The/Our Heavenly King Will Return

THE/OUR HEAVENLY KING WILL RETURN

Luke 19:11-27 - November 9, 2003

LUKE 19:11-27

11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. `Put this money to work,’ he said, `until I come back.’

14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, `We don’t want this man to be our king.’

15"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.

16"The first one came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’

17" `Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. `Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’

18"The second came and said, `Sir, your mina has earned five more.’

19"His master answered, `You take charge of five cities.’

20"Then another servant came and said, `Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’

22"His master replied, `I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? 23Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’

24"Then he said to those standing by, `Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.’

25" `Sir,’ they said, `he already has ten!’

26"He replied, `I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. 27But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.’ "

Dearest Fellow-Redeemed and Saints in the Lord:

How excited we get when we look forward to a special day, whether it is Thanksgiving when our families return home, whether it is Christmas, whether it is our birthday or an anniversary, or whatever special day it might be! As we wind down the church year and as you heard in our readings already, the special day that is coming that has every Christian is excited about is the last day--God’s Judgment Day. That day is coming, and it is coming quickly. On that day we are told that the heavenly King will return. That is His promise to every believer and us. That is really His promise to everyone in the world, whether they want to believe it or not. It was a promise Jesus made to His disciples. As Jesus spoke to His disciples, Jesus told them He was the Way, the Truth and the Life. Jesus was going to return to His Father and prepare a place for them. As He told His disciples face to face when He was on earth, so Jesus reminds us today, His modern-day disciples: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am"(JOHN 14:3). Yes, it is exactly as our text tells us,

THE HEAVENLY KING WILL RETURN.

I. He will return with blessings for believers. II. He will return with punishment of His enemies.

It is important for us to remember the setting of our text this morning. Jesus is about to enter Jerusalem for the last time, just before He was going to be put to death. In verse 11 of chapter 19, He says: 11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. Jesus was getting ready to go into Jerusalem, and they looked at Jesus as their king. They were hoping and expecting that maybe if Jesus would go into Jerusalem, He would kick out those Roman soldiers and that Roman government and set Himself up as king. The text says they expected the Kingdom of God to appear at once. But Jesus was not going to do that. Jesus is going to Jerusalem to be put to death. Jesus is going there to come back to life. Jesus is going there that He might return to His Heavenly Father and assume His rightful title as king. Jesus tells a parable to help the people understand.