The Mystery of Christ (Luke 12:49-53)

An angel of the Lord brought a good tidings to a young virgin, Mary in the tiny town of Bethlehem twenty centuries ago, saying “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.” (Luke 1:31) Our Lord Jesus was born in the likeness of man to fulfill the promise for the redemption of humanity. He was born to die violently and brutally though He was sinless. Our Lord Jesus’ incarnation and birth had long been anticipated and awaited on tiptoe for the liberation and delivery of the race from the cursed bondage of the devil. Here in Luke Chapter 12, our Lord Jesus says why He came to the earth. 

“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!” (Luke 12:49-50)

Jesus came to bring fire on the earth, and how much He wished it were already kindled! What does it mean? Some interprets fire as the judgement symbol of God for the fire and brimstone fell upon the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. It will be so ultimately because accepting Jesus Christ or not will determine the ultimate fate of individual. It will be fulfilled at His second coming. This is His first visitation on the earth. So, it contradicts with other parts of the scripture like God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jesus came to the earth and became a man just like one of us in order to redeem and save the race in Adam.

Jesus also expressed how much He wished it were already kindled. Thus, to bring fire means to send the Holy Spirit. In fact, on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God fell upon one hundred twenty people in the Jerusalem temple like fire. The hidden mystery of God has been revealed to this generation and that is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” But Christ must first go through a baptism, His death, burial, and resurrection from the dead. Our Lord Jesus says, “How distressed I am till it is completed!” It is the promise given to our patriarch of faith Abraham that God would bless him and his descendants by giving the Spirit.

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.” (Galatians 3:14)

In order to give the Spirit, the Christ of God must die and be raised from the dead. The redemption of the race was in the mind of our Lord Jesus Christ who came to the earth as a man. He was in the beginning and all things were made through Him and nothing was made that has been made without Him. In Him, no sin was found. In Him was life and that life was the light of the world.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

What’s happen when He came to the earth? Jesus Christ is the central figure that no one can evade from Him, including both believers and non-believers.

“Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will 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.” (Luke 12:51-53)

There will be discords and quarrels among families because of Christ Jesus. There are only two groups when and where our Lord Jesus appears. Just as it was true in the first century, so are now in this generation. When Jesus spoke in the temple, streets, and villages, there were some who believed in Him and others who objected and rejected Him. The reason they reject Jesus Christ because they love darkness.

“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

People can live without the luxuries of life, but never can without Jesus Christ. He is the life, the truth, and the way. This is true to all kinds of people, Jews, Greeks, and all peoples on earth. Many a people misunderstand that the coming of the Christ of God would make everything smooth and life would be going alright. Not so, says the Scripture.

“Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.” (Revelation 22:11)

Our Lord Jesus is like a refiner who purifies silver until it reflects the image of God. No one escape from the finger of God for all things are made and designed by the hand of the Creator and the Lord of glory.

“But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years.’ (Malachi 3:2-4)

Though Jesus was God, He gave His life unto the sinners like us that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life, being saved from the eternal condemnation. All power and authority was given to the Son of God because He obeyed the Father even to the point of death. And God exalted Him above every name in heaven and on earth and under the earth.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

He has finished the work of redemption by laying down His life and being raised from the dead on the third day. Having done all the works the Father had appointed the Son to do, He has been sitting at the right hand of God until the enemies are to be made His footstool.

“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” (Hebrews 2:9)

“But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool.” (Hebrews 10:12-13)

Apostle John says so bluntly about the significance of having Jesus Christ the Son who is the Judge and Lord of all creation. He is the Mediator who is able to bridge the chasm between God and humanity. Those who receive Him, hearing His word have been given eternal life and has crossed over from death to life.

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Therefore, Jesus Christ is Lord and Master who determines the future of all things. He is the One who ultimately solves all the mysteries of life which no man can even dare to try. In the Book of Revelation, John records a marvelous vision in heaven that the Lion of Judah and the Lamb has the key to open the sealed scrolls which no one in heaven and on earth can open.

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slain,

and with your blood you purchased for God

persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!” 

