Title: “Keep Watch”
Subject; How do we prepare for Jesus return?
Complement; by repenting...watching... waiting... working!
Big idea: Christ our King is not asking for your vote – he’s asking for your surrender... & then, faithful perseverance & loyal service.
May we watch for his coming (salvation)...may we wait patiently (not escapist)... may we work compassionately. (serve)
Matthew 25 ? Kingdom parables/eschatological in theme.
Context:
We are now reading “Kingdom parables”...
Jesus’ leaving soon; he’s going to the cross/ascension.
Jesus major teaching is about the kingdom – not merely good moral behaviour.
And make no mistake Jesus is our king – in every sense of the word - And we are invited into his kingdom.
While Jesus said little about politics during his days on earth – Rome being the world power of the day... (the Emperor Caesar Augustus was indeed worshipped as a god) he often talked about power – which is really what politics is all about... and he stated quite clearly that he intended to establish his government... with himself as king. It will be a kingdom without corruption - justice and righteousness for all.
Immediately upon his birth Herod wanted Jesus killed because he heard that Jesus was a King.
Upon his arrest by Pilate for the purposes of crucifixion Pilate asks “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?”
Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.
Make no mistake – Jesus is a King – in fact his actual claim is “king of Kings”
...And his kingdom – or may I say his ”political agenda” - comes on 2 levels; (1) personal level (2) cosmic level.
In Canada when a new govt comes to power it presents it's agenda in a speech –called “the speech from the throne” ... that’s quite a pretentious description when you think about it – since the real throne is in heaven and is already occupied by the “kings of all kings” - and he’s not looking for your vote – he’s looking for your surrender.
Now your entry point into this kingdom is by personal decision – will you pledge allegiance to this King – or will you reject him?
It's one thing to be a member of the opposition party in Ottawa – it's quite another to oppose the king of the universe.
Jesus kingly rule over the cosmos is God’s sovereign plan – and he will decide when to draw the curtain on human history and bring an end to the world as we know it... and establish an entirely new world order.
No matter what is happening in Washington or Ottawa... or Beijing... or Moscow...No matter what CNN or Fox or CBC or the NY Times might opine ...
...No matter who sits on the supreme court...Always remember, our King is Jesus; his is the only govt. that will bring peace; for he will eradicate the most fundamental human problem – the problem of sin.
... all other governments – though worthy of our energy and effort – are flawed - and will ultimately leave us disappointed and disillusioned.
And so today I’m sharing with you an archetypal message – by that I mean, a message that rises above day to day matters ... getting to work on time and remembering to pay the bills... a message that speaks to the deepest longings and the deepest questions of humanity.
Of course it's not my message at all – it's Jesus own words to the 12 and ourselves as descendants of the 12.
People are asking – more now than ever...is the end near?
in Matthew 24-25 – the 12 disciples are curious too...
People are very curious...
The Pandemic continues to trouble our world...
Govts are in upheaval...deficits are out of control
Wickedness on the upswing
Christians are wondering...is this the end?
So ... what’s your attitude toward the 2nd coming???
So Jesus kingdom is (1) already here and (2) not yet fully here.
And since Jesus kingdom is invisible and non-military in nature – generally speaking - people have no sense of what it means; it's a completely new idea.
... a kingdom without swords? ...impossible... and so Jesus has to resort to stories and parables to make his point.
And here in Matthew 25 he tells 3 such kingdom parables...
Read vv 1-5
Parable of a wedding...weddings are life-changing; they are dramatic... they are social affairs of the highest order.
So Jesus chooses a wedding scene to tell the 1st or 3 parables...
Parable of a wedding...
Bride
Groom
Bridal party
Oil in lamps/batteries/flashlight/food in your backpack
10 Bridesmaids... The two groups are exactly alike - except in their preparations.
5 have reserves
5 don’t
because of the long delay of the bridegroom’s arrival their oil lamp runs dry and they ask for oil from their friends (“NO”) then they have to go for oil...
while they’re gone the bridegroom comes! They don’t get in!
upon returning the door is shut – too late...
***Kingdom truths
? the Bridegroom comes later than expected.
? spiritual preparedness cannot be transferred/shared - people are responsible for themselves.
The warning is count the cost of persevering in discipleship.
***remember the trend of growing cold (24:12)and falling away(24:10)
Stay with it...
Don’t quit...
