“Wordy! Wordy! Wordy!” My darling 3-year-old grandson throws up his hands in the air and belts out to Brandon Lake’s “That’s Who I Praise” or as Séamus calls it, “Dance Party!” The lyrics are actually “The only One who's worthy, worthy. Worthy of all of His names,” but the best approximation Shay can make with his growing acquisition of language is “Wordy!” It is the cutest thing I’ve ever heard and so, of course, that’s how I now sing it too. Within the next year or so, Séamus will be able to form the “th” diphthong completely and he’ll say it correctly, which will probably break my heart, but that is exactly how it is supposed to be. As children acquire new skills, whether it be language, gross or fine motor skills, they make approximations to the complete version. It is so exciting to watch them grow and make those connections. As they develop closer approximations, those become the new baseline; they are not encouraged to revert back. As precious as it is to hear Shay praising Jesus as “Wordy of all of His Names” at age 3, It wouldn't be nearly so cute if he was a 16-year-old, able to correctly pronounce “Worthy” but continued to sing “Wordy!”
In today’s reading from Luke, Jesus continues His instruction, but begins to be a bit more pointed. The expectations are greater for those who have been entrusted with His lessons.
Read Luke 12:35-13:9
I’ve never lived in a fancy apartment building with a doorman, but I assume that a quality doorman is constantly on the lookout for tenants of his building. He knows each of them by name and helps them as well as their guests brave the weather to get inside on blustery or rainy days. A good doorman is especially on the lookout when he catches wind that the owner of the building is coming home to his penthouse apartment!
“So it is with the Master’s return,” Jesus warns His listeners, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. Blessed will be those servants the Master finds alert when he comes. Truly I tell you he will get ready, have them recline at the table then come and serve them.” (from vv 37-40) What? The Owner/Master would have His faithful servants sit down at his table, put on his apron and serve them? This is confusing to the disciples, so Peter asks, "Who are you talking about?” (v 41)
Jesus explains He is referring to the faithful and sensible manager, put in charge of the Master’s household servants. If that manager is found doing his job, the Master will put him in charge of all his possessions. No longer simply a doorman, or manager of the staff, this faithful one will be entrusted with everything his Master owns. However, if the manager is arrogant and selfish, resentful of the Master and begins to take advantage of and even beat the servants under his care, the Master will come unannounced and cut the wicked servant to pieces. “For everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected” (v 48) “Entrusted” connotes given authority to steward, shepherd, care for, protect.
The wicked servant knew the Master’s instructions and expectations, but didn’t prepare himself or execute appropriately. Jesus then encourages His followers to get ready, because this is what He is entrusting them with:
Jesus’ presence and good news:
Will bring division, not peace - in families, in communities and countries, and also in congregations.
Is a sign of the times - salvation is here! Don’t miss it!
Jesus is saying, “I AM here! I AM fulfilling every prophecy about the Messiah and still you don’t see!”
Will judge right and wrong, therefore -
Seek to reconcile with your neighbor.
Humble yourself instead of insisting on your own way.
Wrong Assumptions
Next Jesus pokes holes in His listeners’ assumptions about suffering and death. They should not assume that recent dishonoring executions or random accidental deaths were the result of sin, as did so many in that culture. The assumption was that if anyone suffered harm or death, it was the result of sin, either their own or the sin of a family member. This wrong thinking would set many of them up to conclude that the religious leaders were righteous in what they would soon do to Jesus. Jesus was steadily moving towards Jerusalem, where He would be falsely accused, betrayed and tortured. His upcoming death would be brutal. His executioners would feel justified - this blasphemer deserves to die. Yet this thinking couldn’t be further from the truth.
These assumptions were not only prevalent in 33AD. Unfortunately, they continue to this day. Whether it is cancer, divorce, miscarriage, job loss or a senseless death, often we humans will place blame for the suffering on some sin, indicating that this was deserved, a natural consequence.The inverse is also often true, where we convince ourselves that the relative peace or success we enjoy is due to our good choices, rather than living a life dependent on Christ. I am certainly guilty of both of these wrong assumptions. I remember distinctly after the second of four miscarriages thinking that God was punishing me for the eating disorder that had consumed me for years in high school and college. And how many times have I thought to myself, “I have enjoyed a great marriage to Dale for 35 years today (Happy Anniversary, Darling Dale!) because we obeyed the Lord, were not sexually intimate before marriage, and placed protections around our relationship,” concluding that I somehow deserve this incredible blessing.
Jesus ends this teaching lesson with a parable about a fig tree that for three years bore no fruit. The owner came to check on his orchard and was once again disappointed. The tree looked healthy, but wasn’t producing what it was created for, so he told the vineyard worker to cut it down, accusing it of wasting soil. The vineyard worker asked his employer to give him one more year to dig around the tree's roots, to fertilize it and see what happened. He was offering the tree a second chance, but not just leaving it as is and hoping against hope for change to take place. Jesus has been ministering to Israel for almost three years. Still there are many fellow Jews who look good, look religiously righteous, but are not producing the fruit that is in keeping with repentance - compassion, servant leadership, gentle shepherding. The period of grace and opportunity will be extended, but not indefinitely. Most importantly, once growth and fruit production starts, there will be no going back.
Big Picture Questions for Today:
“Entrusted” connotes given authority to steward, shepherd, care for, protect. To whom has Jesus entrusted you to mediate His presence and good news?
Do you make any wrong assumptions about success or failure, in yourself or others?
Pray for faith and desire to be a good steward of all God has entrusted you with.
Before we go, I know you want to hear Brandon Lake’s “That’s Who I Praise” as much as I do, so here it is…Enjoy!
