Waiting, Watching and Working for Jesus

The title of the talk today that I've given, a little bit different to the one that was on the screen, is Waiting, Watching, and Working for Jesus.

Waiting, Watching, and Working for Jesus.

The passage that John read to us, in some ways, is one that maybe takes us a little bit of time to fully get our heads around.

Because actually there are three short stories woven together and told really quickly in this.

And we're going to dive in in just a minute or two to each of those three short stories.

But I want you to get a sense of the overall themes of what Jesus is actually communicating to us.

If you do have your Bible, either in paper version or on phone, it'd be great if you could look with me to Luke chapter 12, verse 35 to 48.

Luke 12:35–48

Stick with me. Make sure that I'm not going off-piste at any point.

Because it's God's word and it's God's voice that we need to hear today.

As we open up his word and try and really think about what he has to say for us.

So the first thing that jumps out for me as I look at this is two words that are repeated time and time and time again.

And I'm using the newer version of the NIV here.

And I find in this passage that 11 times over, I hear the word or I read the word servants or service.

Okay, let's just rattle through some of them.

Verse 35, we have to be ready for service.

We have to be like servants waiting for their master to return.

Verse 37, it'll be good for servants whose master finds them watching.

And as we go on, he will dress himself to serve.

Verse 38, it'll be good for servants whose master finds them ready.

Verse 42, who is the faithful and wise manager whom the master puts in charge of his servants.

Verse 43, it'll be good for the servant whom the master finds doings.

And so on and so on.

Lots and lots of references, 11 and all, to being servants.

And then the other word that we see running right through this, stick with me, is the word master.

Let's look out for that, okay?

So verse 38, waiting for their master.

Verse 37, good for the servants whose master finds them watching.

Verse 38, good for the servants whose master finds them ready.

And verse 46, the master of the servant will come on a day when he's not expected.

Verse 47, the servant who knows the master's will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants

will be beaten with many blows, it says in this version.

So stories told in different ways with slightly different twists in them, all trying to make absolutely clear.

Remember, this is Jesus teaching.

There's a crowd around, but he appears to be focused largely on his disciples.

And he's talking to them about the master and the servant relationship.

He's using these stories, I think, to emphasize to them that his followers should see themselves as servants

and should see him as the master.

And the other theme that keeps running through the stories is the idea of the master going away,

but the master's sure and certain return, albeit no one knows when that return will be.

Now, this raises quite a number of questions in my mind as I look at these stories.

And some of the questions in my mind are simply not addressed in this passage at all.

And I want to just mention two of the questions that are not answered here,

which I think are quite important for our understanding of what is actually talked about and explained here.

So as I think of these stories of the master and the servant, I wonder, why does the master go away?

It's a common theme in all of them.

The master tasks his servants with things, but then leaves them.

Big subject.

Why does the master go away?

For me, I then think, so if Jesus is the master and we are his servants, why does he leave?

Why is he not here physically present with us as he once was?

And for that, I turn to John 14, another gospel for some answers where Jesus says,

Do not let your hearts be troubled.

You believe in God, believe also in me.

My father's house has many rooms.

If that were not so, would I have told you that I'm going there to prepare a place for you?

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.

You know the way to the place where I'm going.

So why is he going away?

He is going away in order to prepare a place for us.

And the words that I'd really like you to bear in mind today are these words that he said in John 14.

I will come back.

I hope for many of us, these words might bring comfort.

I hope for some of us, they might bring real challenge.

They've certainly challenged me as I've reflected on them.

I will come back.

They could hardly be simpler words, could they?

They could hardly be clearer words.

And yet it's also a theme threaded through our passage.

The master who goes away is the master who says, I will come back.

Another question I have.

Why do the servants have no idea as to when the master is returning?

It's another theme that runs through.

No idea.

Why is that?

The answer is not really given here.

But for that question and that answer, I turn to the book of 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 8 to 10 where I read this.

2 Peter 3:8–10

With the Lord, a day is as a thousand years.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.

Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.

And I could look to so many verses of scripture which contain what for many of us is sometimes difficult and at times confusing teaching about what the return of Jesus will actually look like.

But I want us to hold on to some certainties today as taught in the Bible.

Number one, as we've learned, Jesus saying, I will come back.

