The King's Story (and ours)

11, as we think about the King's story and ours.

Probably if you are paying attention to the news, you would have recognized once again

that still today there is a lot of royal interest. We had that rather strange, rather sad, I think,

story of so much attention being given to the royal Mother's Day photo. You know, that little

bit of editing that generated days and days of media interest and speculation and chatter.

In the absence of the princess, so much misinformation and misunderstanding was used to fill the vacuum.

Thinking about that story this week perhaps helps us, in a sense, to appreciate some of the royal

expectation there was as the crowds were heading to the festival in Jerusalem in that scene that we

just read in Luke chapter 19. We have been following a crowd at fever pitch, waiting for the Messiah King.

Luke 19 · chapter mention

Is Jesus the one? And we have seen so much misunderstanding about the kind of King Jesus is and the timing of His kingdom.

Now, we may or may not have paid any attention or be particularly bothered about royal stories in the press,

but I would suggest that we all need to listen as King Jesus tells the story of God's King.

Because in this little story, we have an explanation for history and how history will end,

and we have revealed from Jesus our purpose as people until that point.

This story, if we hear it well, will encourage us to live well as we mind the gap.

You know, if you visit London and you're on the tube, and as the tube is drawing into the station,

you hear that voice announce, please mind the gap.

Now, watch your step as you continue on your journey as you leave the train.

Well, the story Jesus tells strikes a similar note.

He encourages the crowds and He encourages us to mind the gap between Jesus' first coming

and His second coming.

And again, what we see is that the timing of Jesus' return is unclear,

but the reality that He will return is certain.

And we are to mind the gap in the sense of being careful how we live, how we journey through this life.

We have to be careful about our response to King Jesus and His summons for us to be servants.

The story tells us that God's King has come, that His kingdom will come,

and that His kingdom must grow.

It's a story we all need a healthy interest in, a story that reminds us to mind the gap.

Let's think, first of all, about the king's story, the story about a king.

Perhaps you are familiar with the famous quote,

those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat its mistakes.

Well, did you know, I discovered this this week,

Jesus bases this parable on a famous event in history.

This was living memory for the people in Judea, Israel, Jerusalem at the time.

So in 4 BC, and this is history, Herod the Great died.

And when he died, he divided his kingdom between three of his sons.

And to his son called Archelaus, he was given the title King of Judea.

And so Archelaus, when the will was read, then made the procession to Rome to claim that title,

to claim kingship.

But as he traveled, a delegation of 50 people from Judea followed him

to go to the Roman emperor to say,

we don't want this guy as king.

He is unfit for service.

And so what they expected to be routine actually took a really long time.

But the upshot was,

Archelaus was crowned king.

And he did return to Judea as king.

And he came and he dealt very severely with those who opposed his claims.

Do we hear the parallel?

Hear what Jesus is doing?

Now Jesus is not saying,

my character is the same as Archelaus.

Absolutely not.

Because Archelaus was a terrible king, an awful king.

And Jesus is a wonderful king.

But he is saying,

my circumstances follow that pattern.

Follow that story and history.

Now before we get to the story,

why does Jesus tell it?

So sometimes Jesus tells stories

and we're not always invited to know what was the context.

Why did he choose to say it?

But here we are led to understand why.

Verse 11,

Jesus went on to tell them a parable

because, two things,

he was near Jerusalem

and the people thought that the kingdom of God

was going to appear at once.

So he's coming to the climax of his journey to Jerusalem

and the crowds are hoping,

well, if Jesus is the Messiah King,

then he's going to be crowned in glory.

His kingdom is going to come now.

Our enemies are going to be defeated.

We're going to live in a renewed promised land

and it's going to be peaceful.

And Jesus comes to say the reality is different.

Now he has said to them that his kingdom is now.

We've heard that on the journey.

For example, in chapter 17 and verse 21,

nor will people say of the kingdom,

here it is or there it is

because the kingdom of God is in your midst.

So he's quite happy to say, yes, the kingdom is now.

But he also invites us to recognize

the kingdom has not fully yet come.

It will not be final glory right away.

So just like every king, Jesus will ascend,

though in the first instance,

Jesus will ascend across

before ascending to the throne of glory.

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem,

he will be crowned,

but it will be a crown of thorns,

not a crown of gold that he will wear.

