WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.120 And there are few worse things, aren't there, than being late. Being late for something, it's a really embarrassing thing, isn't it? 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:22.140 And I remember a few weeks ago, well it's actually a couple of years ago now, when my mum was down in London, visiting Emma and I to have a bit of a tourist trip round London. 00:00:22.259 --> 00:00:33.759 We wanted to really treat her, take her round the sights. And the time came when she had to leave, she had to get back on the train to go back up to Chester, get on the train at Euston. 00:00:33.759 --> 00:00:44.659 So we booked her a nice lunch, we had lunch with her, and we really got into this lunch. And after a while, time sort of ran away with us. We lost track of time. 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:57.259 And we realised that we had to get mum to this train, we rushed across London to get to Euston. We ran across Euston Station Concourse and got to the platform, but the gates had been shut. 00:00:57.259 --> 00:01:10.980 It was too late. We pleaded with the officials, please, let us on the train, let us on the platform. But they said, no, the gate has been shut. It's too late. 00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:19.560 And we'd missed the train. It was really, really embarrassing. Being too late is an awful thing, isn't it? 00:01:19.560 --> 00:01:26.960 But being too late is what is the main thing in this passage, isn't it, from Jesus, this parable. 00:01:27.900 --> 00:01:35.780 Ten virgins, or bridesmaids, are invited to a wedding party, and some of them get there in time, don't they, in verse 10. 00:01:36.579 --> 00:01:41.659 Those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast and the door was shut. 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:45.519 But for others, they were too late. 00:01:46.579 --> 00:01:51.420 The doors are shut, and they're left out. They're too late. 00:01:52.859 --> 00:02:01.979 And this parable that Jesus tells in Matthew chapter 25 is a parable to show us what his kingdom is like. 00:02:02.340 --> 00:02:04.060 Did you see that in verse 1? 00:02:04.519 --> 00:02:10.019 Jesus says, the kingdom of heaven will be like this parable. 00:02:10.020 --> 00:02:21.280 Jesus is saying in this parable, my kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, is about to appear in its fullest sense to everybody. 00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:27.240 But the moral of the story is at the end of the parable, isn't it, in verse 13. 00:02:28.420 --> 00:02:33.640 He says, watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. 00:02:33.640 --> 00:02:39.640 My kingdom is going to arrive, it's going to appear, but you need to be ready. 00:02:40.020 --> 00:02:42.380 Don't get your timings mixed up. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:46.780 Don't be too late when my kingdom arrives. 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:57.800 As we think about this parable, I just want to talk about three things that this parable shows us about Jesus' kingdom. 00:02:58.680 --> 00:03:03.580 The first thing is that Jesus' kingdom brings delight. 00:03:04.660 --> 00:03:07.240 Jesus' kingdom brings delight. 00:03:07.240 --> 00:03:11.040 We see that in verse 1, I think, don't we? 00:03:11.379 --> 00:03:17.840 Jesus uses the image of a wedding to describe his kingdom. 00:03:18.060 --> 00:03:25.219 Verse 1, the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 00:03:26.040 --> 00:03:30.300 This is delightful, isn't it, this image. 00:03:30.300 --> 00:03:36.300 Being part of Jesus' kingdom is a happy thing. 00:03:36.920 --> 00:03:38.420 It's a delightful thing. 00:03:39.320 --> 00:03:42.340 The picture Jesus uses is of a wedding day. 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:46.100 The happiest day that you can imagine. 00:03:46.840 --> 00:03:53.240 And these virgins, these young girls, are invited as bridegroom's attendants. 00:03:53.240 --> 00:03:57.900 So they're probably going to escort the bridegroom to the wedding day. 00:03:58.000 --> 00:04:02.820 They've got these lamps to lead him in a kind of procession. 00:04:03.540 --> 00:04:09.020 They've received VIP invitations to the best party of the year, haven't they? 00:04:09.020 --> 00:04:15.140 There's going to be food and wine and laughing and good times. 00:04:15.939 --> 00:04:17.740 The perfect day. 00:04:20.319 --> 00:04:27.400 Sometimes I like to play a game with myself in my head and it's called my perfect day. 00:04:28.240 --> 00:04:33.540 My perfect day is a game where you can imagine what your perfect day is going to be. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:37.140 You can write it down or you can just go through it in your head if you want. 00:04:37.500 --> 00:04:38.860 And you can go crazy. 00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:41.400 You can dream really, really big. 00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:49.120 I wonder if you were to play my perfect day, where would you be on your perfect day? 00:04:49.780 --> 00:04:51.180 Who would you be with? 00:04:52.500 --> 00:04:53.920 On a tropical island? 00:04:54.960 --> 00:04:57.600 In a penthouse overlooking Florence? 00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:00.439 On a five-star cruise? 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.200 On your perfect day? 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:05.959 What would you have for breakfast on your perfect day? 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:06.860 Just imagine it. 00:05:07.219 --> 00:05:08.439 What would you do in the morning? 00:05:08.539 --> 00:05:09.839 Then what would you do for lunch? 00:05:10.180 --> 00:05:10.939 Then afternoon? 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:12.120 All the way till the evening? 00:05:12.379 --> 00:05:15.480 And then where would you sleep on your perfect day? 00:05:17.219 --> 00:05:19.019 It's a great game to play. 00:05:20.279 --> 00:05:28.120 But Jesus, by choosing this image of a wedding feast to describe his kingdom and his presence, 00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:38.939 he is saying to us, doesn't he, if your perfect day doesn't include Jesus, if it doesn't include the bridegroom, it won't be perfect. 00:05:39.939 --> 00:05:41.519 It will be far from perfect. 00:05:42.019 --> 00:05:44.759 Think of your perfect day, just get that in your mind. 00:05:44.759 --> 00:05:48.659 But Jesus says to us, just you wait. 00:05:49.659 --> 00:05:52.039 Just you wait for this wedding. 00:05:52.719 --> 00:05:55.879 Without me, you're not dreaming big enough. 00:05:57.180 --> 00:06:00.680 Jesus describes his kingdom as a wedding feast. 00:06:00.680 --> 00:06:06.780 It's just as delightful, as the most perfect day that you can ever imagine. 00:06:07.819 --> 00:06:12.800 It is the most delightful experience to be with the bridegroom, with Jesus. 00:06:13.780 --> 00:06:16.400 And these young women, they know that, don't they? 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:21.740 They've been invited to the most delightful events they can possibly imagine. 00:06:21.740 --> 00:06:24.600 And we should be looking forward to that, shouldn't we? 00:06:25.460 --> 00:06:29.939 We should be looking forward to the day when Jesus' kingdom will be revealed. 00:06:30.840 --> 00:06:32.819 It will be a delightful kingdom. 00:06:33.280 --> 00:06:35.860 We can be optimistic people, can't we? 00:06:36.120 --> 00:06:39.420 Because of the delight that is ahead of us in the future. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:46.060 We can live today for Jesus because we have a delightful tomorrow. 00:06:47.180 --> 00:06:49.800 A perfect day forever with Jesus. 00:06:49.800 --> 00:06:55.240 So, whatever it is you imagine, Jesus says to us, just wait. 00:06:56.280 --> 00:07:01.759 Just you wait for this perfect day, for the bridegroom to appear. 00:07:01.920 --> 00:07:02.780 It is delightful. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:04.480 It is delightful. 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:11.720 But, the second thing in this parable, and I think this is where we really get into the meat of the passage. 00:07:13.300 --> 00:07:18.300 Even though Jesus' kingdom is delightful, it is delayed. 00:07:18.300 --> 00:07:20.300 It is delayed. 00:07:20.400 --> 00:07:21.900 Jesus' kingdom is delayed. 00:07:23.180 --> 00:07:26.079 And this is where we start getting into problems, isn't it? 00:07:26.579 --> 00:07:33.900 We see, don't we, the first lot of virgins in verse 3, take no extra oil with them. 00:07:34.960 --> 00:07:40.060 So, they're thinking about this delightful party, about the bridegroom appearing, 00:07:40.060 --> 00:07:45.139 and they're confident, they're thinking, well, it won't be long until the evening, until the party starts. 00:07:45.780 --> 00:07:47.360 We don't need extra supplies. 00:07:48.339 --> 00:07:51.839 We've only got to wait a couple of hours, till the bridegroom appears. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:54.160 Then we'll be enjoying ourselves. 