#1074. Be ready and waiting to open the door (10/6/24)

This week in our series in Luke, we are reflecting on Luke 12:35-57. Today we see how we are to live each day in readiness for the return of Christ.

Luke 12:35–57

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36 like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 37 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. 38 It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”’ (Luke 12:35-40

Luke 12:35–40

Lesson: Each day we are to live as one ready and waiting for Jesus’ return.

To listen to this video, follow the link below:

https://youtu.be/8QvPQTYjNX8

I guess that most of us look forward to the weekend. Or we look forward to a birthday, an anniversary, a holiday… And, depending on the thing we are looking forward to, we may have to do a lot of preparation. This being so, how many of us also look forward to Jesus’ return? and are we preparing for it?

Jesus uses this analogy of servants waiting for their master to return home from a wedding banquet to illustrate how we are to wait for His coming. Like these servants, we are to be ‘dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.’

Being dressed and with burning lamps is about vigilance and active preparation. To be ‘dressed for action’, in the context of the New Testament, was to tie up one’s robe so as not to trip. The language used means that this is about constantly being dressed for action - constantly being in readiness.

They are told to ‘keep your lamps burning’; burning lamps reminds us of what we studied in the last chapter where we read:

‘“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness.”’ (Luke 11:33-34)

Luke 11:33–34

Those who are waiting for Christ are those who allow the light of His Word to fill them and shine from them. Those who truly believe in Jesus’ return will be those who are most given to listening to Him and serving Him and His mission. In light of Jesus’ coming they are ‘dressed’ - they are seeking to honour Christ; and they have bright lamps - are allowing the light of truth and the gospel to shine from them.

To further teach us to be ready for His coming, Jesus also uses this analogy of protecting a house against burglary. He likens His coming to the coming of a thief - comparing the unknown time of His coming with the unexpected time of the coming of the thief. The point He’s making is that although we don’t know the exact time, we do know that He is coming and so we should be in constant readiness.

Jesus teaches us that readiness is required and is rewarded. He tells us that:

‘”It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.”’

This surprising response to those who are ready. It is reminiscent of The Last Supper when Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. Whatever this means, it signifies reward and honour for those who are ready and waiting for Jesus. Those who are ‘dressed’, who have ‘lamps burning’, and who are alert like those who are protecting their home will be rewarded when Christ comes.

Response

Each day we are to live as one ready and waiting for Jesus’ return. Are we as aware of Jesus’ coming as we should be? Let these words remind each of us today:

‘Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.’ (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4)

1 Thessalonians 5:1–4