He will be greeted by great crowds,

but those crowds will turn and cry,

crucify him.

We have no king but Caesar.

He will win a victory,

but that will be a spiritual victory

over Satan and sin and death

by his sacrificial death on the cross.

So he needs them to know

that the reality is different.

So let's follow the king's story.

Verse 12, we have a king who departs.

A man of noble birth went to a distant country

to have himself appointed king and then to return.

And so the idea of going to a distant country

implies this is going to take a while.

There's going to be delay.

Jesus teaches that.

His kingdom is not coming.

His return is not immediate.

His authority is clear, though.

The end of the story is never in doubt.

He is going to be crowned

and he is going to return.

Jesus has been preparing his followers

and us as we've listened for his departure.

So ever since Jesus went up a mountain

with James and Peter and John

and shone with the glory of God,

he spoke to them of his departure.

He was going to leave.

His departure involved his suffering and his death.

And it involved his resurrection.

And it involved his ascension

to the throne of heaven.

Now Jesus knows the response

of many to him as king.

Verse 14,

his subjects hated him

and sent a delegation to say,

we don't want this man to be our king.

And so we've seen on the journey

and we'll see at the cross

that he is the perfect king

of perfect love,

of absolute authority,

of the kingdom and the glory of God

that he brings.

And yet he was rejected

and he is rejected

and he will be rejected

by many throughout history.

Sad reality.

So the king departs.

As the king departs,

we also discover in verse 13

that the king commands,

he called ten of his servants

and gave them ten minas.

Put this money to work

until I come back.

Again, there's those two elements,

ten servants, ten minas.

They're told,

put my money to work

and do that until I come back.

So they are going to be working.

And again, verse 14 is in the background.

There are going to be those

who are serving the kingdom of Jesus

who are going to be working for him

while there will be others around them

who say,

we don't want him as king

and we don't want to receive him

or his message.

So the kingdom will be opposed

and the kingdom will grow.

Do we recognize that?

As true in our day as it was back then.

So we have the same call.

The church is to be doing the work of the king

until the king's return.

That's our purpose.

It's our duty as Christians.

We're doing the king's work.

We have the promise of his presence,

his power, his spirit,

but we also know

that we will face opposition

and there is spiritual battle.

Jesus prepares us for it,

for us at that in the parable.

So the king departs,

the king commands.

Then notice the king returns,

verse 15.

He was made king, however,

and returned home.

So remember that opposition.

We don't want this king.

It is to no effect.

The king is crowned.

He does receive glory,

does have authority.

And so Jesus is preparing us

for this reality

that as he approaches the cross,

death is not the end for Jesus

or for his mission,

for his kingdom.

Opposition,

rejection

does not stop the plan of God.

Jesus will take the throne of heaven.

That's where he's sitting right now,

ruling and reigning over the universe

and over the church,

and he will return one day

to draw history to an end,

to establish the kingdom of God

on this earth,

to establish his final

and ultimate victory

over all the forces of evil,

and God will dwell

with his people forever.

The king returns.

When the king returns,

we also discover

the king judges.

It's the bulk of the story,

isn't it,

from verse 15

down to 27.

In verse 15,

then he sent for the servants

to whom he'd given the money

in order to find out

what they had gained with him.

So we are invited to imagine

here is the king

on his throne,

and here is a day of reckoning.

It's judgment day.

And as the servants come,

we see two categories in view.

We find those

who are described

in verse 16 and 19

as good and trustworthy.

They have put the money to work.

They have kept going

until the king came back.

And the result is

they are given honor

and responsibility

in the kingdom,

sharing in the king's rule,

responsibility for ten cities

or five cities.

But then there's another judgment,

isn't there?

Verse 22,

the master speaks to one

who is described

as a wicked servant,

the one who doesn't work,

the one who doesn't do anything

with what has been given to him

from the king.

And we discover

he loses everything

and ultimately

is given a sentence of death.

So Jesus,

as he has spoken to us

in the gospels,

announces that the father

has given him authority

to judge all people.

And he will reward some

with salvation,

those who receive him by faith,

those who honor him

in their lives,

those who are ready

to serve him

with the grace

that he provides.

But others

will know punishment

and condemnation,

Jesus says.

