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Day 82 Luke 19:11-28 Luke 19:11 And as they heard these things, he added and spoke a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear. 12 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. 16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. 20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou take up that thou laid not down, and reap that thou didst not sow. 22 And he said unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knew that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: 23 Wherefore then gave not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? 24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds. 25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.) 26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me. 28 And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up to Jerusalem. We are a people who wants things now. Everything we set out to do we want to see it work out without trying hard for it. However, that’s not how life works. The disciples thought Jesus was going to set up his kingdom right away. They didn’t want to wait for it. They didn’t understand Jesus wasn’t there to set his kingdom up and rule and reign over the people. So, Jesus gave them a parable about himself. As Christians, you know parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings. People were aware how kings and rulers of other countries conquered other lands to make them their own. They were subjects of Rome because Rome had conquered Israel. They wanted to be freed from Roman influence and rule on their own. To that end they believed the prophecies that God would send his Messiah to conquer the Romans and set up his kingdom. They didn’t realize God was not going to conquer the Romans, but set the stage for Jesus to rule. Jesus told the parable of a nobleman who went to a far country to get a kingdom. Jesus is the nobleman in this parable. He came to earth to wrest earth from Satan’s grip and give it back to God. He could only do that through his sacrifice on the cross, his death and resurrection defeated Satan and allowed salvation to come to all people. When the nobleman left to gain a kingdom, he gave his servants money so they could prosper under his rule when he returned. Those servants were God’s chosen people, Israel. However, when the nobleman left the people rose up against him and declared they didn’t want him to reign over them. Israel refused to acknowledge Jesus was their Messiah. When the nobleman, returned to find out how his servants used the money he gave them, he found two faithful servants who traded and gained from the money he gave them, and one unfaithful servant who did nothing with the money given him. Not everyone would reject Jesus as their Messiah, but there would be faithful servants who would spread the gospel to the world. Those faithful servants spread the gospel to the entire world after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and his defeat of Satan, giving authority back to God over the earth and taking it away from Satan. Today the gospel message is still going forth into all the earth and people hear the gospel with a mixture of faith and rejection. What began on the road to Jerusalem, is still going forth in the world today. One day Jesus will return for his church, and he will find those who have been faithful to him in winning souls for the kingdom of God. Then Jesus will set up his throne on earth and rule and reign for a thousand years and Jesus will defeat Satan in the final battle. Then every eye will see him, and every knee will bow and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. What are you doing for the kingdom of God? Let’s pray: Father, help me be a faithful witness for you, ready to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to world. Let me hear you say, Well done, good and faithful servant, when your Son returns or I go to him and see him face to face when I draw my last breath. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 12 November 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay