On Line Bible Study - For the Week July 11-17, 2011
Lesson 501
Luke 19: 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
(See the entire section - Luke 19:28-44 - by clicking here.)
Luke 19: 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
(See the entire section - Luke 19:28-44 - by clicking here.)
The Gospel of Luke now turns the corner - we are moving away from instruction and theory toward the culminating act of Jesus' life and ministry. Standing on the crest of the Mount of Olives one has an overview of the city of Jerusalem. There is a valley between the Mount of Olives and the 'mountain' that the city of Jerusalem is built on. From this vantage point Jesus 'sees' what is and what is to be.
Jesus is in control. The events have been foretold. This is the moment of decision for him; it is also the moment of decision for those who have heard his teaching. Some praise him, even claiming he is the king who has "come in the name of the Lord". Others will reject him - especially the religious leaders. This rejection emerges in the form of a command: Luke 19: 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
Jesus is in control. The events have been foretold. This is the moment of decision for him; it is also the moment of decision for those who have heard his teaching. Some praise him, even claiming he is the king who has "come in the name of the Lord". Others will reject him - especially the religious leaders. This rejection emerges in the form of a command: Luke 19: 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
I suppose we are all "evangelists" in our own way. We want others to think and believe what we think and believe. It was not enough for the Pharisees to reject Jesus; they wanted everyone else to reject him as well. This command for Jesus to "rebuke" his disciples is a call for him to deny everything he has said and done.
The resistance Jesus constantly meets begs a question: What exactly are people afraid of? It is obvious that Jesus is no threat to Rome. Is he stealing some of the thunder of the religious leadership? What is it about this message of freedom, grace, forgiveness and love that is so troubling to us? What is it that is so addictive about the systems that exhaust us, the resentments we cling to, the hatreds we harbor?
Luke is alone among the gospel writers in his telling us that Jesus "wept" over the city of Jerusalem. To offer so much and to be so completely rejected certainly is disheartening.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggests that it is because Jesus said "Yes" when every one of us says "No!" that he has authority - Our "Yes" to God can only be proclaimed through Jesus because, even though he knew he would be rejected in Jerusalem, he was faithful to go. If you had only known what would bring you peace, says Jesus to the city.
Recalling the previous lesson in which Jesus warns people to be ready for his return, it is difficult to imagine the spiritual discipline required of him to to do what had to be done in the 'here and now'. His obedience is the proof that, despite all the evidence to the contrary from our own lives, it is possible for us to draw close to God. We can enter our 'Jerusalem' because we know that Jesus is there waiting for us.
The resistance Jesus constantly meets begs a question: What exactly are people afraid of? It is obvious that Jesus is no threat to Rome. Is he stealing some of the thunder of the religious leadership? What is it about this message of freedom, grace, forgiveness and love that is so troubling to us? What is it that is so addictive about the systems that exhaust us, the resentments we cling to, the hatreds we harbor?
Luke is alone among the gospel writers in his telling us that Jesus "wept" over the city of Jerusalem. To offer so much and to be so completely rejected certainly is disheartening.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer suggests that it is because Jesus said "Yes" when every one of us says "No!" that he has authority - Our "Yes" to God can only be proclaimed through Jesus because, even though he knew he would be rejected in Jerusalem, he was faithful to go. If you had only known what would bring you peace, says Jesus to the city.
Recalling the previous lesson in which Jesus warns people to be ready for his return, it is difficult to imagine the spiritual discipline required of him to to do what had to be done in the 'here and now'. His obedience is the proof that, despite all the evidence to the contrary from our own lives, it is possible for us to draw close to God. We can enter our 'Jerusalem' because we know that Jesus is there waiting for us.
posted by Mark D at 6:59 AM
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