The Messiah we need

Jesus was never the Messiah the Jewish people wanted he was the Messiah they needed.  Every action he took was out of love for all of us. Jesus had many followers. In Matthew 13:11 Jesus explains to his disciples that the reason he spoke in parables was to separate those who were disciples from those who were following him but not listening to his message. He reinforces this in the parable of the weed in Matthew 13:24-30. 

Throughout the gospels, Jesus challenged the way people thought what the Messiah should be and how the Messiah should act. This parable is another example of Jesus not fitting into the mold. When the disciples asked Jesus when he would return, he told them that no one but the Father knows the day or the hour.  Jesus did not stop there but as the wise teacher, he did provide them with guidance to be prepared for his return.

In the parable in Matthew 24:42-44 Jesus tells them that they should be ever vigilant because, like a thief in the night, His return would be unannounced. Those who are not ready for His return would be caught off guard.  They would lose something more precious than worldly goods. They would miss the opportunity to join Him in heaven for eternity. 

In the verses before the (Matthew 24: 26-41) parable, Jesus tell us about the signs that his return is soon.  This is an example of what Jesus says in John 3: 17-18(NIV)” 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”

In the verses after the parable, He continues His teaching us to follow the Lord and to be about His work. His love and compassion are the underlying messages through the entire chapter as He sets us up to succeed and to be ready for the returning of the Lord while warning us of what is to come if we are not prepared.