Jesus said to his disciples:

35 “Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning. 36 Be like men watching for their lord, when he returns from the marriage feast; that, when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open to him. 37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord will find watching when he comes. Most certainly I tell you, that he will dress himself, and make them recline, and will come and serve them. 38 They will be blessed if he comes in the second or third watch, and finds them so. 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. 40 Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”

Luke 12:35-38 - World English Bible

In these verses, Jesus urged his followers to prepare for escape, in the same way the Israelites dressed at the first Passover before they left Egypt (Exodus 12:11). Notice Luke created a parallel of anticipation for divine encounter; the Israelites journeyed to Mt. Sinai to receive the Law from YHWH, the disciples awaited the Son of Man to return in glory. “Lamps burning” shifted the anticipation to a night time scene, symbolizing the dark time of persecution.

Jesus, then, told two parables, the watchful servant and the watchful homeowner. The servants waited for the Master to return in the night but, unlike custom, the Lord would serve the servants (reminiscent of feet washing from the Last Supper in John 13:1-20.). The watchful homeowner protected his own against the thief who wanted to break in; the thief represented the Evil One. Jesus meant these parable for the leadership of the community, telling them to keep one eye for his return, the other eye against corrupting influences or lax discipline.

Jesus wanted his followers to expect him at any moment, to be ready to act (even escape persecution) and to guard against those with foul intent.

How have you prepared for the Lord's return today?