An Odd Story

Scripture – Luke 19:11-15: 11While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. 12He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ 14“But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We don’t want this man to be our king.’ 15“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.

Reflection: This is an intriguing story. Jesus told it because the people thought His kingdom was somehow going to appear at once – probably when He arrived in Jerusalem. So he describes a man who went away “to have himself appointed king.” That strikes me as an odd phrase. I know in those days a king was often more like we might think of as a governor or mayor. Still, he went off to have himself appointed. Then he planned to return.

The man chose ten of his servants and entrusted each of them with one mina (a mina was about three month’s wages). They were specifically charged with using that money on the man’s behalf. Then there’s that interesting line about the delegation sent to lobby against his appointment as king. This, of course, failed, and the man returned. He then calls for an accounting from the ten.

Is Jesus the man who went away? Are we to take what He’s entrusted to us and put it to work until He comes back? And are there people who don’t want to see Him king? The rest of the story comes tomorrow. What do you make of it today?