Server Outage Notice: TheSeed.info is transfering to a new Server on Tuesday April 13th
| > Sermon Archive > Sermons by Author > Rev. Mark Chen > We Are Warned to Be Ready | Previous Next Print |
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) Psalter 259 - The Universal King TH 642 - Be Thou My Vision TH 320 - Rejoice, All Ye Believers |
We Are Warned to Be Ready
Luke 12:35-59
We all understand deadlines. When the deadlines are far away, we don’t panic. When they draw nearer, we panic especially when procrastination has left work undone. Other times, we’re distracted. We have many other things to do and we forget the deadline. It could be that we’ve neither procrastinated nor or forgot, but we weren’t aware of our tasks. We’re oblivious. And when we’re reminded and warned of the deadline, we feel the heat. But often, we don’t react - like the disciples here in this passage. Unfortunately, we’re very much like the disciples.
As Christ’s journey to Jerusalem and the cross hastens, his teaching intensifies. In Luke 10-12, we see a striking pattern. He’s been preparing his disciples for the time he’d leave them. He prepared them for the work by sending them out with power in Luke 10. He taught them to pray for the Holy Spirit in Luke 11. And he told them to keep seeking God’s kingdom in Luke 12 - not to obsess over food and drink like the pagans. Why? Because God wants to give them the kingdom. They should be kingdom focused - to spend time seeking heavenly treasure. But would they get it? Do we get it? In this passage, he warned them to be kingdom minded before the deadline - before he comes. This is not moral advice, but warning of a dying savior. He had a burning concern for their preparedness. And he has a burning concern for ours. In this passage, he impressed urgency on them in 4 points. Firstly, the posture of readiness. Secondly, the preparedness of stewardship. Thirdly, the purpose of his coming. Fourthly, the prudence of discernment.
Firstly, the posture of readiness. In verse 35, he told them “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” In the first century, “gird your loins” meant to gather your long robe into your belt, to be ready for hard work or swift travel. Furthermore, a burning lamp signified alertness in darkness. So the Lord warned the disciples to have a double posture - to be actively prepared and vigilant. Why? Verse 36 says the bridegroom will return from the wedding. Now, Jesus had already told them he was going away. In fact, on several occasions he revealed the Bridegroom will be taken away. Matthew 9:15 - “but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.” So the Lord continued with that analogy. He’ll be taken away; killed first, and then returning to the Father. But they must live expecting his return. So he applied it to them in verse 36 that they must wait vigilantly for him to return and receive him quickly. And what if they did? Verse 37 - “Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.” Amazing! When he returns, he turns the world order upside down. This bridegroom will come not to be served, but to serve these faithful servants.
Why? Because they were prepared. They were ready. And how would they be ready? Context. They’d pray. They’d go forth in faith. They wouldn’t live like pagan, concerned for themselves and their pleasure. He had just told them in verse 34, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” They’d treasure God’s kingdom - that’s where their heart would be. So if they built God’s kingdom first, he’d give them everything when he returned. He delight to give them the kingdom.
Now, Jesus says there could be a problem. His return would be unexpected and possibly delayed. Verse 38 says it could be in the second or third watch. The Jewish night was divided into 3 periods or watches, when sentries were given guard duties throughout the night. The first watch was 6-10 pm, the second, 10 pm - 2 am, and the third, 2-6 am. Christ may not return early - in fact, he said in the second or third watch. But despite that delay, if they’re actively waiting, those servants would be blessed. Despite the wait, their vigilance, vigor, and vitality would not diminish. Their hearts were still for the kingdom. And his coming would be unexpected. He’d ruffle feathers. We learn he’d come as a thief in the night. Because of the uncertain timing, he anticipated that some would grow weary and stop treasuring the kingdom. But if they did that, there’d be loss. The house is broken into. Now this was a question of heart. If your treasure is really the kingdom of God, then your heart is there as well. And if you’re not waiting and serving, then may be you’re not treasuring it. Maybe it’ll be taken from you. There’s reward for true servants and loss for others. So how? Verse 40 - “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Now, Peter asks a very astute question in verse 41 - are you speaking this to us or to all? And so Jesus secondly, gives a parable of stewardship. Now, why did Peter ask this question? Whenever Jesus told parables, he’d tell it to the multitude - not to the disciples. That was his usual pattern. He’d only explain the parable to the disciples in private. But here, he addressed them. So this occasion would’ve been strange. Parables hid truth from some and revealed it to others. But shouldn’t he expect his disciples to be watch, treasure, and value the kingdom? Who wouldn’t watch, treasure, or value it? So in response, Jesus told another parable in verses 41-48. If you’re true servants, then you must watch, because you’re not just servants - you’re stewards. “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?”