Those who reject him

as king,

those who rebel

against his will

and his word,

those who are guilty

of treason.

And so Jesus tells us

this story

because we are invited

to learn

from history.

Just as the people

in Jesus' day

could learn from

the story of Archelaus

since he parallels

with Jesus' own story,

we are invited

to see Jesus

is the king,

God's king.

He has departed,

he is now in heaven,

but he will return

with glory

after a delay.

Only the father knows

how long

that will be

and we are invited

to receive him

today.

We're also reminded

in this parable

about how history

will end.

History will end

with a bang

and not a whimper.

But that bang

will not be the bang

of an atomic bomb.

It will not be the bang

of an asteroid

colliding with the earth,

some of those

fearful expectations

that people might have.

It's the loud thunder

that announces

the returning

of the king.

It's the trumpet blast

that says,

the king of kings

and the lord of lords

has come

to establish

his kingdom

on the earth.

And the teaching

of Jesus

and the teaching

of the Bible

reminds us also

that history

is working

towards a certain end.

It is not chaos,

it is Christ

who is in control.

And there's a wonderful

invitation in that,

I think,

to trust the one

who sits on the throne,

to trust the one

who rules over history

and who will rule

for all eternity,

to place our hope

in him,

to pray,

your kingdom come,

your will be done.

But this parable

also reminds us

that all through history

we're going to see

these opposite responses

to King Jesus.

And we will see them

in our own heart.

And what we need

to understand

is that our response

to Jesus

determines

our eternal destiny.

That's the King's story.

But I want to think

just for a few minutes

about the King's treasure.

So last,

maybe some of you,

if you were here

on Sunday evening,

you might be thinking,

I feel like you told us

this story last week.

I had a panic

late on Sunday night.

I usually,

on Sunday night,

think about what's coming

next Sunday.

I was like,

oh, no,

it's the same story.

This is going to be bad.

We're going to have

the same sermon.

But it's not the same story

that we looked at.

And actually,

one of the things

that makes it so different

is the money.

And I'm going to show you that.

If you weren't here,

you might be thinking,

why is he even bothered?

But, you know,

there's some stories

in some movies

where money or treasure

becomes central

to the plot.

Maybe you've read

Treasure Island

and you realize

what that treasure does

to various characters

in that book.

Or you think about

the Ring of Power

in Lord of the Rings

and how central

that becomes

to the plot.

Well, Jesus

tells us this story

and he told similar stories

where the money

becomes an important part

of the storyline.

I'm going to show you

how this story

was different

from the one

that we looked at

in Matthew 25,

Matthew 25:14–30

verse 14 to 30.

There's the parable

of the talents.

And there was a key

difference there

because there was still

a king

and there were still servants

and there were gifts

that were given.

But one servant

got ten talents,

representing a huge amount

of money.

Somebody got five talents

and somebody just got one.

So, they were given

different amounts

according to their abilities.

Now, that was Matthew 25.

What about here?

Look with me at verse 13.

He called ten of his servants

and gave them ten minas.

Okay?

Ten servants

and they all get

the same amount.

The same treasure

is given to them all.

Now, that's significant.

What does it mean?

Jesus is telling us

that everybody

that listens to him

receives the same good news.

The good news

of God's king

and his coming kingdom

of grace.

That's the mina.

That's the treasure

that we are given.

Just stop and think about

what is the gospel?

The gospel is the announcement

that we are made

by God,

our good and holy creator,

and we are subject to him

as our good

and gracious king.

But as subjects,

we choose to say no

to God's rule

in a whole variety of ways.

Breaking his law,

refusing his will,

rejecting his love.

That every person

who has ever lived

stands guilty

of rebellion

and treason

against God

and God's king.

And wonderfully,

despite our rejection

of him,

God chooses

to show grace.

And God,

in his grace,

sends his son Jesus

as his promised king.

And Jesus

is the king

who will rescue

his people

by dying

in our place

for the sins

of all who will put

their trust in him

on the cross.

Jesus is the king

who rules

over us,

building his kingdom,

the church,

sending his spirit,

giving forgiveness

in new life.

And Jesus

is the king

who will return

to take his people

to live with him

one day

in his eternal

kingdom of love.

And he invites us

to receive

his treasure,

to believe

the good news

of saving grace,

to turn from rebellion,

to trust in him

as Lord and Savior,

and to enter

into this kingdom.

