SMBC Principal's Hour

As Jesus nears Jerusalem, he tells the crowd the parable of the minas to prepare them for the wait that lies ahead. In this parable we see that servants who wait faithfully let God’s gifts do work as they are guided by true knowledge of God and hearts aligned to his purposes.

What is our understanding of who Jesus is? Are we clear on how this relates to His purpose? And how might knowing Jesus’ purpose challenge and shape our own? Jesus’ interaction with Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 provides certainty in our understanding of His purpose, hope for all in need of salvation, and a call to follow His example in seeking and saving the lost.

Luke 18:31-43 contains two important episodes in the life and ministry of Jesus as he journeys toward Jerusalem. Both relate to the issue of sight. In the first, despite the clarity of Jesus’ prediction of all that will happen to him, the disciples cannot ‘see’ it – ultimately because “its meaning was hidden from them.” In the second, the blind man is given back his sight by Jesus. What makes the difference? Faith. The blind man believed that Jesus could give him what he asked for, and so he received.

In Luke 18:15-30, Jesus describes what the citizens of the Kingdom of God look like. These citizens are described as being like children who love to be with their parents and as people who are willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. The citizens of the Kingdom of God are those who realise that Jesus is their real treasure both in this life and the life to come.

This parable is a tale of two prayers, two pray-ers, and two breathtaking verdicts. Featuring a proudly self-righteous Pharisee and a tax collector all too well aware of his need for God’s mercy, it is the latter who goes away justified in God’s eyes. There is no room for the proud in the Kingdom of God.

As Jesus nears Jerusalem, both the Pharisees and his disciples have expectations about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus corrects some misunderstandings and reminds us that the Kingdom is in our midst and also still to come. As we live on this side of Jerusalem, we too must not miss the Kingdom in our midst while also being prepared for His return and firm in the faith as we wait.

How much should we care that gospel resources are not evenly spread around the world, or even across Sydney? Paul’s desire was that there be material equality amongst God’s global people – is it right to extend this to a ‘gospel equality’? Jesus’ sacrifice is key for Paul and it sets a heart-direction for us.

Rather than commit harm, followers of Jesus forgive harm. In doing so, they reflect God’s character and lead people to Jesus.

In this well-known parable Jesus graphically spells out the consequences of serving anything other than God, in this case money. Jesus’ call is for the listener to live with God as their master, and to demonstrate this by the way they use the resources he’s given them.

Faced with the sudden crisis of losing his job, a desperate manager made strategic present decisions based on future certainty. Jesus commended him – not for dishonesty, but for his shrewdness: sharp foresight, rigorous analysis and careful, practical planning. The parable shows that Jesus expects his disciples to do likewise, faithfully making the most of our resources now, with the certain future in mind. He concludes with a warning about money: make Jesus, not your finances, your master.