I’m going to begin with a picture of Landry’s Ayrshire cow, Olive. She is due to have a calf anytime now.
There is so much happening in Luke 19. It’s where our childhood song about Zacchaeus originates.
It’s where Jesus rides into Jerusalem on the unbroken donkey colt. Then he drives the money changers out of the temple. Life is getting intense.
“Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.”
Luke 19:47 NIV
The passage I would like to focus on is in the early part of the chapter. It’s a passage I’ve read many times before, but today God revealed a new perspective.
“He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’”
Luke 19:12-13 NIV
I never realized that Jesus was speaking of himself. He is a man of noble birth. He is preparing to go away to reclaim his throne. He is leaving his “servants” with treasure.
He expects us to grow that treasure before he returns. He is giving us the task to be responsible stewards of what he has given us.
““He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’
“ ‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’”
Luke 19:15-17 NIV
He was very angry with the servant who did nothing.
““Then another servant came and said, ‘Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.’
“His master replied, ‘I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?’”
Luke 19:20-23 NIV
God knows we all have different personalities and different circumstances. He does not accept excuses.
We all have circles of influence.
We all have places and people we can impact with God’s love.
Remember this verse from chapter 8?
““No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
Luke 8:16 NIV
We take our Bibles apart and study small pieces so often that we forget it’s one big story. The themes throughout Luke keep repeating, and Jesus is doing everything he can to drive his points home before he leaves.
Merry Christmas!
Only 5 more days until we celebrate the birth of Christ.
Dr Vet Sonya 