Ready

Title: “Keep Watch”

Subject; How do we prepare for Jesus return?

Complement; by repenting...watching... waiting... working!

Big idea: Christ our King is not asking for your vote – he’s asking for your surrender... & then, faithful perseverance & loyal service.

May we watch for his coming (salvation)...may we wait patiently (not escapist)... may we work compassionately. (serve)

Matthew 25 ? Kingdom parables/eschatological in theme.

Context:

We are now reading “Kingdom parables”...

Jesus’ leaving soon; he’s going to the cross/ascension.

Jesus major teaching is about the kingdom – not merely good moral behaviour.

And make no mistake Jesus is our king – in every sense of the word - And we are invited into his kingdom.

While Jesus said little about politics during his days on earth – Rome being the world power of the day... (the Emperor Caesar Augustus was indeed worshipped as a god) he often talked about power – which is really what politics is all about... and he stated quite clearly that he intended to establish his government... with himself as king. It will be a kingdom without corruption - justice and righteousness for all.

Immediately upon his birth Herod wanted Jesus killed because he heard that Jesus was a King.

Upon his arrest by Pilate for the purposes of crucifixion Pilate asks “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.

Make no mistake – Jesus is a King – in fact his actual claim is “king of Kings”

...And his kingdom – or may I say his ”political agenda” - comes on 2 levels; (1) personal level (2) cosmic level.

In Canada when a new govt comes to power it presents it's agenda in a speech –called “the speech from the throne” ... that’s quite a pretentious description when you think about it – since the real throne is in heaven and is already occupied by the “kings of all kings” - and he’s not looking for your vote – he’s looking for your surrender.

Now your entry point into this kingdom is by personal decision – will you pledge allegiance to this King – or will you reject him?

It's one thing to be a member of the opposition party in Ottawa – it's quite another to oppose the king of the universe.

Jesus kingly rule over the cosmos is God’s sovereign plan – and he will decide when to draw the curtain on human history and bring an end to the world as we know it... and establish an entirely new world order.

No matter what is happening in Washington or Ottawa... or Beijing... or Moscow...No matter what CNN or Fox or CBC or the NY Times might opine ...

...No matter who sits on the supreme court...Always remember, our King is Jesus; his is the only govt. that will bring peace; for he will eradicate the most fundamental human problem – the problem of sin.

... all other governments – though worthy of our energy and effort – are flawed - and will ultimately leave us disappointed and disillusioned.

And so today I’m sharing with you an archetypal message – by that I mean, a message that rises above day to day matters ... getting to work on time and remembering to pay the bills... a message that speaks to the deepest longings and the deepest questions of humanity.

Of course it's not my message at all – it's Jesus own words to the 12 and ourselves as descendants of the 12.

People are asking – more now than ever...is the end near?

in Matthew 24-25 – the 12 disciples are curious too...

People are very curious...

The Pandemic continues to trouble our world...

Govts are in upheaval...deficits are out of control

Wickedness on the upswing

Christians are wondering...is this the end?

So ... what’s your attitude toward the 2nd coming???

So Jesus kingdom is (1) already here and (2) not yet fully here.

And since Jesus kingdom is invisible and non-military in nature – generally speaking - people have no sense of what it means; it's a completely new idea.

... a kingdom without swords? ...impossible... and so Jesus has to resort to stories and parables to make his point.

And here in Matthew 25 he tells 3 such kingdom parables...

Read vv 1-5

Parable of a wedding...weddings are life-changing; they are dramatic... they are social affairs of the highest order.

So Jesus chooses a wedding scene to tell the 1st or 3 parables...

Parable of a wedding...

Bride

Groom

Bridal party

Oil in lamps/batteries/flashlight/food in your backpack

10 Bridesmaids... The two groups are exactly alike - except in their preparations.

5 have reserves

5 don’t

because of the long delay of the bridegroom’s arrival their oil lamp runs dry and they ask for oil from their friends (“NO”) then they have to go for oil...