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5:1-14)

Keep Your Lamps Burning (Luke 12:35-48)

We are indeed living in the last days. How true it is even now if the first century saints lived in the last days! How can we be ready and prepared for the coming of our blessed Lord? Our Lord Jesus gives an answer.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:35-40)

Why shall we be waiting for service and keeping our lamps burning even in the middle of the night or toward daybreak? It’s because our master is coming again and we don’t know when. Jesus tells that we are like servants waiting for our master to return from a wedding banquet. Eastern wedding traditionally is a joyous and delightful gathering of all the families and relatives and runs days or sometimes weeks. The point is uncertainty when the master returns from the wedding.

When the master returns, it will be good for the servants to open the door immediately. Note that the masculine suddenly changes here that the master himself will dress himself to serve, will have them sit at the table and will come and wait on the servants. This scene definitely indicates the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Prophet Isaiah prophesied that the Lord will prepare a feast for all peoples.

“On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine—the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth.” (Isaiah 25:6-8)

 Apostle John saw in the Spirit a great banquet, the wedding of the Lamb prepared for the saints who were faithful and truthful to the end even in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.  

“Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” (Revelation 19:6-8)

So, Jesus warns us to be watchful always because no one knows when he will be coming again with the great trumpet sound and the multitude of angels.

“But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” (Luke 12:39-40)

The Scripture confirms consistently and faithfully that the day of the Lord will be coming all of sudden like a thief (1 Thessalonians 5:2, Revelation 3:3).

Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.” (Luke 12:41-44)

How can we be watchful even in the middle of the night or toward daybreak? Jesus gives an answer who is the faithful and wise steward whom the master puts in charge of His household. He is the one who gives them their food allowance at the proper time. What does it mean? It is so significant to understand what it means because our Lord says that He will put the servant found doing so when he returns in charge of all His possessions.

Here food means the word of God which our Lord Jesus has entrusted to His servants. The word of God is the revelation of the mysteries of God. So, the servants of the Lord Jesus are the stewards of the mysteries of God. Apostle Paul expounds what it means to be the servants of Christ and what it is required for them in the Epistle of Corinthians.

“This, then, is how you ought to regard us: as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the mysteries God has revealed. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

Our life is so complicated and complex that no one understands and fathoms its height and depth and length and width. It's a mystery that can be known and revealed only in awesome and transcendent God. Jesus Christ is the mystery of God who has the key to all the human events and affairs. Christ is the answer and the life, the truth, and the way. He opens the blind, especially spiritually blind. He opens the mute to speak, especially the wonders of God. He heals the wound and hurt through His own suffering with blood.

So, all people shall put hope in the Son Jesus Christ who is the gospel of the blessed God. In fact, He is the only true hope for all peoples on earth. How much are the servants of Christ blessed who are entrusted to deliver the only true hope to all peoples!

“And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:15)

“But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:45-46)

There has been a great delay of the coming of the Lord, almost twenty centuries. So, some servants beat other servants and get drunk. However, the master will come on a day when they do not expect Him and at an hour they are not aware of. The master will cut them to pieces and assign them a place with the unbelievers. It will be a dreadful day for those who are not ready for service and do not keep their lamps burning, thinking that the master never returns or even if comes it will take a long time.

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:47-48)

Here our Lord Jesus gives answer to Peter’s question, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?” Those who are entrusted to the mysteries of God shall be faithful in doing what the master wants to do. Otherwise, they will be beaten with many blows. There are little ones who unwittingly do things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows.

Jesus says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” (Luke 12:48b) Our God is just and faithful. In Him, there is no shadow of turning. Everything will be laid bare before the Lord Jesus Christ and judged justly and rightly.

Do Not Worry, Little Flock! (Luke 12:23-34)

Can we not be free from worry? Why do we worry constantly? How many times does the Scripture say not to worry? Our Lord Jesus answers why we shall not worry about our life, what we will eat; about our body, what we will wear. Our Father in heaven knows what we need for our life and body and provides them abundantly. Here is what our Lord Jesus is saying for us.

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? (Luke 12:23-26)

Jesus says, “Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.” Food is essential and significant to sustain life, so is the desire of eating. It is obviously part of life, but not everything, says our Lord Jesus. The kingdom of God has been prepared for us beyond food. Life without the kingdom is barren and dreary, physically sustaining life but spiritually dead. Our Father God knows how physical we are and provides sunshine and rain to produce food.

