Ready and Waiting

This is the Bible study page for the Thursday Night Bible Study Group meeting June 23 to study Luke 12:35-48.  This is all about being ready, and the clear sense is that readiness refers to Jesus' return.

I figured this was a good stretch to try to get through.  There's a lot just in these verses without going further, but please read ahead if you like.  These verses have imagery of masters and slaves, but there are some really strange elements.  Some of the element refer back or forwards to other parables and statement of Jesus.

Read through the passage a few times.  Reading to the end of the chapter helps develop a local context as the topic of end-times is consistent through the end of the chapter.  Jot down notes, questions and observations.  Be sure to use different translations.  Then use commentaries with your notes.  After that go back through with the questions below:

• The first imagery Jesus uses is servants waiting for their master to return from a feast.  The idea (and custom) was that the feast could go long into the night, perhaps even into the next day (see verse 38 with the "watches" of the night).  So how do you think that applies to us, waiting day-to-day, for Jesus to return, knowing it hasn't happened in 2,000 years?  How do you understand this sort of "readiness"?
• When the master comes and finds the servants ready, he serves them.  This isn't Jesus using local custom, so what do you think He is referring to?  What do you think the people thought about that statement?
• The night was separated by the Romans into 3 watches, so what do you think it means for us that He may return in the "third watch"?
• Next the image is guarding the house against the thief.  This is reminiscent of the parable where the strong man had to be subdued before the house plundered (see Luke 11:21,22).  But here the problem being addressed is different.  There it was being strong enough to defend, here it's being awake enough to defend.  What do you think Jesus is wanting His followers to learn from this?
• Peter then asks about who this is for, the people or the disciples?  And Jesus then becomes very specific about "lead servants".  So what do you think was the answer for Peter?
• Who do you think the "lead servants" refers to today?
• Here the we find the statement in Luke that the one faithful over little is given much, but what does that mean in this context?
• This part of the passage has a parallel in Matthew 24:43-51.  What differences do you see between them?  Is the point the same?
• What do you think of the punishment for the unfaithful "lead servant"? in verse 46?
• Verses 47 and 48 don't really have a parallel with the other Gospels. What do you think Jesus is saying here? It sounds a bit like some bad servants are worse than others, so what do you think Jesus' point might be to the disciples?

That should keep us occupied for a bit. Remember to seek out and pay attention to those elements that jolt you Awake, be Honest about why and what you need to do, and then take that Action.