Although Jesus had not died, resurrected, or ascended into heaven at this time, He would soon be leaving earth (Acts 1:9-11) and many would be left wondering if He would return as He promised (John 14:1-4). Jesus repeatedly promised that He would return one day, but He warned His followers to always be ready because the timing of His return would not be known. Scripture teaches concerning two returns of Jesus – the rapture (John 14:3; 1 Corinthians 15:51-52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and the second coming, which will take place following the seven year tribulation period (Revelation 20:1-6). Rather than attempting to speculate about which return Jesus is referring to here (although I believe it is His second coming), it is important not to miss His overall teaching. People would have a tendency to question Jesus’ timing or if He really would return, but Jesus assured them that He would. The first time He will return (in the clouds/rapture) will be to take all those who believe to heaven with Him and the second time He returns (to earth) He will set up His kingdom for 1,000 years. Regardless of when Jesus will return, He calls all people to be ready. In order to illustrate the importance of being ready for His return, Jesus tells a parable of several servants awaiting their master’s return from a wedding (12:35-36). Those servants were to be watchful at all times so they could be ready to open the door when their master arrived at home (12:37-38). Jesus summed up His teaching by saying, “Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” (12:40). Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ should have their lives in order before God and make sure they are living in a manner pleasing to Him; however, those who do not believe in Jesus should be reminded that He will return and will judge those who have rejected Him.
In response to what Jesus has taught, Peter asks, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” (12:41). Jesus does not answer Peter’s questions directly, but instead tells the parable of a “faithful and wise steward” (12:42) who is found doing right when the master returns (12:43-44). On the other hand, if a servant thinks that his master has delayed his coming and “…begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk…,” Jesus says that that servant will face his master “…on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him [the servant] in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers” (12:45-46). The faithful and wise servant illustrates a genuine follower of Jesus Christ, while the unfaithful servant represents a person who may profess belief in Christ but whose life does not demonstrate it. Jesus gives out a warning to the unfaithful servant saying, “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. 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” (12:47-48). These verses provide the basis that there will be varying degrees of punishment in hell. Those who have heard of the Son of Man’s coming, yet rejected Him, will face greater judgment than those who did not know.
Dear God, keep me ready for the return of Your Son, Jesus.