He upped the degree for them. Remember the context - they had authority to preach and were supposed to be kingdom minded. They were to be stewards. These were servants who led other servants. Disciples who led other disciples, making sure others got their allotment of food. So these disciples were responsible for the welfare of the church. And if they did that work, verse 43 says they’re blessed when Christ sees them doing it when he comes. He shall even reward them with greater rule. Yes, the servant of all, who feeds the rest, will be first of all. But if they didn’t do their work - if they said, verse 45 - my master will delay, maybe only coming at the second or third watch, and do their will like the rulers of the gentiles lording over others and beating them, or like the pagans to eat and drink, and get drunk; then they’re not stewards, much less servants. Knowledge of the master increases accountability. Christ had given these disciples much. “But master, is this parable for us or for all?” Of course, and more! And especially for them because among them was Judas - the thief. The one who’d go out at the first watch to betray Jesus.
With such a bad steward, what would the Lord do? He “will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.” This disciple didn’t put his heart to the treasure of God’s kingdom. Why? He wasn’t a true disciple. He’d be cut off. Now, this language might concern us. How come Jesus used such violent language to his disciples? Because there’s more severe penalty for those with more knowledge, verse 48. Judas is the son of perdition. How much sorer punishment for those who trample the Son of God? And this applies to us. The first parable applies to all servants - all disciples. All of us have a calling to be fruitful and to use our gifts to serve. And all of us also have a calling not to build up treasures here. In what way are we spending time and substance and effort for the kingdom? The second parable is especially to the stewards. To officers. What’s required of us? Stewardship. The teaching elder teaches. The ruling elder rules. The deacon serves tables. How are we providing our daily allotment of service to others? Daily, until Christ comes.
Beloved, many of us are tired. We’re busy. We’re busy at work, at home, at church. Maybe some are saying, I can’t be a Martha anymore. And we’ve just seen that right? The Lord was at Bethany. Beloved, in the account of Mary and Martha, Jesus never said don’t be a Martha. He said be a Mary - to learn. But never forget that Mary served lavishly by anointing Christ. Much more lavish service than Martha. To all believers - what are you doing for Christ? And why is it important? In light of what we’ve seen, service denotes salvation. If you treasure the kingdom, you’ll be serving. This is how you wait for Christ’s return. And it’s a moral obligation. Because when he comes, the judgment is severe.
Thirdly, the purpose of his coming. Verse 49 - “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” Now, when Jesus is speaking of fire, it’s emphatic. Literally, “fire, I am come to send.” He already spoke of this two-fold mission. As a bridegroom, he’ll serve the serving ones. He’ll reward. But as a lord, he’ll punish. He’ll cut up fake and worldly non-serving servants. But what did Jesus say about this second mission? I already wish it were burning. Jesus can’t wait to burn and punish fake servants. He’d already seen it in the chief priest, scribes, and elders - hypocrites among the religious establishment. And the Lord also saw it in his disciples - Judas, the son of perdition. But why the delay? Before judgment, the Lord said he’d have to die first - to be baptized with the waters of judgment. But don’t forget the main point. He wants to reward. God delights in giving you his kingdom but also desires to judge you for your service.
Now, what kind of judgment? A judgment that divides. The word “fire” gives us an idea of painful judgment that separates.“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division”, verse 51. It would even divide family members - parents will be against children, children against parents, etc. Now, what does this mean? Certainly, the gospel will divide allegiances. Even the closest of families will be split apart because of competing loyalties. One desires what the pagans want, but the other, the kingdom of God. But I believe this has to do more with the reality of his return, where all humanity will be divided by him. There will be a separating of sheep and goats; true servants and stewards who serve and watch, and fake servants who do not serve and watch - they’re unbelievers. They may even be of the same family. That’s the purpose of his coming. But doesn’t God save covenant families. Yes. But Ishmael wasn’t part of Abraham. Esau wasn’t part of Isaac. That’s why our children need the gospel. We need to be more eager for them to love the kingdom. Where there are heart is, will be their treasure; will be their inheritance. They need to serve God. They need to use their time on earth for the kingdom’s purposes. And how will they, if they don’t see it in you?
So what’s the Lord’s concluding remarks? Lastly, he urges prudent discernment. Now, this is where Jesus turns back to the crowds to test their urgency. In verses 54-55, he points out they understand weather patterns. If clouds come from the west - from the Mediterranean, you know it’s going to rain. You can tell. And you take out an umbrella. If the south winds blow from the Negev desert, it’ll hot. You’ll wear lighter clothes. Like us - you know next year is PSLE, time to study harder. You know inflation will increase, you try to save more or change job for a higher salary. We’re all very clever. But what’s the Lord saying? We’re not clever when it comes to spiritual things. Where’s our wisdom? Where’s our wise discernment? That’s why in verse 56, Jesus accused them of not focusing on the more important things.“Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” They couldn’t discern this time of judgment. They weren’t getting right with God. But what were they doing instead? They were focussing on their daily lives instead of the kingdom. They weren’t getting right with God.
He asked them in verse 57 - why can’t you even judge what’s right and important? And so in verses 58-59, the Lord used a very practical illustration. If you know that you must settle a debt, lest you are sued, then settle it - otherwise your creditor will haul you before the judge and you’re thrown into prison until you can pay back every cent. Beloved, how are you serving? Officers? All. Do we make excuses? Or try to escape? Or procrastinate to another day what we must do now to get right? to serve? to give others their daily allotment? Christ is offering at this very moment, terms of peace. Maybe he’ll come tomorrow.
So what does this mean for us? Our Lord always treasured the kingdom. He came preaching the kingdom of God. He gave his life for the kingdom of God. And he died so that this treasure of God’s kingdom can be given to us. That’s the real treasure and inheritance. He was busy. He was busy teaching, praying, healing, admonishing. He food, his sustenance, was to do the will of the Father who sent him. But many of God’s people think they have time. They can procrastinate to the last hour, the third watch. Why? Because we have no urgency. Either we don’t know what’s at stake, or we think we can rush it. Lord, I’ll follow you, but let me say goodbye first. Or let me bury my father. Or we our minds are clouded with other things. Judas was concerned for money. John and James for position. The rich young ruler couldn’t part with his money. Pilate was afraid for his position. What are the things we are not giving up to be more kingdom focused? In what areas can we serve? Is it to make a call to encourage? Pray more?Perhaps it’s to teach. Or to lead. Are we living in conscious readiness? There is a debt of gratitude to be paid to Christ. Unless you’re not saved. Is our life one of girding and burning faithfulness to do his work? And officers, there’s a call to us toward faithfulness. Why? There’s a judgment of fire. And a fire that reveals our works too - whether we are building upon wood, hay, and stumble, or upon Christ, gold, silver, and precious stones? Pray that the Spirit would inflame you and fill you purify your affections to serve him.
- The Posture of Readiness
- The Preparedness of Stewardship
- The Purpose of His Coming
- The Prudence of Discernment
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2026, Rev. Mark Chen
Please direct any comments to the Webmaster
