Jesus: The Faithful King

Today’s sermon is going to be found in Luke 19:11-27. We now find ourselves in Jesus' life, nearing Jerusalem. In less than a day, Jesus is going to enter Jerusalem on the day that we call Palm Sunday. In doing so, He's actually moving toward the cross where He is going to accomplish His mission of being the Savior of the world.

But as He approaches, as might be expected, the crowds are filled with expectation. They actually believe that the kingdom of God is about to appear immediately, visibly, and politically, right there in Jerusalem with Jesus Christ reigning. And so, as verse 11 tells us, Jesus tells a parable to correct their expectations. He reveals that He will receive His kingdom, He will do it in heaven and reign from there, and then one day He will return. When He does, He will bring judgment on those who reject His reign and reward to those who receive Him and serve Him faithfully.

He does this through a parable—a story of a nobleman giving out minas, which is roughly three months' wages, for them to manage for him while he's gone. The story that Jesus tells here isn't random. Jesus is likely referring to a political scandal that His listeners had actually lived through, or their parents had, and they knew from recent history.

What is that? After Herod the Great's death, his son, Archelaus, traveled to Rome to receive authority to rule. But the people hated him for some of the atrocities that he committed. So they sent a delegation of 50 people after him to Augustus, saying, “We do not want this man to rule over us.” They hated his cruel rule and did not want him reigning over them.

We really aren't that much different. Like them, we often get caught up in this same idea. We want a king who serves our timeline rather than a King we must trust and obey. But today, there's this great opportunity for us. We can rest in Jesus' present reign and trust His plans and purposes, no matter what's going to happen in our world, living in joy as we faithfully serve Him, waiting for the inheritance that He has for us. So let's listen with expectation to Luke 19:11-27.

Luke 19:11–27 ESV

As 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. He said therefore, “A nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then return. Calling ten of his servants, he gave them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Engage in business until I come.’ But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’ When 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. The first came before him, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.’ And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant! Because you have been faithful in a very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.’ And the second came, saying, ‘Lord, your mina has made five minas.’ And he said to him, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’ Then another came, saying, ‘Lord, here is your mina, which I kept laid away in a handkerchief; for I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man. You take what you did not deposit, and reap what you did not sow.’ He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow? Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’ And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’ And they said to him, ‘Lord, he has ten minas!’ ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. But as for these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slaughter them before me.’ ”

What we see in this passage is that…

God's reign calls for joyful and faithful submission

When a ruler is given authority over a certain dominion, like Archelaus was by Augustus, the expectation is that the people will serve or submit to him faithfully.

Servants are entrusted with responsibility and commanded to act. We see this in verse 13. The nobleman calls ten of his servants—the Greek actually denotes the idea of "slaves" here, those who are completely under the authority of the nobleman, their business is the master’s business, they don’t have a “side hustle”, their lives are the master’s business. He entrusts these ten servants with a mina each and commands them to engage in business, in active stewardship of this three months of finances on his behalf during his absence. This indicates that participation in His reign requires faithful activity. They are commissioned with working with His resources on His behalf to fulfill the responsibility and act so that the nobleman's resources are increased.

Servants are held accountable upon the King’s return. In verse 15, we see that when he returned having received the kingdom, he orders the servants to be called to give an account. After he had received the kingdom, he returns just like he said he would. He summons these servants to show what they had gained. This shows that submission to the reign of the King includes answering for how they lived under His authority and the responsibilities they were given. We know this in our own lives; when we work for someone, we perform the tasks they ask us to do and are held accountable—like year-end reviews where we see how faithful we were to the job.

Unfaithfulness and rejection result in judgment. In verses 20-27, we see that unfaithfulness and rejection of the submission required results in judgment. The unfaithful servant is exposed as wicked. He viewed the reign of the King as terrifying and was afraid to act because he might lose money, viewing the ruler as severe or harsh. In reality, he was stripped of everything he had. This man failed in his task because he treated the nobleman as someone whose character was not good. He doesn't like the reign or the way the nobleman works, so he doesn't work for him. By being afraid, he aligns himself with the enemies.

The enemies, while they reject the King's reign and are judged, demonstrate that failure to submit to the King is rebellion. You have two things: the man who doesn't do anything with the mina, and the enemies. Both actually do not submit and they rebel against the commission and authority of the King. God’s reign requires us to joyfully and faithfully submit to Him.

Yet, people don't always joyfully submit to even the mightiest and most deserving ruler. Instead…

We reject God's reign through rebellion and unfaithfulness

It would have made sense for someone like Archelaus, who had already slaughtered 3,000 people in the temple courts during Passover because they protested against his father's harsh reign, to be protested. Yet it is irrational for us to do this over God's reign because He is good and beneficial to us.

We reject God's reign in rebellion. As verse 14 shows us, the citizens explicitly refuse the King's authority. Because the King is away and ruling from there, they don't like that. They declare, “We don’t want this man to reign over us.” Like them, we do not like how God rules over this earth. We don't like the pain, the difficulties, and the struggles, and we want Him to rule in a way that pleases or satisfies us.

We reject God's reign in unfaithfulness. We see this in verses 20-24. The servant’s failure to act reveals a deeper rejection rooted in a distortion of the Master’s character. Because he views the Master as harsh and strict, he is led to fear and fruitless inaction. Like them, we often live in unfaithfulness because we misunderstand God's character. We act in fear toward Him and His assignment for us, either working terribly hard to try to earn His favor, or being afraid to do anything for fear that we might mess up. We see this in the church when people are afraid to attempt something new or hard that they feel God is asking them to do because they are afraid of failure and judgment.

