11As they heard these things, he proceeded to tell a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and because they supposed that the kingdom of God was to appear immediately. 12He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return.13Calling ten of his servants,he gave them ten minas,and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’14But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’15When he returned, having received the kingdom, he ordered these servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what they had gained by doing business.   Luke 19:11-15

Faulty expectations.

On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus stopped in at Zacchaeus’ house. The affect was electrifying. Some people where upset at Jesus for he willingly accepted the hospitality of the chief tax collector. But then the unthinkable happened. Zacchaeus wasn’t just posing; he was really seeking God. Zacchaeus received Jesus. Zacchaeus aligned his life with Jesus and gave away half his wealth. Zacchaeus promised to restore what he had defrauded from others at a rate of four times the offence. Then Jesus addresses Zacchaeus and frames what had just happened: “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:9-10

Godly expectations.

The disciples and crowd were surely excited now as Jesus headed to Jerusalem. They were sure that God’s Kingdom had come and that the trip to Jerusalem would end with triumph such that a new era of prosperity and ease would be theirs. The wealth of the rich and the power of the powerful would now be theirs. But Jesus tells a story, a story meant to reframe their expectations and to create urgency as to the allegiance of their own hearts.

Jesus is the nobleman who would be King. His journey to the “far country” was through Jerusalem, through the cross and then to heaven with His Heavenly Father. In the meantime how shall we live?

Giving ourselves to the work.

In the meantime, we will do just what he says, “engage in business until I come.” Each of us must give ourselves to the work the King has given us.

In the meantime Until Jesus comes again as King in all His glory, power, and authority, we give ourselves to Him, to each other, and to the work He gives us.