Last time, we left off with Jesus dressing down the Pharisees and their cohorts for their distorted, self-serving religion. (See Pulling the Teeth Out of False Religion and Selfishness.)
Next, we find Christ addressing another large crowd about the nature of His return to Earth (second coming / second advent). He begins His illustration with a parable that prepares them:
“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” Lk. 12:35 – 40. NLT
So, it is vital that we get our spiritual house in order and keep it that way to the best of our ability, (i.e., living in alignment with God) before Christ returns, or before our body wears out, whichever comes first). Or it will be too late; and salvation will no longer be offered.
Both of Jesus’ examples calls for a constant readiness – staying prepared for His return. He’s trying to get this stubborn crowd to see that the Messiah is standing before them! He belts them with a metaphor:
“When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, ‘It is going to rain,’ and that is how it turns out. And when [you see that] a south wind is blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it happens. You hypocrites (play-actors, pretenders)! You know how to analyze and intelligently interpret the appearance of the earth and sky [to forecast the weather], but why do you not intelligently interpret this present time?” Lk. 12:54 AMP
He sums it all up to the crowd with a call to action:
“…unless you repent [change your old way of thinking, turn from your sinful ways and live changed lives], you will all likewise perish.” Lk. 13:5 AMP
It is now the winter of 29 A.D. Jesus enters the Temple to teach during the Feast of Dedication (an early version of Hanukkah, which celebrates the 165 B.C. liberation of this same Temple from the tyrannical occupation of the Syrian king, Antiochus IV.)
Jesus upbraids His Jewish audience for not believing He was the Son of God:
“I have told you so, yet you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name testify concerning Me [they are My credentials and the evidence declaring who I am]. But you do not believe Me [so you do not trust and follow Me] because you are not My sheep. The sheep that are My own hear My voice and listen to Me; I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they will never, ever [by any means] perish; and no one will ever snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One [in essence and nature].” Jn. 10:25 – 30. AMP
Christ then travels to the region of Perea (east of the Jordan River), and preaches to another crowd about the final disposition of the unbelievers who will be left behind:
“Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and closes the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door [again and again], saying, ‘Lord, open to us!’ then He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you are from [for you are not of My household].’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; but He will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers!’ In that place there will be weeping [in sorrow and pain] and grinding of teeth [in distress and anger] when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out and driven away.” Lk. 13:24 – 28. AMP
You can call yourself a follower of Christ, but you must do the following. Then, you will be invited to eternal life:
(“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life. I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” Is. 55:3. NLT)
At this point in time, I believe that Jesus knows the culmination of His earthly ministry is coming to an end. He knows that a lot of Jews (personified by Jesus as ‘Jerusalem’) will waste their opportunity for salvation. You can feel His heartbreak as He laments:
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones [to death] those [messengers] who are sent to her [by God]! How often I have wanted to gather your children together [around Me], just as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were not willing! Listen carefully: your house is left to you desolate [abandoned by God and destitute of His protection]; and I say to you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed [to be celebrated with praise] is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” Lk. 13:34, 35. AMP
With or without you, all of God’s words come to fruition. Will you be ready on that day of deliverance? It’s up to you…
(“Remember [carefully] the former things [which I did] from ages past;
for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is no one like Me,
declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things which have not [yet] been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will do all that pleases Me and fulfills My purpose,’ Is. 46:9 – 10. AMP)
And what is that purpose?
(This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Tm. 2:3, 4. NLT)
Goodnight and God bless.
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