Ready for the Return of Our King

Last Sunday of the Year

November 20, 2016

Luke 12:35-40

Ready for the Return of Our King

In the name of the Father and of the ☩ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

When some of you were being born or still watching Blue's Clues, one fine December afternoon I drove from our Seminary north of Milwaukee to Madison's finest and only IMAX theatre. I met my brother there for an event: watching all three Lord of the Rings movies in one sitting. This took about 10 hours.

As the hours rolled by and the first movie ended and then the middle movie began, I began to get sleepy. I had already gone to classes in the morning, worked my part-time job, and driven a couple of hours to get to the movie event. And I had already seen these movies before. But I wanted to stay awake for the very first minute of the third and new and final film of the trilogy. If I missed that arrival of the King of Middle-earth, the whole night would have been a failure.

In a very small way, this waiting for the big moment is like our wait for our Savior Jesus. So many of the days are our waiting seems like we're watching the same day over and over, so we get bored and sleepy. The big moment of our Master's return seems far away, so it seems like time for a nap. But Jesus said:

³⁵“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶like 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.” Luke 12:35-36 NIV 1984

Jesus is coming back and He always wants us to be ready. This is why it's wise to assume that today will be the day of our Master's return, the return of our King. How do you stay ready for service? The key to this question is that the greatest good work there is isn't what we do for our King, but what we receive from Him. Jesus said:

“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.” Luke 12:37

He comes and waits on us. This is what heaven is, Jesus serving us. But it is also our lives now. Jesus said:

“For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

What do you receive when you come to a table and are waited on? Food. And Jesus' food is His own body and blood.

So how do you stay dressed and ready for service? Receiving Jesus, listening to the Words He has left for us, eating and drinking His body and blood under bread and wine. And Jesus makes us strong to keep our lamps burning, that is, to stay awake.

All those years ago, I did fall asleep, but I didn't miss the beginning of The Return of the King. Can you guess why? My brother woke me up. In the same way, one of our greatest ways to serve others is to keep them awake for Jesus' return by talking Jesus to them. Every day you think about Jesus, you talk Jesus, you discuss Jesus with those close to you, your brothers and sisters in Christ, which are your parents and your kids or your actual siblings.

For example, when you call your Mom or your Daughter, talk Jesus with her. Ask her about what her pastor talked about in Bible class. Ask her what “Honor your father and mother” means. Ask her how she knows she saved. She'll either help you or you'll help her. Or both! It might be the last time you speak to each other, because Jesus is probably back today. This isn't scary, but rather wonderful news! Jesus said:

³⁸It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night. ³⁹But 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. ⁴⁰You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect Him.” Luke 12:35-40 NIV 1984

Jesus is the Son of Man crowned King with a crown of thorns, who saved His subjects by dying for them on a cross. And then three days later He rose to proclaim His kingdom, which has now come to you. And He's coming back, which is wonderful, because you belong to Him.

When's the very last time you'd expect our King to return? Right now, right! So today you receive and speak Jesus. Today.

For the Son of Man did not come to be Served, but to Serve, and to Give His Life as a Ransom for Many. Amen.