Will you see Jesus?

Will you see Jesus?

This week’s Gospel (Luke 12:32–40) is mostly heard eschatologically. (That’s a big word that has to do with how things will end). Verse 35 and 36 are particular favourites about one being ready for Jesus’ return:

“Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks.”

Just before this, Jesus is teaching about the Kingdom coming NOW. He says “Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (V33–34).

So what if… when Jesus says to be dressed for action and have your lamp lit and be ready waiting when the master comes …what it he’s saying be ready when he comes today:

like the homeless woman you see near the bus stop;

like the refugee family whose kids are in your kid’s class at school;

like the old lady who wants to talk your ear off at the library;

like the tired single Dad wrangling his 3 kids at the park;

like the Asian woman being verbally abused for her race on the train;

like the man who is taking groceries out of his cart because he can’t afford them all?

Are we dressed, lamps lit ready to shine light onto the path when Jesus comes walking along dressed as one of these folk?

While Martha’s must remind themselves to take time for the “better”, we must also use our ‘busy’ for things that will make a difference; to prepare for the moments Jesus appears before us and we need to act.

The passage ends with Jesus saying “…for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”(v40) You never know where Jesus might appear today. Perhaps it is God’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom (v32) so much that God wants to give us opportunities to seize it each and every day.

Will you see Jesus? Will you be ready?

So get dressed. Light your lamp. Be ready.

[Jesus said,] “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves. “But know 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. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour.”

‭‭https://www.bible.com/2016/luk.12.32-40.nrsv