Waiting for the King

As a kid, trying to catch the morning school bus was a constant concern. Each day I’d try to time everything so that I had to do as little waiting as possible, especially during the cold Michigan winters. Some days I’d have to run to catch it; other days, I’d time everything just right. The mornings when I arrived at the bus stop with no bus in sight caused the real consternation. Had it already come? Did I miss it? How long will I have to wait? Is it coming at all?

Jesus’ disciples may have experienced the same feeling on a much grander scale when they asked about His return to Earth: “What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” (Mt. 24:3). How long would they have to wait? What signs should they watch for to indicate they hadn’t missed Him? What would it be like when Jesus returned to set up His Kingdom?

In His answer to them, Jesus described the Tribulation, a seven-year period of worldwide chaos identified in the Old Testament book of Daniel, which will culminate in His return. He spoke for the benefit of Jewish people who will be alive at that time, but His message resonates with us today too.

Jesus emphasized that His return and His coming Kingdom will be a surprise in many ways, and He illustrated this teaching with stories: parables about a master’s servants, 10 virgins, and money and an analogy of separating sheep from goats at His Second Advent. Jesus wanted His Jewish brethren to know that His coming and His Kingdom will be shockingly different from what they might expect.

THE STORIES

I once heard it said that a good rabbi will use at least two parables for every lesson, like handles to hold onto what he is teaching. Jesus used three main parables and one analogy to convey similar themes about His return.

(1) Master and Servant (Mt. 24:45–51). Jesus’ first parable likens His return to that of a homeowner who is delayed so long that the servant in charge of his house begins to think his master may not return at all. The servant begins to live licentiously, as if he were the master. When the homeowner finally does return, the servant is killed and cast out. Conversely, a wise servant who faithfully serves his master the entire time the master is away receives a reward when the master returns.

(2) Ten Virgins (25:1–13). The second parable involves 10 virgins at a bridal party awaiting the start of a wedding celebration. In 1st-century weddings, the bride and her entourage did not know when the bridegroom and his groomsmen would arrive to sweep them off to the weeklong wedding celebration; they might wait for some time. Jesus compared the Jewish people waiting for their Messiah and His Messianic Kingdom to bridesmaids waiting for wedding festivities.

Five of the young girls, not knowing how long they would wait, wisely brought enough oil for their lamps in case the groom came late at night. They were prepared. But the other five foolishly failed to bring extra oil. Unable to borrow from the wise girls, they left to buy oil and missed the groom’s arrival. When they tried to join the party later, they were rebuffed by the bridegroom. They had missed their opportunity.

(3) The Talents (vv. 14–30). Jesus’ third illustration involves “talents” (a measurement of money) and a savvy businessman who returns from a trip expecting to find his servants busy with tasks he entrusted to them. He had given each servant talents according to his skill: 10 to the most skillful, five to another, and one to the least skillful. Two were industrious, doubling what they were given. But the one who had the least did not even try to multiply it. Out of laziness and fear of his master, he did nothing. When the master returned, he rewarded the faithful servants but stripped the unfaithful servant of what he had and cast him out of his domain.

(4) Sheep and Goats (vv. 31–44). This analogy involves judgment. Jesus used it to illustrate what it will be like at His return, when He judges the people and the nations. He likened the event to how a shepherd separates a mixed herd of sheep and goats, the sheep to his right and the goats to his left. The “sheep” will go to His right and enter His Kingdom; the “goats” will go to His left and be cast into eternal punishment.

Jesus taught that determining a sheep from a goat will be based on acceptance of Jesus in life, evidenced by a willingness to care for the physical needs of “the least of these My brethren” (v. 40). Brethren refers to the Jewish people who will have suffered horrifically during the Tribulation. At that terrible, viciously antisemitic time, only faithful Christians will care for Jesus’ ethnic brothers and sisters; and He will usher those Christians into His Kingdom when He returns.

THE SURPRISE

Some of these parables are now so familiar to us that they no longer sound shocking; but to Jesus’ listeners, they certainly were. They all illustrate that His return will be a surprise for two reasons: It will be unexpected, and it will be accompanied by swift and fierce judgment.

In the parables, no one knew when his master would return. Some were faithful while they waited, others were not. Some worked hard for him, and some gave up hope he would ever return. Each parable carries an element of delay, as the master’s return takes much longer than expected. Waiting faithfully is much harder when we think it’s taking too long. Imagine the disciples’ surprise to hear that Jesus’ return and the establishment of His Kingdom would be longer in coming and more unknowable than they hoped.

Each story also includes a judgment. Make no mistake: Jesus will judge at His Second Advent. This truth may surprise people today. First-century Jews must have been confounded to hear that not everyone will enter the Messianic Kingdom when the Messiah returns. Jesus’ Second Advent will be an intense time of judgment for those who survive the Tribulation. Some will be rewarded with entrance into His Kingdom, and others will be sent to eternal punishment. Jesus will decide (2 Tim. 4:1).

For those who are found faithful, additional rewards await: “To everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away” (Mt. 25:29).

For believers today, it’s good to know “there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1). We will not be judged for our sin; we believe the biblical truth that Jesus took the punishment we deserve when He allowed Himself to be crucified, and then He arose from the grave. We have been freed from judgment for sin through faith (Jn. 8:32).

Today, Jesus expects us to be consistent, faithful, and ready for His return, like the hard-working servants and wise virgins. He expects us to be busy about His work, with an eye on the sky, looking for Him.

STILL WAITING

We live in the interval between when Jesus taught these things and when He returns. Along with the future generation of Jewish people who will see Jesus return, we are waiting as well. However, in our case, as Jesus’ church, we are waiting for the Rapture, when He will snatch up both living and dead believers in Him from the earth (1 Th. 4:16–17) prior to the Tribulation. From then on, we will always be with our Lord.

Though the church and that future generation of Jewish people are not waiting for the same events, we are waiting for the same King. So, we would do well to ask ourselves if we have more in common with the faithful servants, the wise virgins, and the industrious stewards or with those who waited poorly and were unprepared for their master’s return. Readiness begins with salvation and extends into faithful service.

Although our eternal future as believers does not hang in the balance, the lavishness of our Master’s rewards does. May He find us faithful.

Dan Price is the director of International Ministries and a Bible teacher for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry.