This story is featured in Prepare the Way: Advent and Christmas Bible Stories for Kids.
Matthew 24:45–51; Mark 13:34–37; Luke 12:35–48
Jesus told his disciples that he would return after his death and ascension into heaven. To help them prepare for his return, he told them a parable to warn them how to be ready.
As you read this story, pay attention to the reasons the servants had such a hard time waiting for their master to return.
Jesus gathered his disciples together to tell them about his return. They came together to listen to his words.
He told them a group of servants were waiting late into the night for their master to return from a wedding. He had asked them to stay awake and wait for his return at the door.
It became late and dark. They kept the lamps of the house lit. They stood by the gate, waiting for him to arrive so that they could open it as soon as he knocked.
It was hard to wait. They didn’t know what time he would come back. He could arrive in the evening, or at midnight, or by sunrise the next day. They had no idea.
No matter how tired they felt or how bored they got, they stayed awake and ready for him to come back.
The master returned very late into the night, and the tired servants welcomed him home. Then he surprised them.
He brought them to the dining room and invited them to sit and eat. The master went into the kitchen and prepared a meal for them. He served the servants himself.
Jesus ended the story and said to his disciples, “Blessed is the servant whom the master will find at work when he arrives. Be watchful and alert, for you do not know when the Son of Man will come. He will come at an unexpected hour.”
Reflection Questions
- Why was it so difficult for the servants to wait for their master to return?
- If Jesus returned today, would you be ready?
- What can you do today to prepare for Jesus Christ’s return?
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