar – John 19:15ff
3. What did Caesar do for them in 70 AD?
II. Upon His Return . . .
A. He Calls for Accountability (15)
1. The Master is the Master
2. He calls the shots
B. He Rewards Accordingly
1. Blessed for Faithfulness (16-19)
2. Condemnation for Unfaithfulness (20-21)
a. Punished for FEAR
b. Punished for blaming the Master
3. Obvious Applications
• God expects (and deserves) action from his people – more than “faith alone” – James 2:17-18, 24 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. . . 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
• God expects us to be fearless 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
• God expects to reward – the more we do, the more we get; the less we do, the more we lose (22-26) – misconception to think we all get the same rewards (not salvation)
C. Destruction of Enemies (27)
1. Archelaus killed his enemies on his return
2. Final judgment – separation of righteous from unrighteous (Matthew 25)
1. Three different fates
a. Reward for the faithful stewards
b. Rejection for those who casually associate with Jesus but do not trust him 100%
c. Judgment for the rebels who reject him
2. We can get caught up in distractions – pleasure; prosperity; programs; entertainment; “feel good” Christianity; Social Reform instead of biblical; Ease
3. What do we need to be about? Take Care of Business!