Our Lord Jesus illustrates how much the Father cares for the ravens who do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn, yet God feeds them without fail days after days and years after years since its creation. How much more valuable we are, says Jesus. God cares all of His creation, not only the animal’s life but the man’s. As is God the Designer and Maker of life, so does He feed it in perfection. Have you ever seen the ravens worrying what to eat? Thanks to the brilliant technological advancements that we are able to see how the birds instinctively find food and feed themselves.

But how much do we worry what to eat so often and constantly until we come to conclusion that we are made like this, thinking that there is no escape? Our Lord Jesus again speaks a rhetorical question for us to think through who we really are. “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26)

What about the body? The body is more than clothes. Splendor is in the language of body with clothes. The human body is the most beautiful and perfectly balanced structure on earth. Clothes are designed to present the splendor of the body.

“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.” (Luke 12:27-31)

King Solomon was the wisest and wealthiest man ever lived in the earth. His splendor was so brilliant and magnificent that the Queen of the South made a visitation to see. Yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these wild flowers although they do not labor or spin. How is nature beautifully and colorfully being dressed in spring by tulips, daffodils, magnolia, cherry blossom, and many others! God clothes the grass of the field, which is her today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire.

Jesus sighs, saying “You of little faith!” How much more will He clothe us! So, He commands not to set our heart on what we will eat or drink and not to worry about it. Because the pagan world runs after all such things, our Father knows that we need them. Therefore, we shall seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to us as well. Matthew adds to seek His kingdom His righteousness.

The pagan world indicates the realm that is far away from God. The people were called uncircumcised and had no access near to God at all. It is under total blackness and darkness, spiritually dead and totally confused. They are running after all what to eat or drink and what to wear. Apostle Paul describes the conditions of the pagans in the Epistle of Ephesians.

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:11-12)

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.” (Ephesians 4:17-19)

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” (Ephesians 5:3-6)

The amazing statement of the description of the states of the pagans is that they do not inherit the kingdom of God by any degree. They have no part with the kingdom and rather far away from it. Such a person has been described this way:

Into this world,
To eat and to sleep
And to know no reason
Why he was born,
Save to consume the corn,
Devour the cattle, flock, and fish,
And leave behind an empty dish.

All of us once were in such a condition of darkness and confusion, but God has cleansed and washed away by the blood of Christ Jesus, and made alive with Him for good works prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).  

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.” (Ephesians 5:8-12)

We need to eat for sustaining life and to clothe for splendor. But Jesus says life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Food and clothes are temporal, deteriorating, and disappearing. They are made for this earthly life and body, not for the eternal life and body. Therefore, we shall seek His kingdom and His righteousness first.

What does it mean to seek His kingdom first? The word ‘first’ indicates that we still need to eat and to clothe. It cannot be cancelled out in the name of seeking the kingdom. But first seek God’s invisible kingdom and His righteousness. Firstly, it means that we shall be aware of the existence of the kingdom of God though invisible. What is seen is simply the reflection of what is unseen. God is invisible and no one has seen God except the Son of Man. The Scripture says that through Him all things were made and without Him nothing was made that has been made (John 1:3).

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)

The kingdom of God never indicates some far away remote place in space. It is rather an invisible realm where God reigns and governs. It is in our thought world and mind. Hebrews made a clear statement regarding the kingdom of God. “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Then, we shall experience all things are ours in Christ Jesus. We have been made alive in Christ and so we belong to the kingdom of light, bearing the fruit of light, all goodness, righteousness, and truth. The children of light shall bring forth fruits, love, joy, and peace in the midst of turbulent and bumpy lives.

So, the logical conclusive admonition to the children of light shall be “Do not be afraid,” as our Lord Jesus says.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:32-34)

What a tender word it is, “little flock!” Our Father is pleased to give us the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. What does it mean? Buy the opportunities that our Father in heaven release in our midst and obey Him by faith. That’s how we ought to lay up the treasures in heaven which will not perish or wear out. They never fail us because no thief can reach near and no moth destroy. We cannot serve two masters, God and Mammon.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.” (Matthew 6:24)