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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

13. The Call to Watch Out and be Ready for the Second Coming of Christ (Luke 12:35-48)


LUKE 12:35-38
35 “Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; 36 and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. 38 And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Christ is coming soon. Are you expecting him eagerly? Even demons know that this coming will happen inevitably, and tremble, whereas those who are superficial are captivated by the appearances of technology, worldly development, and perishable inventions. They are moving gradually away from God and forgetting him. Their consciences are becoming numbed, and their sin is the sign of their life.

Blessed is he who expects the coming of the Son of God, keeps watching in the evening of our time, serves all men as a servant of Christ, and quickly answers the commands of his Spirit. Such a faithful servant is like one who lights a lamp at night waiting for his master appearing. The wise servant knows that his Lord does not come alone, but brings his bride with him. He wants to light the way for her into the house, and welcomes her with rejoicing.

Christ makes a promise to all who expect his coming in this manner, this is the greatest promise in all the Bible. At his coming, Christ will invite all his servants who have served him and his bride-church faithfully, and prepared his way through humble service, to sit, be comforted, and dine, and the Bridegroom himself will serve them, dressed as a servant. Do you understand what the Son of God says to you? He is a bridegroom and servant at one time. Our God is love and not a dictator. He gave his life for us on the cross, and is continuing his ministry in heaven. So, man, destroy your pride, and be a servant like God, for you are but a servant.


LUKE 12:39-40
39 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Christ teaches his disciples to be watchful and alert in case of weakness and drowsiness. He prepares them for his coming, using another parable. He says he will come silently and unexpectedly as a thief at night, neither in the first watch, nor in the fourth watch, but it may be around midnight, when people are fast asleep. Then, in the midst of the night of human history, Christ comes unexpectedly, silently, neither hastily, nor delayed. Therefore, we have to wait for him eagerly. The Holy Spirit prepares us for this waiting.


LUKE 12:41-48
41 Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? 43 Blessed is the servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. 45 But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

Christ gives us another parable to illustrate his coming. Are you a steward made responsible by God to supply spiritual nourishment for others? Do you take as much nourishment as you can from the word of God to your hearers? Do you pray faithfully for them? Your Lord will bless you if you do so, and then he will increase your gifts, and put authority in your hands if you continue to abe faithful in small things.

But woe to you, if you lived for yourself, and did not attend to those in your care being dishonest, affected by the poison of politics and the smoke of philosophy, forgetting your people, and not offering to them the body of Christ as bread and blood for eternal life. Then your Lord will condemn you on the day of his coming, cut you off in eternity, and you will be always troubled, finding yourself in darkness.

Woe to every believer who knows his Lord’s will and does not do it. All of us represent this unprofitable servant, and will be beaten on the Day of Judgment, unless we repent, change our attitude, and ask Jesus what he wants us to do today, saying: “Strengthen me to do your will quickly.” Then he forgives us our offences, and restores us again for effective service.

If you know nothing about Christ’s salvation and certain coming, and do not serve your brother man with love, your punishment will be certain, for God is love, and his love is the reason for your condemnation. However your condemnation will be less than that of the believers who became a stumbling stone to their brothers.

Do not seek great gifts, for then much will be required of you. Be faithful as you are, and serve the Lord with all that you have of health, mind, money, and knowledge of God, for these are the gifts given to you by your Lord. You will give account for every idle word you may speak or write, for every penny and every minute you spend uselessly. God has enriched you. So how do you redeem the time? What do you do for God with your strength? Can you not employ your intelligence in teaching the ignorant the knowledge of God? Do you not wish to sacrifice your money for your Lord in a practical way today? The Holy Spirit is shaking you. When are you going to do Christ’s will, and prepare his way? Your Lord is coming quickly. Are you watchful and awake to receive him?

PRAYER: O Lord, you are faithful, but I am idle, living for myself, and rendered insensible by the world’s temptations. Wake me and make me conscious of the day of your coming. Fill my cold heart with love, purify my sins, and guide me so that my life may be full of praise and thankfulness, with all those who pray humbly to you and glorify you.

QUESTION 88: How will Christ come to his church? What happens next?

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