Number two, the reason why he's not yet returned back, the reason why the servants don't know when he's returning back, is because of the patience of God.

It's because God is patient and loving and wants everyone to have a chance to come to know him.

He doesn't want anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

That verse is one which I encourage you to hang on to, to find real comfort in.

2 Peter chapter 3 verse 8 to 10, alongside that incredible teaching that with the Lord a day is like a thousand years.

2 Peter 3:8–10

A thousand years are like a day.

Think of all of this through God's perspective.

A day like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day.

So I think then if those are some of the unanswered questions, one of the key questions that are answered in this passage or that is answered is this question.

What should the servants do while the master's away?

Okay, we don't know when he's coming back.

We're absolutely certain he will come back at some point.

But what should we do while he's away?

Now you notice, I think the thrust of this passage is teaching for those who are already in a relationship with a master.

Okay, so I'm going to be focusing largely in my comments over the next few minutes on those of us who would already say,

yes, we're signed up to follow Jesus.

Yes, we've experienced what it is to know Jesus as our, as our saviour.

And so we are in that relationship with him.

But there is, of course, plenty of other teaching in scripture and indeed relevance in this passage for some who might be here today who would acknowledge, perhaps, or think that it's possible that you've got no relationship at all with Jesus.

And when you hear this business already of Jesus coming back and of us not knowing when because God is patient and wants us all to have a chance to repent,

then I wonder what, how that impacts on your heart and your life.

And I trust that for all of us, we would have a desire today to be ready for when Jesus does come back.

And I trust that we might also recognize that that could be even today.

One of the songs that I really enjoyed and was challenged by as I was growing up was the Larry Norman song.

I wish we'd all been ready.

Can I test the room?

Do some of you know this song?

I'm not seeing much recognition.

Margo does, which is great.

Margo and I must have some similar music tastes.

Man and wife asleep in bed.

She hears a noise and turns her head.

He's gone.

I wish we'd all been ready.

Two men walking up a hill.

One disappears and one's left standing still.

I wish we'd all been ready.

There's no time to change your mind.

The sun has come and you've been left behind.

Really challenging, solemn words in that song.

I will come back.

But I have to say my own experience of my own journey to faith and to knowing Jesus

was not one where scare stories had any impact on me at all.

And that is not what I want to bring today.

Rather, I think this passage encourages us to think of what it looks like

for us, his followers, to be waiting for the return of Jesus, our Lord and Master.

So let's look at the stories in a little bit more detail.

Verse 36, let's get into this one.

Servants are waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet.

And it's quite clear that these servants have got no idea at all when he will return.

He might be returning in the middle of the night,

or they might have to wait until almost daybreak before the master actually returns.

But despite this, what should they do?

Well, the lamps should be kept burning.

The master should not be coming back to find the house in pitch darkness.

He should not be coming back to find that the doors are locked,

the windows have been shut,

and the servants are fast asleep in their beds.

The master is expecting a sense of anticipation,

a sense of readiness for his return.

Now, as I was beginning to prepare this, I thought,

you know, we don't really have that master-servant relationship so much today.

And then I thought, how silly am I?

Of course we have it, and I am one of the servants.

Perhaps along with some of the others,

I know certainly some of you have had a career in the civil service.

Some of you, like me, live our whole working lives merely to serve.

We don't live our lives to be in control or to pursue our own agenda,

but to, in my case, to be serving the ministers of the government of the day,

whoever they may be, whatever their policies might be.

My role is to help and support and serve them as they seek to implement their policies.

But, of course, there's lots of different jobs in the civil service,

and the one that really comes to mind as I was reading this passage

about people awaiting the master's return

was the job in private office in the civil service.

It's a job that Aileen, John Gemmell's pastor, used to have.

And in private office, the key thing that you have to do

is ensure that every need of your minister is attended to.

In particular, they must know where they are going,

when they are going to go there.

They must have clear and proper material about exactly what they must do and say

when they are going to wherever they are meant to go.

And the key thing about being in private office is you have no idea what your working hours will be.

No idea.

Because you are a servant there to serve the minister.

So if the minister goes to an event and it goes on a bit

because there are engagements or conversations or things to happen,

do you think for a minute that the civil servant says,

well, sorry, it's quarter to five, I'm away home?