00:07:55.180 --> 00:07:57.060 They're confident of that. 00:07:57.620 --> 00:08:00.500 But there's a problem in verse 5, isn't there? 00:08:00.500 --> 00:08:03.620 Because the bridegroom was delayed. 00:08:05.060 --> 00:08:08.180 They all became drowsy and slept. 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.939 In their minds, the wedding feast was supposed to start at 7.30. 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:17.180 And by 9 o'clock, the bridegroom still hasn't arrived. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:19.639 And they doze off into the night. 00:08:19.720 --> 00:08:23.040 And when it comes to the early hours of the morning, when it comes to midnight, 00:08:23.720 --> 00:08:26.300 the cry sort of wakes them up out of their sleep. 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:28.220 Here is the bridegroom. 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:34.799 The problem is the delay of the bridegroom, isn't it? 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:36.700 That is the key. 00:08:37.299 --> 00:08:40.879 It wasn't the fact that he came that was the problem. 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:43.000 They were all expecting him to come, weren't they? 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:48.080 It was the delay in him coming that caught them off guard. 00:08:48.700 --> 00:08:52.460 The first set of virgins weren't expecting a delay. 00:08:52.600 --> 00:08:53.840 They hadn't prepared for that. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:55.240 So they've run out of oil. 00:08:56.299 --> 00:08:57.079 They're not ready. 00:08:58.699 --> 00:09:05.339 The warning in this passage is not only do we need to recognise that Jesus will return 00:09:05.339 --> 00:09:09.179 and get ready for that by trusting in him now. 00:09:09.319 --> 00:09:13.919 We need to be prepared for the delay of his return. 00:09:15.599 --> 00:09:21.019 Notice in this passage all of the virgins, all of these girls fall asleep, don't they? 00:09:21.019 --> 00:09:24.699 The foolish ones and the wise ones do that. 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.779 That's not the sin here. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:33.939 So the problem isn't that life has to stop as we wait for the return of Jesus. 00:09:33.940 --> 00:09:42.080 But waiting has to be patient and enduring because Jesus' kingdom is delayed. 00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:48.960 Now the disciples had to get their heads around that as well, didn't they? 00:09:49.080 --> 00:09:52.800 Matthew, who wrote this gospel, had to understand that. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:10:01.919 Just a few decades after Jesus rose from the dead, he ascended to sit at his father's right hand. 00:10:02.579 --> 00:10:09.219 He promised the disciples that he would return to bring in his kingdom fully. 00:10:09.220 --> 00:10:16.420 And Matthew must be wondering, mustn't he, as he writes this gospel, well, where is he? 00:10:17.399 --> 00:10:18.480 Where is Jesus? 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:25.519 But Matthew recognises, as he writes this, that there is a delay. 00:10:25.519 --> 00:10:33.620 There is delight in God's kingdom, in Jesus' kingdom, but we have to prepare for the delay. 00:10:34.039 --> 00:10:37.699 Dig yourself in and prepare for the delay. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:41.299 Jesus, again, he says, doesn't he, just wait. 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:44.779 Just you wait for my kingdom. 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:52.379 Now isn't it true that the longer the delay for something, the more likely the surprise. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:56.519 The longer the delay, the more likely the surprise. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:11:01.860 I don't know if you've ever moved house and you've not told the dentist your new address. 00:11:02.539 --> 00:11:04.019 I've tried that a couple of times. 00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:04.759 It hasn't worked. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:08.379 You haven't heard from the dentist in ages. 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:12.980 The six-month slot goes by, you still haven't heard. 00:11:13.340 --> 00:11:19.360 And maybe in the back of your mind, you start to forget about the dentist, don't you? 00:11:20.120 --> 00:11:21.200 I haven't heard anything. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:23.040 They're delayed. 