At the start of this passage, Jesus compared his followers to servants. Good ones are ready to respond to their master’s commands and wishes at all times; bad ones get fired (or, in Roman times, even worse). Jesus was not endorsing those cruel practices, but making the point that choosing to serve God is a matter of eternal life or death. The section ended with a haunting parable—Jesus didn’t seem to give it an ending.

• Jesus’ words about bringing division rather than peace (12:51-53) may strike us as odd. Isn’t Jesus "the prince of peace"? Yes—but his kingdom’s principles (including peace) were so unlike the world’s that he knew at times division would follow. Have family members, friends or co-workers ever misunderstood or criticized choices you’ve made based on your loyalty to God?

• Jesus told what we could call "The Unfinished Parable" (13:6-9). The gardener pleaded for one more year to help the tree bear good fruit—but Jesus never said whether the tree did or didn’t bear fruit. Verse 13:5 showed what kind of "fruit-bearing" was really on his mind. So what about you--how will you finish Jesus’ unfinished parable in your life?