Luke 12:35-40

Luke 12:35-40 “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men 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. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. 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. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

In the above passage, Jesus continues his teaching on how to live in this world. He has already told his followers not to fear death, but to love the poor, to trust God for daily provisions, and to lay up treasures in heaven by doing good work. Now He tells them to always be ready for the bridegroom's return. Jesus knew He would soon be separated from his disciples at the cross. He also knew they would be alone, without the bridegroom. Now He wants them to know they must be responsible servants, doing his will while He is gone from them. They are to keep his household functioning in his absence, while always anticipating his soon return. Those servants who are so focused will experience the master's love, even to the point the master will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready. In other words, He will lavishly care for them upon his return.

Jesus also likens the situation to someone whose house will be robbed by a thief. He says if a person knows a thief is coming, then he will prevent the invasion of his property. As a thief, Jesus will return when He is unexpected; consequently, He says, you must be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, so you will immediately open the door for him. This idea of readiness fits well with the previous teaching we have been studying in the last few chapters. One of the ways the world defeats us and pulls us too strongly into its influences is by distraction. As humans with various needs and appetites, we can be so easily distracted by other things that satisfy our flesh, forgetting our primary reason for being: to take up the cross and follow Jesus, to minister to those in need around us. If we lose track of who we are in Jesus and who Christ is in us, our vision can be dimmed and we lose our focus for life.

Does this mean that we should all separate ourselves as Christian hermits or ascetics, so we are totally committed to our Master? No, but it does mean that we should daily acknowledge the relationship we have with our Lord, remembering to seek first his kingdom of faith and his righteousness that will see us through to the end and eternal life with him. Scripture tells us to look for Christ's appearing while we do his work here on Earth. We are to live victoriously as Paul instructed Titus, by saying, “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope — the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12-13) We must recognize that godlessness and worldly passions are part of our lives, the milieu of our existence; therefore, we must make good choices and live in a position of faith to resist the enemy's temptations.

We should remember our inheritance and the blessed hope of Christ's return. As Paul wrote, For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 KJV) Although we may face trials and sorrows on this earthly journey, we are greatly blessed by the Holy Spirit within us, who reminds us of the truths of the gospel, gives us the power to do the Lord's will, and comforts us until Christ's return or when we meet him in heaven. We are a blessed people. Today, let us rejoice in God's provision and rest in his love while we seek every opportunity to serve our Lord.