On Line Bible Study - For the Week January 17-23, 2011

Lesson 475

Luke 12: ³⁵ “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."

Click on the text above to read Luke 12: 35-48 in its entirety.

Jesus - coming again. The first challenge for us: What does this mean for us today?

It's 2000 years now since Jesus was born. Scholars look at the "Second Coming" in several ways.

1. First, some say Jesus spoke these words and meant us to believe he would physically come again.
2. Others believe the 'Second Coming of Christ' represents the faith of the early Christian Church, especially as it experienced persecution. The 'apocalyptic' passages are a reflection of the church's belief that, while the Messiah's spiritual work was finished, the physical work - that of bringing all things under submission to Christ - had not been completed. We are called to participate in the work of bringing about the kingdom of heaven, but it is going to take Jesus coming again to bring the fullness of the kingdom to earth.
   

The focus of the text is not on whether Christ will come. Nor does it take any time speculating on how he will come. The focus is on our being ready when (not "if") he comes.

Peter asks the question in verse 41: “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” Why would that be important to Peter? Is his question an innocent request for clarity, or a desire to understand if the 12 were being singled out for special behavior? Are the leaders the only ones being singled out for 'watchfulness'? And the punishment for lack of watchfulness is rather severe - dismemberment: He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

What is the key to the kingdom - is it faith, or faithfulness? Is it what we believe or what we do? Jesus tells the disciples the more they know they more they are responsible for.

This is a tough message - I think the apocalyptic passages in the Gospels are the tougher part of Jesus' message. Somehow we have to reconcile the fact of this message with our belief in a 'God of love and forgiveness'. Love HAS its rough edges! Faith does require patience! And perseverance!

It is important that we don't try to explain away what we struggle to understand. Will Jesus physically return? Another way to think about it: Do you ever encounter the presence of Christ in your life now? Is Jesus alive? Isn't that the point? What are the ramifications of our not living life his way? Are there any ramifications? You bet there are. Just look at the shape our world is in!