Tuesday 04 December 2012
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them." (v. 37)
Background
Two of the great themes of adventare about waiting and preparedness and this succinct and beautifulparable speaks volumes about both.
Luke tells a tale that mightsound familiar to many. It reminds us of other stories and parablesJesus told about lamps, feasts and weddings but Luke adds astunning twist to the end. But first a question: what are thefollowers of Jesus to wait and be prepared for?
It seems that the early Churchand even Jesus himself believed that he would return to earth atsome point and that moment would have unprecedented consequencesfor those that chose to follow him and those that did not.
In this parable Jesus asks hisfollowers to be ready and waiting to be dressed for the party andhave their lamps lit. He seems to be comparing himself to thebridegroom, who in a ceremony very different from our weddingservices, returns home at some point in the night. The servants(Jesus' followers) are asked to be on watch and be prepared forthat return. So Jesus is asking his followers to be on their guardfor he will return and when he does things will be different.
Often the stories of Jesus'return are followed by predictions of the wrath to come to thosethat refused to believe in him and awesome authority bestowed onJesus as king and ruler of a new creation. Jesus' return is the endof history as we know it and the beginning of a new world thatbursts with God's holiness and glory.
But Luke offers a differentending. In this ending the world has still changed beyond beliefbut this time there is no apocalyptic imagery nor is there a storyof how the non-believers are cast out. Instead this story ends withthe master, the bridegroom, Jesus himself, returning and findinghis servants ready and waiting - and he waits upon them.
He serves them food.
Those who have served the Masterfaithfully whilst he was away, are served by him when hereturns.
To Ponder
- What do you think about the idea of Jesus coming again?
- In what ways do you prepare for it?
- How do you feel about the idea that Jesus will serve you?