| Jesus Christ shocked them when He told this | | | | man to be our king." The king is giving gifts, |
| parable. People were expecting secular success. | | | | talents, opportunities, grace, and the people hate |
| They were looking for worldly positions, and Jesus | | | | the king. They will not have the king, nor his |
| told them something else was involved. He spoke | | | | appointed servants, to rule over them. It is |
| about rejection, suffering, pain, execution, the | | | | almost unbelievable. |
| Cross, being killed at the hands of men and rising | | | | Generally speaking, the people hate Jesus. They |
| from the dead. | | | | will not have Jesus, nor His Word, nor His |
| A man of noble birth, a nobleman, went into a far | | | | appointed servants, rule over them. Remember, |
| country, to have himself appointed king, and then | | | | the word 'hate' means reject. |
| to return. We know, we can see, that Jesus is | | | | One day the nobleman returned. Jesus Christ is |
| referring to Himself, but it was not so clear then | | | | coming again, whether people believe it or not, |
| to them. Jesus had come down to this far | | | | whether people want Him to or not and whether |
| country. | | | | or not they think it is a good idea. Jesus is coming |
| He is about to be executed, and rise from the | | | | again. |
| dead, and then He will return to His Father, and | | | | When the king, the nobleman, returns, he calls |
| then, He will return to this world. | | | | these servants to Him to find out how they have |
| The nobleman called ten of His servants and gave | | | | used the money, the gifts, the opportunities. |
| them ten minas, which is around £3,000 to | | | | It is in the absence of the King that these men |
| £4,000. Put this money to work until I | | | | are being tested. It is when the boss is not |
| come back. Invest what I am giving you. The | | | | looking that we are really being tested. How do |
| nobleman is giving His servants gifts to be used | | | | you work and how do you serve and how do |
| until He returns. | | | | you behave when you think the manager is not |
| This parable can be found at Luke Chapter 19. His | | | | looking? That can really test our characters! |
| subjects hated him, and said, "We don't want this | | | | |