Not at all.

They won't survive in private office for a week if that was their mentality.

Contrary to those of you who think in the civil service,

we only work from 10 till 4.

It's not true.

The servant will simply be there waiting,

waiting for the minister to finish their business,

whatever it might be,

whatever the time of the day or night.

And when the minister is finished,

we'll be there to continue to serve them.

Where do we go to now?

What can I pick up from that meeting that you'd like me to do?

Are there any particular action points that need followed up now,

even though it might be late at night?

That's fine.

Here, happy to serve.

But isn't it strange in this passage,

there's a twist.

Did you notice the twist?

It's not the case that the master returns and says to the servants,

the good servants,

well, thanks for waiting up.

Right, where's my three course meal?

Well, despite the time of the day or night.

That doesn't happen.

What does the master do here?

The master comes.

Stay with me to make sure that I'm not,

that what I'm saying is true here.

It says, verse 37,

it will be good for the servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.

Truly I tell you, he'll dress himself.

He, the master, will dress himself to serve.

Will make them recline at the table.

And will come and wait on them.

This is an amazing twist.

This is a twist where the master,

the one who is in charge,

chooses to become the servant.

Does it remind you of anything?

Does it remind you of the great God

and the great Lord whom we have been worshipping?

Who humbled himself?

Who, despite being Lord of all,

took on himself the nature of a servant

and was made in human likeness.

Does it remind you of the one who,

when with his disciples,

when they were all standing on ceremony

and thinking, well, we're all too important

to wash one another's dirty feet.

Does it remind you of the one who would take the towel?

The one who would kneel at the feet of his disciples.

He who was Lord of all

would be the one who would come in front of them and serve.

This is a wonderful master

whom these servants are actually tasked with serving.

Not one who will manipulate,

not one who will use or misuse his power,

but one who, despite being the master,

is also the one who will return

and who will serve.

I trust we can be encouraged

by the opportunities that we have

to serve a master like this.

But the key point from here,

clearly, is that we should be watching

and waiting for the master's return,

even though we have no idea

when he will be returning.

And I wonder if some of us have assumed

that that return will never happen.

Been so long.

Nothing's changed.

It's never going to happen in our lifetime.

Maybe some of us think it'll never happen at all.

In which case, we need to go on to the second story

because the second story's got particular resonance for us

if that's where we're at.

It's there in verse 39.

It's such a short story, you could almost miss it.

But it is a different story

because here it says,

if the owner of the house

had known at what hour the thief was coming,

he wouldn't have let his house be broken into.

You must be ready

because the Son of Man will come at an hour

where you do not expect him.

You must be ready

for the Son of Man will come at an hour

where you do not expect him.

Can I illustrate this point here, please,

by telling you about the puppy

that has come into the lives of the Johnston family

in the last few months

and is probably actually on the cusp

of becoming a full-grown dog.

The one thing I have learned about our puppy, Harris,

is that he loves it when we come home.

And I don't know really what he does

for the hours and hours and hours

that we sometimes leave him on his own.

But what I do know

is that nine times out of ten,

as we drive into our driveway

and look at the small panes of glass

either side of our door,

he's there.

He's there, poised, waiting.

For all I know,

he has potentially been there

looking out the window,

waiting for the preceding four or five hours.

He's possibly there now.

Spare a thought for him.

Just waiting, patiently.

And how does he react when we come?

He's got no idea when we come,

but no matter when we come,

he's there, leaping, bounding,

jumping up,

showing his absolute joy and delight

that we have returned.

And I'm challenged as I look at this

and I hear this second story from Jesus.

I'm challenged about whether I've got

that real desire

for the Son of Man to return.

And am I ready?

Or have I got so many things

that I want to do in my life

that in some ways

I see as more important

than the return of Jesus Christ,

whom we've been singing as Lord of all.

That's the second story.

But I have to say,

the third story is really important

because there,

the analogy of my little dog

breaks down entirely.

Right?

Because the reality is,

Harris, while he's waiting for our return,

is doing absolutely nothing.

Right?

He is just sitting there,

maybe sleeping.

And I wonder if some of us,

and I think as we look at the book

of 1 Thessalonians,

we see that some of the early Christians

thought that what they should do

while they waited for Jesus' return

was nothing.

