We’re used to parables by now. They are stories to make a point. In the past few days, we’ve looked at one about bridesmaids and one about servants. The former talked about being ready, the latter about being active.

Both suggested that the kingdom of heaven was like the women or the servants.

In the third story in Matthew 25 is different. It starts with when:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory

This is a different kind of story. The illustration stories help us understand ideas. They invite us to reflect. They say “which character are you like.”

This story will say, “which person are you?”

This story, in our terms, would say:

When I get home after all this, I’m going to sit in my recliner and fix nachos and watch the game.

There is a description of what will happen. In the case of the nacho-eater, we may have some questions (it might end up being pizza), but there is a high level of confidence that this person will end up in that recliner.

And if we can say that about a football fan, imagine how confident we can be that when Jesus says, “when I get home, I’m going to sit…” he’s going to sit.

Why make this point? Because the rest of the story often gets treated as a parable, as an illustration. But what if it isn’t? What if Jesus, in his last story in Matthew  says:

You need to know what is going to happen when all of this is over. You need to know how things are going to get sorted out. You need a preview.

And then, rather than a comparison, Jesus tells future history?