00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:30.720 Maybe after a year goes by, you might slacken off a bit and start eating a few more sweets and biscuits. 00:11:32.300 --> 00:11:40.560 But then, 18 months later, the dentist somehow tracks you down and you get the note through the letterbox and it says, 00:11:41.300 --> 00:11:44.660 Mr Roberts, it's time for your check-up. 00:11:44.659 --> 00:11:54.219 They were delayed so long that you weren't expecting them to ever get in touch with you. 00:11:55.059 --> 00:11:58.039 The longer the delay, the more likely the surprise. 00:11:58.039 --> 00:12:05.579 And because these virgins are delayed, the bridegroom is more than fashionably late, isn't he? 00:12:05.740 --> 00:12:08.799 He's extremely late to this wedding. 00:12:08.959 --> 00:12:10.279 He is severely delayed. 00:12:10.439 --> 00:12:12.719 The delay is unexpectedly long. 00:12:12.720 --> 00:12:18.360 And that's why half of these bridesmaids are caught off guard. 00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:23.840 Because they have perhaps stopped believing he was ever going to come. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:27.720 The longer the delay, the greater the surprise. 00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:34.940 And if it was difficult for the disciples, then how much more of a temptation is that for us 2,000 years on? 00:12:36.180 --> 00:12:41.899 2,000 years or so after Jesus has ascended to his father. 00:12:41.899 --> 00:12:43.699 He said he would return. 00:12:43.699 --> 00:12:44.899 He promised that. 00:12:45.399 --> 00:12:48.220 But people nowadays think, well, where is he? 00:12:49.399 --> 00:12:50.319 Where is he? 00:12:51.459 --> 00:12:54.879 The delay has been unexpectedly long. 00:12:55.980 --> 00:12:57.679 And we've slackened off. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:01.759 We've stopped believing Jesus will ever come. 00:13:03.059 --> 00:13:06.980 But the longer the delay, the greater the surprise. 00:13:07.720 --> 00:13:09.779 Jesus says, just you wait. 00:13:10.679 --> 00:13:11.720 Just you wait. 00:13:11.899 --> 00:13:17.740 There is delight in his kingdom, but there is a delay for his kingdom. 00:13:17.899 --> 00:13:25.039 But the third thing, on a serious note, is that Jesus' kingdom brings division. 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:29.100 The delight, the delay, and the division. 00:13:31.079 --> 00:13:37.299 Jesus, quite early on in this parable, he alludes to what is going to happen at the end, doesn't he? 00:13:37.319 --> 00:13:38.079 Gives us a clue. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:46.440 If you look at verse 2, he says that five of these bridesmaids were foolish and five were wise. 00:13:47.800 --> 00:13:52.080 There are signs, aren't there, of a division amongst these bridesmaids. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:14:04.500 When the bridegroom returns after this unexpected delay, that division that is kind of implicit at the beginning is suddenly made public. 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:08.659 Verses 7 and 8, there's this panic, isn't there? 00:14:08.659 --> 00:14:13.820 Half of the bridegroom, bridesmaids, realise they don't have enough oil. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:17.639 They trim their lamps, but they're running on fumes. 00:14:17.639 --> 00:14:23.279 It's moments before they go out, isn't it? 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.960 And they say, give us some of your oil. 00:14:27.179 --> 00:14:28.559 The foolish half say. 00:14:28.720 --> 00:14:32.439 It's one of those more haste, less speed moments. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:36.139 They have to find more oil from somewhere. 00:14:36.299 --> 00:14:38.000 They've had all this time to get ready. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:39.379 You know, I do this all the time. 00:14:39.519 --> 00:14:41.000 Had all this time to get ready. 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:45.240 But the longer the delay, the more likely the surprise. 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:48.179 And it crops up on you. 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.220 And you're late. 00:14:50.299 --> 00:14:51.899 They speak to the bouncers. 00:14:52.700 --> 00:14:54.220 They beg the bridegroom. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:56.399 They give him a sob story about the lamps. 00:14:56.539 --> 00:14:59.620 But there is a division at this point. