Sunday 23rd November – The End

23-11-2025, Day of Fulfillment, Luke 19:11-27, pastor adrian kitson, The End

Luke 19:11-27

While 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. 12 He said: ‘A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So 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.

16 ‘The first one came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned ten more.”

17 ‘“Well done, my good servant!” his master replied. “Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.”

18 ‘The second came and said, “Sir, your mina has earned five more.”

19 ‘His master answered, “You take charge of five cities.”

20 ‘Then another servant came and said, “Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. 21 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.”

22 ‘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? 23 Why then didn’t you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?”

24 ‘Then he said to those standing by, “Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.”

25 ‘“Sir,” they said, “he already has ten!”

26 ‘He replied, “I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them – bring them here and kill them in front of me.”’

Have you ever thought, “This is it!”. Like when Shane Warne used to come on to bowl the last session of play for the day in an Ashes Test – you knew the end would be nigh for the hapless mesmerized English batters!

It sounds like the people around Jesus thought “this was it”. They were slowly making their way with him up to the city where every king has his coronation and national celebrations always occur: Jerusalem. I wonder whether they could sense that things were ‘hotting up’.

Jesus has said and done so much. They have lived in close quarters with him for nearly three years. Jesus had already mentioned that he would go to Jerusalem and that he would suffer, die and rise to take up his rule (Luke 9:21-22, Luke 9:43-45, Luke 18:31-34).

It would be easy to think and hope that Jesus would walk into the city and be crowned as king, take up his rightful rule and rule in his new kingdom.

But, here comes one of those timely parables that puts a big dampener on this rather trouble-free vision of what it would take for Jesus to rule as King of kings!

Jesus 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.

So, here is how you and I as travelers with Jesus on this kingdom journey approach the end. We face the end by investing not withholding, risking not playing it safe, expecting and being ready to suffer not to live in constant with comfort and ease.

A rich — and soon to be powerful — nobleman goes on an extended trip to be crowned king. This often happened in ancient Rome. Before Jesus, both Herod the Great and one of his sons, Archelaus, travelled all the way to Rome to get the nod of approval to be rulers over this community. It is what a soon-to-be king nobleman must do.

In the parable, most of his people hate this soon to be king. They even send word ahead to his entourage that they oppose this coronation (his becoming king) (Luke 19:14) – a bit like the people who did not want Charles to finally be crowned king.

In his planned absence, this nobleman directs ten of his servants to;

“Put this money to work,” … “until I come back.”

This would be tough; a bit of a test of their faith in him, for sure. Will they take the calling of their king to get their community ready for him and his new rule? Will they invest wisely in things and people to make his rule effective and the community more ready to receive him?

Two of them take the risk of investing their master’s money. They do so wisely. They earn handsome returns. They earn different returns. This seems totally fine with the soon to be king. The test is not really about the amount of return for effort but that there was investment in others.

Despite a hostile community and any personal cost, they took the personal and financial risk to do the king’s work. They display the willingness to follow his instructions, use their heads and keep the vision of this king’s rule at the forefront of their activities in the community.

A third worker does none of this. He says he was afraid to take the risk.

I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man.

He does not know the king. He is scared of the king. So, he puts the money in a safe place. It earned no return.

Finally, the nobleman returns. He is already crowned king of the whole territory. He comes to the capital city for his coronation.

He rewards the two servants who invested in the community for his purposes. He gives them even more responsibility. He chastises the servant who kept the money safe but unproductive. Then he commands that all who opposed him be killed in his presence. They have made their choices about him. Their choices obviously have consequences.

So, here’s Jesus, the “nobleman” who is already King, now about to go into his city, Jerusalem, where he is to be crowned king. “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord,” they will shout very soon (Luke 19:38). But then the rejection of his kingdom rule will be present too: “Crucify him!” they will cry (Luke 23:21).

So, there it is; the kingdom welcome and the kingdom rejection; the risk of investing for the king and the inevitable risk of being rejected with the king.

As Jesus faces the end, three things are clear.

There will be an end of the old kingdom and establishment of this new one.
The King will rule this new kingdom despite what the locals think about him.
It will not be easy for the servants in this new kingdom who are called to invest not withhold, be public with their loyalty and allegiance to the king, not private about it, and take risks for this king and his kingdom, not play it safe.

