1 / 24

In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ. Be Ready! September 25, 2011. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info. Background. We’re continuing in a lengthy discourse Jesus has with his disciples and a large crowd that has gathered around them Began back in Chapter 11

jaimie
Download Presentation

In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. In The Footsteps Of The Master:The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Be Ready! September 25, 2011 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  2. Background • We’re continuing in a lengthy discourse Jesus has with his disciples and a large crowd that has gathered around them • Began back in Chapter 11 • This crowd has become large enough to be unruly at times • Includes Pharisees and experts in the Law • Discourse switches back and forth between the disciples and the crowd www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  3. Be Ready! • Luke 12:35-38 • 35“Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit. 36Belike men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks. 37Blessedare those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them. 38Whetherhe comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  4. Observations • There is certainty of the master’s return • He’s gone to a wedding feast and will return when he’s finished there • However, the exact timing is uncertain • His servants are unsure of when he will return • Their job is to remain ready and ready to serve • What is the master’s reward for those who are found ready? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  5. Roman Domus • The domus was the household unit in Roman society • From whence our word domicile comes • It entailed the family unit (parents, children – natural and adopted), plus any servants and slaves • There was an established pecking order • The larger the domus, the more roles • The master ran the domus as he saw fit • Was allowed to take justice into his own hands www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  6. Turning the World on End • Jesus suggests that the master would prepare himself to serve his slaves and servants • Switching the role of master/servant • Suffice it to say that this never would have been done in the culture of the day • Jesus is – once again – teaching a radical concept • Where will we see this demonstrated? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  7. A Thief in the Night • Luke 12:39-40 • 39“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into. 40Youtoo, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming atan hour that you do notexpect.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  8. For Discussion • Jesus changes the analogy here, from the return of the master to the arrival of a thief • Why would He use terminology such as this to describe His return? • Drives home the point of the uncertainty of the “when” • Also, those who worked for the master knew that he would return • However, the coming of a thief is completely unexpected • The point here? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  9. Who Are You Talking To? • Luke 12:41 • 41Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” • Peter speaks for the disciples, as well as for the reader, attempting to decipher who Jesus is speaking to • As we’ve said before, Jesus has been alternating between teaching His disciples and addressing the crowd www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  10. The Responsible Servant • Luke 12:42-44 • 42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time? 43Blessedis that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.44TrulyI say to youthat he will put himin charge of all hispossessions.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  11. Observations • Jesus speaks concerning the servant who has been put in charge of a portion of the master’s business • The servant that is faithful when the master returns will be put in charge of all of the master affairs • Not an uncommon situation in Roman society • What’s the point that Jesus is making here? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  12. The Irresponsible Servant • Luke 12:45-46 • 45“But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk; 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expecthimand at an hour he doesnot know, and will cut himin pieces, and assign hima place with the unbelievers.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  13. For Discussion • This servant is the antithesis of the previous servant, one who abuses the master’s possessions and his servants • What is his fate upon the master’s return? • Remember that the master of the domus could handle his affairs as he saw fit, so this parable would hit home to Jesus’ audience • What are some parallels for us today? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  14. Much Given; Much Expected • Luke 12:47-48 • 47“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes, 48but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  15. For Discussion • From here we could head off into a 7-year discussion of “degrees” • From my perspective, the real point here is that those who have been given much (which is all of us) will have much expected from them • Think grace and salvation • But those who have more will have more expected from them • Think money and possessions • Other perspectives? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  16. Division • Luke 12:49-53 • 49“I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! 50ButI have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! 51Doyou suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; 52for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. 53Theywill be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  17. For Discussion • What is the fire that Jesus is speaking of? • How can Jesus say that He didn’t come to bring peace when He’s been preaching about peace for throughout His ministry? • One of His titles is Prince of Peace • Why does Jesus’ arrival bring such division? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  18. Interpreting Signs • Luke 12:54-56 • 54And He was also saying to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and so it turns out. 55Andwhen you see a south wind blowing, you say, ‘It will be a hot day,’ and it turns out that way. 56Youhypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  19. Israel and Surrounding Areas www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  20. For Discussion • It seems rather ironic that the people can recognize changes in the weather, but they can’t identify the Son of God standing right in front of them • Should one be as obvious as the other? • Why can’t they recognize the latter? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  21. Settle Your Disputes • Luke 12:57-59 • 57“And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right? 58Forwhile you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59Isay to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  22. For Discussion • Why would Jesus move to a discussion about disputes between individuals? • It ties back to the Lord’s Prayer, where we are forgiven our debts as we forgive others • Where do we see this principle repeated later? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  23. In Closing • We are challenged to be faithful and vigilant servants • Our job is to be at work and ready when He returns www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

  24. Next Week • We’ll start Luke 13 Questions? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

More Related