That good news

is the treasure.

And that good news

is powerful.

So here's the other difference

from the story

in Matthew.

When there's the time

of reckoning,

when the servants

stand before the king,

we find them saying,

you entrusted

these talents

to me,

and see,

I have gained

ten more.

I have gained

five more.

How does Jesus

tell the story here?

Verse 16,

the first one

came and said,

Sir,

your mina

has earned

ten more.

Verse 18,

the second came and said,

Sir,

your mina

has earned

five more.

Where does the growth

come from?

It comes from the money.

It comes from the treasure.

It comes from the power

of the gospel of God.

The transformation

comes from God

and His good word

about His good king.

It is the good news

of the Lord Jesus

that brings forgiveness.

It is the good news

of the Lord Jesus

that brings spiritual freedom.

It's the good news

of King Jesus

that establishes us

in fellowship with God

and with one another

in the church.

It's the good news

of King Jesus

that we receive

by faith.

And so we teach it

and we share it

and we proclaim it

all the while

trusting

that God's word

does its work.

That it's the gospel word

that is powerful.

It's the gospel word

that saves.

And we are called

to be obedient

and faithful servants.

That takes us

to the last thing

I want us to think about

the king's servants.

I remember

I think it was probably

my first week

as a Scottish history

student

we had

a very energetic

slightly eccentric

perhaps

a professor

of Scottish history

who told us

two things

that first week.

One

who told us

just how bad

and historically

inaccurate Braveheart was.

That can kind of

help you gauge

my age

and stage in life.

And the other thing

he told us

was that he was only

recently back

from Canada.

When Scotland

had had a referendum

about independence

from the UK

and that referendum

failed

he'd had enough

of UK rule

and he left

to go and live

in Canada.

For years

and years

and years

a particular

government

or a particular

form of government

can lead us

to vote

with our feet

to say

nope

I don't want

that form of rule

I don't want

that king

and so I'm

leaving the country.

We know this

we see it

we see it

in the world.

Jesus' story

reveals something

hugely significant.

While many

dislike his rule

hate his rule

oppose him

as king

we cannot

avoid the reality

of his rule.

My feelings

about the rule

of Jesus

your feelings

about the rule

of Jesus

does not change

the fact

that he rules.

He is king

he will always be

king of kings

and lord of lords.

He is

God's king

we all stand

accountable to him

and one day

he will pass

judgment

on all of us.

That's something

we need to reckon

with.

Return with me

for a moment

to verse 11.

I think this is

really interesting

how it's introduced.

While they were

listening to this

he went on

to tell them

a parable.

What have they

just been listening to?

They've been listening

to Jesus

talking with Zacchaeus

and they've just

heard Jesus say

today salvation

has come to this

house because

this man too

is a son of Abraham

for the son of man

came to seek

and to save the lost.

What are they

listening to?

This good news

that Jesus has come

on a rescue mission

that he brings

saving grace

that he comes

to seek

and to save

the lost

that he has

the power

to call people

from darkness

into light

from death

to life

to make people

who have deliberately

made themselves

strangers to God

to bring them

into the family

of God.

He's come on

this loving

rescue mission

and yet still

there are those

who say

we don't want him.

There are two

responses in this

story of course.

There's the

positive response.

There are those

servants who hear

the call of the king

they acknowledge

his authority

and they gladly

serve him

honoring him

with their obedience

and in particular

according to this

parable

they are those

who put this

money to work.

The king gives

a treasure

they put the

treasure to work.

If the treasure

is the good news

of who Jesus is

and what he's done

for us in dying

and rising

what does it look

like to put that

to work in our lives?

Well it begins

of course by

personally receiving

by faith

this good news.

We apply it

to our lives

so that we might

enjoy eternal life.

We put it to work

in our lives

by seeking

by God's grace

to grow

spiritually.

So we want

to read

God's word

that we might

hear him speak

to us.

We might receive

grace.

We want to draw

on our communion

with him as we pray.

We want to gather

together to worship.

We put it to work

as we seek

to grow

in obedience.

As we recognize

that he is king

and yes I am

a servant.

We look to grow

in love.