Am I scared of God and therefor frightened to take risks for his mission?

Do I know his heart of grace, but still not really taking risks for this King of kings, as I generally play it safe, too much?

Am I investing in kingdom work for this king, or generally investing, but not for the largely unwanted king but more to make my lot comfortable and easy?

Is this as a local church in this new kingdom of the King – playing it safe, not really investing in people but more in making our church fairly comfortable, hardly ever taking any serious risk – be it financial, relational, visionary future focussed?

I think the parable is saying that if we are withholding from people way more than investing in people, playing it safe way more than taking calculated risks for this King and his rule, or firming up our own comfortability, more than not being surprised that it takes some difficulty to live this Christians life because a lot of people hate the King, then maybe we don’t know this king very well – like the city dwellers in the Roman Province of Judah when Jesus came to town?

Maybe we are scared of him and believe him to be a ‘harsh man’?

But what if he is not a ‘harsh man’ but a king of self-giving love with a mission he invites us into – not only for our sake but for the love of everyone else in my life?

This king is about to show that love. He is about to reveal his character in full, in blood on wood. As moves to that huge risk, Jesus will soon weep for this city and these difficult people who don’t recognise his goodness and heart-felt intent to gather them together as a hen gathers her chicks to protect them, be close to them, live with them in peace.

This hen will do his gathering work with suffering, rejection shaming pain – FOR THEM and DESPITE their dislike, lack of awareness of care.

He will invest deeply in Jew and Gentile. He will exchange his life for theirs and usher in a kingdom of forgiveness, hope and joy, while they were still sinners opposed to him.

Friends, we know this king. He is a Servant King; a king of love our shepherd is whose goodness never fails.

He is calling us to invest, take the risk, freely give and trust him for the outcome. He always is.

He is calling us to take up the responsibilities of kingdom citizenship, like the first two investors. Success is not the point – the act of investing is the point. Investing in people is how we face the end and the beginning of life under our King.

Friends, ducking for cover is the one action Jesus condemns in the parable. That is not how we roll as Christians or as a church of Christians.

Being faithful to the King with what he gives us is risky business lived in trust of his promises of resurrection at the end.

So, how is the King calling you to invest at the moment?

What risk is Jesus the King calling you to take – not for home and family and work only, but his gospel; his hope; his forgiveness among people?

This king risked everything and gave everything for our hopeful and sure life in his Kingdom of grace. Our end is sure and future secure. But there is work to do. This Kingdom does not come easily or cheaply, it seems.

As another year of the church gets under way and a new calendar year edges up on our horizon, two things are true;

The King will continue to invest in you and us.
He will call you to invest in his Kingdom by taking risks among others as he calls us to:

“Put this gift to work,” … “until I come back.”

And reward for risky investment is sure too:

“I tell you, says Jesus to his church, “to everyone who has faith in me, more will faith be given”.

How do we face the sure and good end?

Invest
Risk
Trust

In the name of Christ. Amen

MORE REFLECTION

Theme:

Investing for the King – Risk, Trust, and Faithfulness

Read the Passage

Luke 19:11–27 – The Parable of the Ten Minas.
(Read aloud .)

Context & Background

Jesus is near Jerusalem, and people expect the Kingdom of God to appear immediately.
He tells this parable to correct their misunderstanding: the kingdom will come, but not in the way they expect. There will be a delay, and his followers must remain faithful during that time.

Key Characters

The Nobleman → Represents Jesus, who goes away (ascension) and will return as King.
Servants → Followers entrusted with resources (gifts, opportunities) to invest for the kingdom.
Citizens who hate him → Those who reject Jesus’ kingship.

Main Lessons

Faithfulness in Waiting: The kingdom is certain, but there is a waiting period. How we live during this time matters.
Risk and Investment: Two servants invest and are rewarded; one hides the mina and is condemned. Playing it safe is not kingdom living.
Consequences of Rejection: Those who oppose the king face judgment.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think Jesus used this parable to address the expectation of an immediate kingdom?
What does “put this money to work until I come back” mean for us today?
Where in your life are you playing it safe instead of taking risks for the kingdom?
How can our church invest in people rather than just maintaining comfort?

Application

Personal: Identify one area where you can take a risk for Jesus this week (sharing faith, serving, giving).
Church: Brainstorm ways to invest in community and mission rather than just programs.