*** when hiking - Have Enough food in your backpack!
**When it comes to the return of Christ...Don’t think escape - think faithfulness...
Verse 13 “therefore keep watch” ... The Hour is unknown...v. 24:42 and 25:13
Illustrate? construction on roads – sign – “expect long delays”
The three points of the passage ...
Like the bridegroom, God may delay his coming longer than people expect.
Like the wise bridesmaids, be prepared for a delay—discipleship may be more arduous than we expect.
Like the foolish bridesmaids, - when the end comes it will be too late to undo the damage of neglect.
On the Gros Morne trail --- hmmm it's going to get dark soon... this is taking longer than I thought...
“don’t underestimate the mountain...”
Jesus tells another Parable – a parable about/money or “talents”
Parable Summary:
“a man entrusted his servants with his property” ; v. 14
$5 million
$2 million
$1 million
$5 M. becomes 10 “well done”
$2 M. becomes 4 “well done”
$1 M. stays as 1 “wicked and lazy” v. 26
Parable contrasts growth vs. status quo.
... the servants were entrusted with the Masters resources.
2 made good on the trust
1 made bad on the trust/ broken trust
***In the kingdom not all are created equal... but all are expected to do their best as faithful stewards.
**Believers are to be occupied until Christ returns - good stewards of the gospel he has entrusted to us.
**Good stewardship brings greater privilege and responsibility. Poor stewardship leads to losing even what one has. (v. 29)
The three points of the passage :
“God entrusts us with his resources, expecting us to act as good stewards .
God’s people will be commended/rewarded when faithful.
...those who fail to use the gifts God has given them for His service will be punished by separation from God and all things good.”
The warning is clear for
those who are hostile to God and
those who profess commitment to him but show no evidence of their profession.”
***Master ? “throw that worthless servant outside, into darkness...” v.30
Parable #3 – Parable Of The Sheep & Goats;
Jesus says, (while you wait)... “be busy” work/serve
***... here is a picture of all humanity standing before Christ on Judgment Day
The separation between “sheep” and “goats” (v. 32)
Palestinian shepherds frequently had to separate their flocks this way.
Sheep and goats freely intermingled and often looked quite similar in appearance - at least from a distance.
Blomberg;
“We need not see a works-righteousness ethic here (as many have) ...rather the sheep are people whose works demonstrate that they have responded properly to Christ’s message.
In other words... “Works” do not save us – but the saved work for the kingdom.
This parable isn’t about escapism – but serving while we wait.
When Jesus comes... expect a judging of our service/witness.
How much compassion did we show?
How did we see people?
Did we see Jesus when we saw needy people?
Judgment is rendered:
eternal life
v 34 “ come...take your inheritance...the kingdom
eternal punishment
v. 41 “depart from me, you who are cursed, into eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”
**ultimately there will only be two kinds of people in the world...Based on our response to the gospel -- and the eternal destinies will be very different. (Blomberg)
Conclusion: Christ our King is not asking for your vote – he’s asking for your surrender... & then faithful perseverance & loyal service.
Another Day in Paradise by Phil Collins tells about a beggar in the street asking, "Can you help me? Isn't there some place you can send me?"
The refrain says, "Think twice; another day you'll be in paradise." The song suggests that we will be judged by how we treat the poor, the needy, the hungry. It's a musical version of the story Jesus told at the end of (Matthew 25).
But there are so many needs...
Christians have done so much.. starting hospitals/prison care/ poverty... schools...homeless... orphanages...
Example - Orphanage in Ukraine...
Drug rehab... Teen Challenge here in NL
Serving doesn’t save us – it's a by-product of Jesus love poured into our hearts...
Application/call to action? ... are you ready? Are you patient? Are you working?/serving???
... What’s Your Attitude Toward The 2nd Coming???
Ignore it?
Deny it?
Procrastinate ?
Come quickly?
Prepare for it?
Work for it... ?“speed his coming?”)
Salvation... “you must be born again”
Repent of your sins
Jesus did all the work on the cross for your salvation
God demonstrated his love for you... while we were still sinners...
Salvation results in service and changes how we view the present and the future.
7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
revelation 19: 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.
Big idea... Christ our King is not asking for your vote – he’s asking for your surrender... and then, your faithful perseverance and your loyal service
Christ our King is not asking for your vote – he’s asking for your surrender... & then faithful perseverance & loyal service!