Right?

Jesus is coming back.

So I suppose we need to make sure

we keep ourselves pure

and we keep ourselves clean

and we make sure we're ready.

But actually,

what we do,

well,

it doesn't really matter what we do.

So let's give up our job.

Let's sell up our house.

Let's make sure

we basically gather together

in a little huddle

and just hope that he comes back soon.

Is that what the Bible teaches us to do?

Absolutely not.

Let's look at the third story.

If the first two stories

tell us about waiting

and watching for Jesus' return,

the third story speaks to us

about working

while we await

Jesus' return.

Because in this story,

what we see

is that the master

has tasked the servant

with work to do.

He said,

listen,

I'm going to give you

a real responsibility

while you're here

waiting for my return.

And so I'm going to ask you

to look after

some of the other servants

in my household

and I want you to give them

their food

at the proper time

and, you know,

manage the affairs

of my house.

And we read in verse 43

that it's going to be good

for the servant

who understands

what he needs to do

and sets his mind to it

and does it

with all of his heart

and soul.

And that servant

is going to get

an even greater reward.

Verse 45,

we've got an example

of someone

who also knows

what he needs to do.

He's been given work to do

while he awaits

the master return

and what does he decide to do?

He becomes lazy.

He says,

oh,

my master's taking

such a long time

to return

and so he starts

to beat the other servants,

both men and women.

He eats and drinks

and he gets drunk

and that person

comes back

and faces

what is a pretty gory

punishment

as you'll read about

in that passage.

I find this

a hugely challenging

story

and it makes me think

about the sort of work

that Jesus,

our master,

might want us

to do

while we await

his return.

What were the characteristics

of the terrible servant

in that story?

What were the characteristics?

He wasn't marked

by a care or a love

for those that were

in the household.

Rather the reverse.

He was abusive.

He was selfish.

He was lazy.

What were the characteristics

of the servant

who was rewarded?

He was one

who was working

diligently

while he awaited

the master's return.

Look at verse 47,

48

which I think

talks to us

about the importance

of knowing

what it is

the master wants

to do.

So in verse 47

the servant

who knows

what the master

wants to do

will need to do it.

Verse 48

recognises

that some of us

might be a little bit

unsure

about what the master

actually wants to do

and there there'll be

greater leniency.

Verse 48

reminds us

that from those

to whom much

has been given

much will be demanded

and I think

we can probably

pause today

and look at our own

life and circumstance

and recognise

that much

much has been given

to all of us.

We've been given

time and energy.

We've been given

an assurance

through Jesus

that we're loved

we're valued.

We've been brought

into relationship

with God

through Jesus Christ.

We know our sins

are forgiven.

We know the Holy Spirit

lives in us.

We've been given much.

We have great hope

for the future

and now

I do feel

that the challenge

of this passage

is that just as

faith without works

is described

by James

as dead

so simply

receiving all

of that from God

and responding

by doing nothing

with it

and by sheer

laziness

and idleness

is perhaps

the very scenario

that we need

to feel

challenged about.

How does God

want us to work?

Well I'm going to

invite one of our

church members

Robert to come

and tell us

a little bit

about his

experience

of work

and Robert

I am now

realising that

the questions

that you and I

had discussed

in advance

I do not have

in front of me

here which I'm

really sorry.

So Robert

stick with us.

I think the

first one was

probably just to

tell us a little

bit about yourself

and what you do

and maybe your

journey to get

to what you're

doing.

Okay.

Hi I'm Robert

for those of you

that don't know me.

I'm a GP

family doctor

I work down

in Peebles

a small town

about 20 miles

south of here

and I've done

that for the

last four years

prior to that

I was doing

various training

jobs in hospitals

and so on

and before that

medical school

I was relatively

late in going

back to medical

school.

I was 26

when I went

back to study

prior to that

I had studied

engineering

and was on

a completely

different course

in life

and really

came to be

aware in quite

a profound way

that that's not

what God

wanted me to

do.

I had a good

job and I

enjoyed working

there where I

was but I

came to

gradually realise

it was something

else in life

for me so it

was actually

quite a big

step for me

to go back

to study at

that age.

