Jesus explains this further by giving an example in the following two verses, "It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore, stay awake” for you do not know when the master of the house will come, whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning” lest he come suddenly and find you asleep." (Mark 13:34-37).
The expression "and each with his work" is in line with the Gospel of Mark, which speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ as a great servant. When His service on earth ended, He went to a far-off place, taking the place of the Lord, seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Therefore, He gave authority to His servants, and to each man, his appropriate work, urging them to stay awake. The word "awake" is appropriate for every servant in the absence of their master. He was the vigilant servant who fulfilled his work given to him by the Father in a complete and pleasing manner before Him. He wants to keep His servants in the spirit of service and vigilance until His coming, visibly in power and glory, to reward each one for their service.
"Watch out! Be alert, and pray." We must pray, "that you may be considered worthy of escaping all these things that are going to take place." (Luke 21:36). When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 AD, everyone who heard and obeyed the words of Jesus escaped the terrible destruction that came upon the city. And when the greatest and final destruction comes upon the earth, everyone who hears and obeys Jesus can escape the coming destruction.
"Like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home": Jesus now directs His words to the disciples and tells them how to live until His coming. He speaks of a man going on a journey who left three things for his servants to take care of: His house, the authority, and His work, and appointed the doorkeeper to guard. And since He could return at any time, He did not want to find His servants asleep. The purpose of all this is "Stay awake!". But this example is a warning for all of us today.
Let us consider what Jesus left for us: "His house": the church belongs to Jesus, but He entrusted it to the believers. "The authority": we must live and serve with the authority of Jesus, and with authority comes responsibility. "His work.” We must work in the vineyard of the Lord, exerting all effort, and live a life of vigilance so that when the master comes, he finds us watchful and with our lamps lit. Amen.
Iman Karras