All rejection of God's reign results in judgment. Verses 24 and 27 show us that both the unfaithful servant and the rebellious citizens are judged. Failure to submit to the King—whether openly or subtly by just not doing what He asks—is treated as opposition to His reign. Like what happened to them, God will bring judgment on all who reject His reign, either in unfaithfulness or in outright rejection. We see this in our world when people say, “I won’t worship a God who has done this,” or, “I cannot accept a God who would make a world like this.”

If judgment for this rebellion was all we could expect from God, we might feel warranted in our rejection of Him. But this is not the case…

Jesus joyfully bore our rebellion and He now reigns as King

Though Archelaus was rightfully rejected and deposed for his cruelty, Jesus is not like this. Archelaus slaughtered Jews; Jesus willingly allowed Himself to be slaughtered for us, so that our rebellion and unfaithfulness would be counted to Him on the cross, and His righteousness and faithfulness would be given to us. He demonstrates this in His passion beginning the very next day.

Jesus fulfilled the faithful service we failed to give. Where we buried our mina in the dirt, Jesus invested His blood in the cross. In verse 13, we see that where the servants were entrusted and failed, Jesus perfectly carried out the Father's mission. He faithfully sought and saved the lost and completed the work given to Him. Jesus was entrusted with His life, and He gave His life for the sake of His people. He was the faithful one who bore our unfaithfulness.

Jesus bore the judgment our rebellion deserves. In verses 14 and 24-27, we see that the rejection and judgment pictured in the parable find their fulfillment at the cross. Jesus, though He was innocent and faithful, was treated as a rebel in our place. He was slaughtered before us on the cross for our open rebellion and our unfaithfulness.

Jesus received the kingdom and shares it with His people. As He mentioned in 18:33, He would die and rise again. He ascended into heaven and received the kingdom just like this nobleman. He was with the people, commissioned them, and left to receive a kingdom. He will return at the time of judgment. This is a picture of Jesus' ascension and His current reign. As the reigning King, He has granted His righteousness and His Holy Spirit to His people, bringing them into union with Him so that at His coming again, they will become co-heirs and inherit rule in His kingdom.

His kingdom is not established by worldly power, but by His rule over hearts now and His return in glory later.

Such an amazing promise of sharing in Christ's reign should change the way we think about serving Him. We aren't left to grit it out on our own; Jesus gives us His Holy Spirit so that…

We live in joyful submission and faithful service

Jesus is not like Archelaus. He lives in us and fills us with His power and presence. He doesn't just demand submission without empowering us; His presence enables us to delight to serve Him in His own strength.

In the Spirit, we joyfully submit. As we see in verse 13, we no longer fear judgment. We trust the King revealed in Christ and submit to His reign with joy because we are already accepted and loved through Him.

In the Spirit, we faithfully serve. In verses 16-18, we see faithful servants actively engaging in the King’s work. As Christ works in us by the Spirit, He enables us to participate in His mission with faithful obedience.

In the Spirit, we bear fruit. The increase comes as we act in dependence on what we have been given. The fruit of our lives is produced by God at work within us, freeing us from fear and empowering us to live fruitfully for His kingdom.

What does this look like in our day-to-day lives?

When I am tempted to shrink back in fear or believe that God is displeased with my imperfect service, I am reminded by the Spirit that He delights in His work in and through me. Because I am already accepted in Christ, I am free to step forward and labor diligently, even when my efforts feel weak. Apart from Him I can do nothing, but in Him, my labor is not in vain. When I sense God calling me into something uncomfortable, I no longer withdraw in fear of failing; I move forward in faith, trusting the King who is both good and present with me.

When I feel frustrated with the state of the world, the church, or my circumstances, and I am tempted to take control to force outcomes, I am reminded that this is not my kingdom. It’s Christ’s. He is the one who reigns, and He has entrusted me not with control, but simply with faithfulness. I can rest in His rule and focus on what He has placed directly in front of me. The Spirit draws me into His mission, helping me shift my attention away from what I cannot change and toward the people and opportunities right before me.

When I am tempted to measure my life by success, security, or recognition, I am reminded that my true inheritance is not in this world, but with Christ. I no longer need to chase after the approval of this life. Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, living not for immediate gain but for eternal glory. I am free to live with that same perspective, knowing that what is unseen is far more lasting than what is seen. My life is no longer driven by earthly ambition, but by the hope of sharing fully in the reign of my King.

The Holy Spirit enables us to live in joyful submission. If you find yourself today looking like the unfaithful servant who is afraid of God, or the citizens who reject His rule, remember that Jesus will return and bring judgment. But in Jesus Christ, He offers Himself. He was slaughtered on the cross for your rebellion so that you might be counted faithful. He calls you to come to Him, trust Him, and give your life to Him in joyful submission and service.

If you are a servant but you are struggling with faithfulness, remember that Jesus is the one who is faithful. Ask the Holy Spirit to enable your faithfulness so that you might live as a servant who gives his life in joyful, faithful submission—not to earn anything, but because Jesus has already given you His faithfulness.

The King who will return in judgment is the same King who was judged in your place.

So don’t stand at a distance. Don’t hide in fear. Don’t reject His reign. Come to Him. Trust Him. And live under His rule—not to earn His favor, but because in Christ, you already have it.