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.500 And half of them are too late. 00:15:03.460 --> 00:15:04.799 They're locked out. 00:15:06.860 --> 00:15:09.580 Jesus' return, Jesus' kingdom, 00:15:09.580 --> 00:15:14.879 will not be an all-inclusive thing in one sense. 00:15:14.980 --> 00:15:17.200 There will be all types of people, won't there, 00:15:17.680 --> 00:15:18.820 in God's kingdom. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:20.440 That is a glorious thing. 00:15:21.340 --> 00:15:23.700 But it is not a universal thing. 00:15:25.520 --> 00:15:30.680 Jesus will not let all and sundry into his party. 00:15:31.160 --> 00:15:32.120 And if you think about that, 00:15:32.180 --> 00:15:33.600 what kind of host does that? 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:37.800 I remember being at a party a few years ago 00:15:37.800 --> 00:15:39.080 with some work colleagues. 00:15:39.580 --> 00:15:40.720 And as the night went on, 00:15:40.820 --> 00:15:43.759 some gatecrashers from the street 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:47.080 wandered in, posing as guests. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:49.980 They were pretty menacing looking. 00:15:50.840 --> 00:15:52.700 I don't really know why they were there. 00:15:53.240 --> 00:15:56.300 And the host came out and found these people 00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:58.200 and took one look at them and said, 00:15:58.740 --> 00:15:59.639 I don't know you. 00:15:59.639 --> 00:16:02.139 They caused a bit of trouble. 00:16:02.819 --> 00:16:03.539 A bit of trouble. 00:16:03.639 --> 00:16:06.879 But thankfully, one of the host's friends 00:16:06.879 --> 00:16:09.679 looked even more menacing and he threw them out. 00:16:10.720 --> 00:16:13.879 There was a division at that party. 00:16:14.600 --> 00:16:18.519 It is not a free-for-all in Jesus' kingdom. 00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:22.519 And these virgins, they're banging on the door, aren't they? 00:16:23.340 --> 00:16:24.980 Wanting to get into the wedding. 00:16:25.919 --> 00:16:29.000 But Jesus, the bridegroom, takes one look at them 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:30.620 and in verse 12 says, 00:16:31.159 --> 00:16:32.120 I don't know you. 00:16:33.199 --> 00:16:33.939 I don't know you. 00:16:34.079 --> 00:16:35.799 They're gatecrashers, aren't they? 00:16:35.799 --> 00:16:40.559 With no real relationship to the host. 00:16:41.859 --> 00:16:44.319 And the host, the bridegroom, Jesus says, 00:16:44.479 --> 00:16:45.419 I don't know you. 00:16:46.579 --> 00:16:48.599 They call him Lord, don't they? 00:16:48.699 --> 00:16:49.539 Did you notice that? 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:51.839 Lord, Lord, they call out to him. 00:16:53.199 --> 00:16:57.439 Perhaps they claim some kind of affinity with Jesus. 00:16:57.439 --> 00:17:01.599 They maybe even call themselves Christians of some kind. 00:17:02.959 --> 00:17:04.680 But when it comes down to it, 00:17:04.680 --> 00:17:09.560 they haven't invested a life in waiting for the return of Jesus. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:13.580 They haven't been thinking long-term, have they? 00:17:14.920 --> 00:17:19.340 Perhaps they thought Jesus' kingdom would come easily to them 00:17:19.340 --> 00:17:20.680 and quickly. 00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:24.640 They haven't been prepared for the delay. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:28.160 And once the bridegroom comes, 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:31.039 nobody else can sort them out, can they? 00:17:31.039 --> 00:17:35.379 The other bridesmaids can't give them oil. 00:17:36.460 --> 00:17:40.659 They can't ride into the party on the back of the others. 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:45.700 Other people's faith and other people's readiness 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:48.500 won't get them in to the kingdom. 00:17:49.420 --> 00:17:52.519 Their family's faith or their pastor's faith 00:17:52.519 --> 00:17:55.039 or anybody else can't get them in. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:17:59.980 An old theologian, Luther, said that 00:17:59.980 --> 00:18:02.500 there are two things that a man must do alone. 00:18:03.500 --> 00:18:04.920 He must do his believing 00:18:04.920 --> 00:18:07.159 and he must do his dying. 00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:12.059 Believing is something that in a sense 00:18:12.059 --> 00:18:13.619 we have to do alone, isn't it? 