Be Ready (Luke 12:35-59)
Journey with Jesus to the Cross (Monday, March 28)
Read Luke 12:35-59
Be Ready (35-40)
The literal reading of this passage’s opening phrase is, “Let your loins stay girded.” It is an overt reference to Exodus 12:11, where, in preparation for the first Passover and the final plague on Egypt, the Israelites are told to eat the meal in haste, with belt fastened, feet sandaled, and staff in hand. Why? Because they were going on a journey and must be ready at a moment’s notice.
Back then, the Israelites needed to be ready to flee the slavery of Egypt. In this case Jesus imagines a far less dangerous scene: a master may return home at any moment from a glorious wedding feast. It could be at any time, day or night. They must be ready.
An unexpected twist accompanies the master's return. Jesus tells us that if the master finds us ready for him, roles will be reversed: rather than us who serve him, it will be he who serves us! It is a beautiful reminder that the God whom we serve is a God who is himself a servant, as Jesus himself demonstrated in the famous foot washing scene in John 13.
Be Faithful (41-48)
The words in this section are filled with implications for preachers and laypersons alike. Jesus said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?”
Here we see the importance of leadership in Jesus’ kingdom. Pastors are managers of the master’s household. This suggests several important insights for both managers (pastors) and households (congregations).
In the first place, we must all see that, whatever our role, the house belongs to the Master, and not to us. How easy it is to forget that! It is not my church, or your church. It is God’s church, God’s household, God’s ecclesia.
In the second place, Jesus teaches that the manager must wisely lead the master's household, and faithfully distribute the master's food. This reminds us that pastors have two important responsibilities: leading wisely and feeding faithfully. Their task is not to entertain, to be clever, to tell jokes, to give tips and techniques on how to live your life, or whatever the current preaching fashion might be. The pastor is called to make sure God’s people are well led and well fed.
In the second place, Jesus teaches that the manager must wisely lead the master's household, and faithfully distribute the master's food. This reminds us that pastors have two important responsibilities: leading wisely and feeding faithfully. Their task is not to entertain, to be clever, to tell jokes, to give tips and techniques on how to live your life, or whatever the current preaching fashion might be. The pastor is called to make sure God’s people are well led and well fed.
In the third place, the manager is held accountable for how faithfully he distributes the master’s goods. HIs primary accountability is to the master, not to the household. And the Master will hold the manager to account, as this passage clearly affirms.
Be Discerning (49-59)
Clearly, a crisis is looming. Jesus anticipates a dreadful baptism for himself -- the baptism of his upcoming death. It will shake the foundations of the world. It will bring division to families. It will be an earth-shattering upheaval — we might truthfully call it the birth pangs of a brand new world. All of this was fulfilled when Jesus was lifted above the earth on a cross.
Jesus challenges us to discern the signs of the times. This is not merely a warning to Jesus’ contemporaries, though it certainly included that. Nor was it simply a challenge for the final generation, the one which will be alive when Jesus finally returns to set up his kingdom on earth.
Clearly, a crisis is looming. Jesus anticipates a dreadful baptism for himself -- the baptism of his upcoming death. It will shake the foundations of the world. It will bring division to families. It will be an earth-shattering upheaval — we might truthfully call it the birth pangs of a brand new world. All of this was fulfilled when Jesus was lifted above the earth on a cross.
Jesus challenges us to discern the signs of the times. This is not merely a warning to Jesus’ contemporaries, though it certainly included that. Nor was it simply a challenge for the final generation, the one which will be alive when Jesus finally returns to set up his kingdom on earth.
It is the responsibility of every generation – from the first century through the twenty-first – to interpret the times. What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus right here, right now, in my generation, in my community, in my economic, political and racial environment? We must all learn to sing the songs of the kingdom in the tunes of the current cultural environment. And that takes discernment. And we must sing them so winsomely that others will want to join in. As we do so, may God help us to be ready, to be faithful, and to be discerning.
“Lord, Help me to be prepared, on the lookout, and on the move, so that when you prompt me today, I will hear it and be ready at once to obey it.”
“Lord, Help me to be prepared, on the lookout, and on the move, so that when you prompt me today, I will hear it and be ready at once to obey it.”