As we recognize

that the rule

of faith

for the Christian

is summarized

by Jesus

and love the Lord

your God

with all your heart

soul mind and strength

and love your neighbor

as yourself.

So we put it to work

as we seek

with his help

to grow in our love.

We put it to work

as we grow

in our commitment

to his mission.

As we recognize

that he is the king

and that everybody

should recognize

his glory.

We want to support

the work of the church

here locally

and globally

in our prayers

and our giving

and our going.

Well those

we're told

who put the money

to work

who have that

positive response

they receive

don't they

a positive outcome.

Jesus says

verse 17

because you've been

trustworthy

in a very small matter

take charge

of ten cities

faithful with

just a little

honour of

greater responsibility

that promise

that we will

rule with the Lord

Jesus

in the new heavens

in the newer

made to rule

one day

that rule

will be perfectly

restored

and we will rule

and reign

with him.

There's honour

there's joy

waiting for us

as the people

of God.

There's a positive

response to the king

but there's also

the negative response.

Jesus knew he was

going to meet

a negative response

by and large

at the cross.

Verse 20

there's that servant

who said

here's your mina

I've kept it

laid away

in a piece of cloth

I was afraid of you

because you're a hard man.

He does someone

refusing to do anything

with the treasure

that the king gives

not receiving

the good news

personally

not receiving

Jesus as Lord

and Saviour

no desire

to share it

with others

here's someone

who misrepresents

the king

harsh

unworthy

of loyalty

unworthy

of service

ignoring the fact

that he's been

joyfully generous

you've looked after

a little bit of money

look after ten cities

for me

missing his generosity

and failing

in their duty

as servants

to the king

it's a sad picture

it's a sad picture

in our day

of someone

who is religious

but with no spiritual life

got that mina

but doing nothing

with it

and that brings

the negative outcome

verse 24

take his mina away

and give it to the one

who is ten

to take the money

means there's now

no relationship

with the king

no connection

to his kingdom

they are in fact

the enemies

of the king

in their rejection

those enemies

of mine

who did not want

me to be king

over them

bring them here

and kill them

in front of me

Jesus is very honest

sounds a loving warning

you don't want

to hear

condemnation

from king

jesus

the lesson

is loud and clear

of this parable

when it comes

to the good news

of king jesus

the good news

of his victory

over sin

and death

of his gift

of forgiveness

and eternal life

of entry

into his kingdom

of the privilege

of serving him

we either use it

or we lose it

and each of us

must decide

use it

or lose it

we're going to close

with this reminder

that the king

comes to us

today

to offer us

grace

today

remember verse 11

while they were

listening to this

while they were

listening to the one

who said

I've come to seek

and to save the lost

I've come to bring

salvation and grace

I imagine

that at least

some of us

might be here

today thinking

jesus calls me

to put

what he's given me

to work

and what have I done

for jesus

perhaps that's true

of most christians

as we reflect

william carey

who brought the gospel

to india

on his birthday

when he was 58

he wrote a letter

to his son

he said I'm 58

and I've done so little

I imagine if that's true

for william carey

it's something that we

perhaps resonate with

and we need to be reminded

by the king of grace

you are not saved

by what you have done

I am not saved

by what I have done

but only by what

jesus has done

for you

remember

remember

we're saved by grace

remember our generous

king and savior

and remember

that he loves to reward

even the cup of water

given in his name

when we feel

kind of flat

I've done so little

we remember his goodness

and his grace

that's where we're going

to find our motivation

to keep on

seeking to be faithful

with a cup of water

being faithful

in our weakness

as we remember

the grace that he shows

to us

and that he gives

to us day by day

but maybe some of us

are here today

and you know

we read this story

and you see yourself

and I'm like the king's

subject saying no

saying I don't want him

to be king

I'm the servant

who's had the gospel

I've had gospel privileges

and I've done

nothing with it

if that's you

remember

grace is offered

to you

from Jesus

today

Peter the apostle

will remind us

that the delay

in Jesus' return

is actually good news

it's patience

because it represents

a chance to repent

to turn away from sin

and to turn to God

to submit to him

as Lord

and King

so there is grace

offered to

all of us today

from King Jesus

whoever we are

wherever we find

ourselves

there is that promise

of grace

if

we will have him

and if we will receive

from him

let's pray together

thank you

for the

in

the

world

and

and

it

within

and