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:16.299 It is our own responsibility. 00:18:17.420 --> 00:18:18.420 Others can help us 00:18:18.420 --> 00:18:19.960 and we can help each other, can't we? 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:21.279 We can encourage one another. 00:18:22.079 --> 00:18:24.400 We can spur each other on 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:26.039 to trust in Christ. 00:18:26.279 --> 00:18:28.000 And it's actually one of the ways 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:30.380 that we prepare for the delay, isn't it? 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.660 That we're in a church. 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:34.380 That we wait patiently together. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.279 And that is a good thing. 00:18:37.579 --> 00:18:40.200 But our faith in Jesus the King, 00:18:40.340 --> 00:18:42.259 it must be our own faith. 00:18:43.100 --> 00:18:44.420 Our own responsibility. 00:18:44.420 --> 00:18:47.140 We must make our response to Jesus 00:18:47.140 --> 00:18:50.759 our own response to him. 00:18:51.539 --> 00:18:53.039 And the foolish virgins, 00:18:53.180 --> 00:18:54.400 they haven't thought it through 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:56.440 for themselves, have they? 00:18:58.019 --> 00:19:00.240 Jesus' kingdom will be delightful. 00:19:01.320 --> 00:19:02.900 But it will be delayed 00:19:02.900 --> 00:19:05.080 and there will be a division. 00:19:07.560 --> 00:19:08.860 We pray, don't we, 00:19:08.900 --> 00:19:12.140 that all of us in this room right now 00:19:12.140 --> 00:19:14.000 will be ready. 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:16.640 Having delight 00:19:16.640 --> 00:19:18.300 in the return of Jesus. 00:19:18.440 --> 00:19:19.720 Looking forward to that. 00:19:20.380 --> 00:19:21.980 It's going to be a great day. 00:19:22.860 --> 00:19:24.720 That we will be prepared 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:26.160 for a delay 00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:27.680 in that. 00:19:28.560 --> 00:19:29.620 Being patient 00:19:29.620 --> 00:19:31.019 and waiting. 00:19:33.080 --> 00:19:35.019 But Jesus warns us 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:36.360 that there will be a division. 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:39.600 And I wonder if some of us 00:19:39.600 --> 00:19:40.920 need to hear that warning. 00:19:40.920 --> 00:19:44.720 We need to make our own response 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:46.120 to Jesus. 00:19:46.480 --> 00:19:48.120 And we need to hurry up 00:19:48.120 --> 00:19:49.539 and do that. 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.340 We need to hurry up and wait, 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:52.940 don't we? 00:19:54.940 --> 00:19:57.160 This parable makes us wonder, 00:19:57.700 --> 00:19:59.900 what do I really imagine 00:19:59.900 --> 00:20:01.720 my perfect day to be? 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:05.039 And am I dreaming big enough 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:06.660 as I imagine that? 00:20:08.079 --> 00:20:09.700 Does my perfect day 00:20:09.700 --> 00:20:11.319 include the bridegroom? 00:20:11.420 --> 00:20:13.059 Does it include Jesus? 00:20:13.059 --> 00:20:16.339 Jesus describes his kingdom 00:20:16.339 --> 00:20:19.000 as a truly delightful thing. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:21.379 As a wedding feast. 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:24.279 And it says to us, doesn't it, 00:20:24.279 --> 00:20:26.179 whatever we are going through today, 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:28.559 we have that to look forward to. 00:20:28.559 --> 00:20:31.500 We have a delightful tomorrow 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:33.200 with him. 00:20:34.079 --> 00:20:36.419 But his kingdom in the fullest sense 00:20:36.419 --> 00:20:37.700 is being delayed. 00:20:38.079 --> 00:20:39.579 And Jesus says to us, 00:20:40.019 --> 00:20:41.099 just wait. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:43.379 Just you wait. 00:20:43.779 --> 00:20:45.000 The longer the delay, 00:20:45.139 --> 00:20:46.480 the greater the surprise. 00:20:48.240 --> 00:20:49.859 And wouldn't it be a terrible, 00:20:49.859 --> 00:20:51.000 terrible thing 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.079 to be caught napping 00:20:53.079 --> 00:20:55.299 and to be late? 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:58.259 Let's pray together.