On Line Bible Study - For the Week February 14-20, 2011
Lesson 480
Luke 13: 31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!
34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
How are you with conflict? Are you a 'pleaser', looking for any way you can to maintain the peace? Perhaps Herod wanted to kill Jesus because he (Jesus, that is...) was a rabble rouser. And it is telling that the Pharisees seem to be on the "in" with Herod. They come with information about Herod's intentions, and Jesus sends them back with a message. For Herod, keeping the peace at all costs was essential.
Jesus will not be dissuaded. Not only does he fully intend to 'stay the course', as it were; he will keep right on doing what he has been doing. If it riles the crowds up, so be it. But the messianic work will be accomplished.
The city of Jerusalem represents the nation of Israel. Israel does not have a good track record when it comes to receiving with open hearts the message God sends to them. (Refer to Luke 11:47ff.) In spite of this, God yearns for the people to hear and heed. Whatever their response, however, Jesus will bring the word to the heart of the Jewish religion. The message of salvation will be a message that results in the people (that is, the nation) being left desolate. Thinking back to that fig tree in Luke 13:6ff, Jesus is telling the people that Jerusalem's time has come. The proverbial 'year' is up. Time has run out.
Lest we find ourselves tempted to write Judaism out of the script of salvation, we should be careful to hear the message for our own lives. Where is our theological clock at right now?
The journey of 'today, tomorrow and the next day' is most likely an idiom referring to an indefinite passing of time. Some try to read a reference to Jesus' rising after three days. While it may be tempting to interpret it that way, the phrase more likely means that Jesus is determined to do what God has called him to do and go where God has called him to go, no matter how long it takes. That he was so certain of his calling is amazing. That he was so determined - and willing - to carry it through to completion is testimony to his obedient spirit.
Have we heard? Will we heed? Do we obey?
Jesus will not be dissuaded. Not only does he fully intend to 'stay the course', as it were; he will keep right on doing what he has been doing. If it riles the crowds up, so be it. But the messianic work will be accomplished.
The city of Jerusalem represents the nation of Israel. Israel does not have a good track record when it comes to receiving with open hearts the message God sends to them. (Refer to Luke 11:47ff.) In spite of this, God yearns for the people to hear and heed. Whatever their response, however, Jesus will bring the word to the heart of the Jewish religion. The message of salvation will be a message that results in the people (that is, the nation) being left desolate. Thinking back to that fig tree in Luke 13:6ff, Jesus is telling the people that Jerusalem's time has come. The proverbial 'year' is up. Time has run out.
Lest we find ourselves tempted to write Judaism out of the script of salvation, we should be careful to hear the message for our own lives. Where is our theological clock at right now?
The journey of 'today, tomorrow and the next day' is most likely an idiom referring to an indefinite passing of time. Some try to read a reference to Jesus' rising after three days. While it may be tempting to interpret it that way, the phrase more likely means that Jesus is determined to do what God has called him to do and go where God has called him to go, no matter how long it takes. That he was so certain of his calling is amazing. That he was so determined - and willing - to carry it through to completion is testimony to his obedient spirit.
Have we heard? Will we heed? Do we obey?
posted by Mark D at 2:28 PM
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