Suddenly I had

no money and

all sorts of

issues around

where to live

and so on

and God

really provided

along the way

and probably

the most notable

thing is that

if you ever find

yourself in that

situation

you're maybe not

sure that this is

where you're meant

to be just now

certainly my

experience was

that God

in a very real

way can speak

and change that

and it's I think

important to be

aware of that

potential and to

really be still

and listen to God

because I had

enormous blessing

although I took

what was actually

quite a tricky

decision at the

time to change

direction

I was enormously

blessed for doing

so.

So Robert you've

got this real

sense that the

work you're doing

now is the

work that God

wants you to do

which I think is

tremendous which

kind of takes us

on then to just

really keen to

hear a little bit

about how does

that conviction

make a difference?

Well so in my

job I see all

sorts of people

from the beginning

of life to the

end of life

and all the

challenges that

go along the

way and that

in itself can be

a difficult thing

it can take its

toll on your

own health

you know just

the stresses and

strains of that

as many jobs

can do

but it's a real

reassurance to

know that this

is what God

wants me to do

you know it

could be quite

discouraging at

times

people talk about

burnout and

various different

jobs and something

to be aware of

but it really

gives me a

reassurance and

I suppose my

job enables me

to practically

apply a lot of

the teaching in

the Bible about

people and for

looking after

people when

they're struggling

in life and

so that's a

joy really to

be able to do

that.

In terms of my

own well-being

the Bible

really provides

a lot of

support and

guidance on

that as well

the passage I

was going to

mention here is

in Philippians 4

Philippians 4:6

verse 6

where it says

don't be

anxious

in every

situation

every situation

present your

petitions to

God in prayer

and God will

give you the

peace that

passes

understanding

it's this

peace that

is beyond

what we're

able to

understand and

that is a

real strength

and a real

encouragement to

me and as it

should be to

everyone that's

there and it's

a very real

thing.

Robert thanks so

much was there

anything else that

you wanted to

add about this

namely any other

questions I've

forgotten?

Right excellent

thanks so much

Robert it's great

to hear a little

bit about what

work looks like

for you and

just before I

finish up here

could I I just

hope some of you

might be genuinely

encouraged to

think much perhaps

more deeply about

what it means to

be a Christian

in the workplace

or what does it

mean as a

Christian to be

seeking to do

good work if

you're maybe not

in an employment

situation what does

it mean to be

doing good work

day in day out

if so I've got a

book to recommend

for you it's this

book by a guy

called Matt

Perman what's

best next

subtitled how the

gospel transforms

the way you get

things done so

it's not primarily a

book about just

being more super

efficient there's a

little bit there

but it's a book

that fundamentally

says that as

people who

recognize ourselves

as servants of

God in what we

do as people with

a real purpose in

our everyday

situation we have

unlimited opportunities

to do good works

that's what the

servant in our

passage who was

commended did he

did good works he

sought to love and

serve others and

the servant in our

passage who was

punished was one who

was selfish and only

looked out for

himself and I love

this little section

from the book which

says this when you're

answering emails you

aren't just answering

emails you're doing

good works when you

attend meetings you

aren't just attending

meetings you're doing

good works when you

make supper for your

family you aren't just

making supper for your

family you're doing

good works when you put

the kids to bed you

aren't just putting the

kids to bed you are

doing a good work and

he goes on to talk

about a life of serving

God as a life of joy

adventure and excitement

far more exciting in

fact than a life lived

for yourself no matter

how many times you

might get to travel the

world so our time is

nearly up and I want

to hand back to Andrew

to close us with two

great songs that I

think will allow us to

focus our minds on that

certainty of Jesus

return but as we close

let me be very clear

about one thing despite

what we've talked about

in the last few minutes

about the need for those

servants not only to be

watching and waiting but

also working let's be

very clear that being in

that relationship with

Jesus in the first place

is what this all hinges on

I'm not suggesting for a

minute that by simply

working our socks off and

trying to do good we will

thereby be ready for the

return of the master not at

all but rather those of us

who have had that encounter

with Jesus Christ are now

encouraged to be people who

will watch who will wait and

who will work let's pray

so Lord Jesus we thank you for

the confidence that we have

that you will return

help us to anticipate that

more today help us to watch

help us to wait and help us to

do exactly what you would call

us to do in service of you as

we await your return

talking bye

me

important

find out

fine

no

no

no

no