“You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.” ~Luke 12:40
There’s a song from about twenty years ago that comes directly from this verse. That song was featured in the older version of the Left Behind movie. Every time I read this passage, I picture Kirk Cameron as the news reporter. If you haven’t seen the movie Left Behind, go find the Nicolas Cage version.
Anyway.
So we’re told to be ready because the Son of Man, aka. Jesus, is coming back at an unknown time. This is end times stuff. Not in the sense of prophesy like Isaiah and Revelation, but more of an instruction about what to do before those prophesies come to be.
Jesus tells a parable about servants who are waiting for their master to return. The wedding feast is over. These are servants in the parable and yet the text says that once their master returns, the master is going to flip it around and serve them. They will be the ones invited to the table, but only if they’re ready.
Peter asks a clarifying question: is this a parable just for the twelve disciples, or for everyone? Like a good teacher, Jesus answers with another question: who is the faithful servant?
Ever notice how, when giving a parable about how to live, Jesus gives multiple options? The seeds on the soil in Luke 8 and the good Samaritan in Luke 10, for example. Ever notice how within those sets of choices, the answer is really obvious? This Christian life really isn’t that much of a mystery.
Jesus mentions two kinds of servants. The first one is ready. The second one…not so much. Clearly we need to be like the first servant. As a reward, the master gives the servant more responsibilities.
The second servant. We’ve all known people like the second servant and we’ve all been the second servant at times. It’s only by the power of God that we are able to be ready like the first servant.
So what is this second servant like? He’s the one that says it doesn’t matter how we live because Jesus won’t be back for a while. She’s the one who parties while her parents are away, assuming she can clean the house and hide the evidence in the hours before they return. He’s the one who procrastinates on a major research project until the night before it’s due. She’s the one who binges on too much shopping, claiming it doesn’t matter, the budget can start tomorrow.
The parable says that this servant beats the other slaves, over eats, gets drunk, expecting that the master will be away a while. This servant is assigned a place with the unbelievers and, because he knew better, receives many lashes.
Did you catch that this second servant was a believer? If he’s assigned a place among the unbelievers (Luke 12:46), that implies that he was a believer.
This believer knew better and chose to ignore God’s instruction. How often do we do that? Even in small things, things no one else will see? How often are you bitter? Prideful? Careless with your words? How often do you stare at social media too long, ignoring those around you?
It’s only in God’s power that we’re able to not be like the second servant. Without Him, our sinful nature is just too strong to maintain that stance of “ready.” This life is really all about God and keeping our focus on Him.
Luke 12:48 says that even those who didn’t know the master’s will received lashes. Not as many as those who knew better, but they still received a punishment. This is why evangelism is so important.
We can stay “ready” by keeping our eyes on Jesus and living for Him. Are you ready for His return?