2 Sunday in Lent Text: Luke 13:31-35 Title: The Big Three
2 Sunday in Lent
Text: 13:31-35
Title: The Big Three
This morning I would like to share with you some thoughts on our Gospel reading for this morning, Luke 31-35. By the time Luke, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was writing these words, Jerusalem had been made into a pile of rubble. The prophecy Jesus made in verse 35, had taken place, their house was left desolate.
Jesus is in Galilee. He has not yet, at least since his ministry started, entered the city of Jerusalem. We see that at least some Pharisees, those talking to Jesus wanted him to leave the area. Now, I think that would be understandable, for Jesus had been doing miracles and healing people. This, no doubt, was causing the religious leaders problems.
Now this is not to say that all the Pharisees are bad people, for the Bible tells us that some of them became followers of his. There is also the account of two of them taking Jesus’ body from the cross and putting it in the tomb. But it does appear that this group just wanted Jesus gone.
Now, this Herod that the Pharisees and Jesus are referring to is the Herod that had John the Baptist’s head cut off. He is the some one that thought Jesus was John the Baptist come alive. He is also the same Herod that sent Jesus back to Pilate for trial.
When you put this all together it does not seem like what the Pharisees was saying was true, that is, that Herod wants to kill Jesus, although no one knows for sure. Whether they were or were not telling the truth Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem where he had to go to accomplish his mission. He was not going to let anyone slow him down, or send him in another direction.
He tells them that in three days that he will reach his goal. Now this where this text can get confusing, for some say that he is talking about his crucifixion and resurrection. Others say that Jesus is just using a figure of speech and that he is not talking about actual days.
We really do not know what he means for sure, but we should not get bogged down with all the possibilities and just look at what the words say. He will reach his goal in three days. And the goal he is talking about, is not his crucifixion, but his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
There is a lot written in the Gospel of Luke between this story and his entry into Jerusalem, but that does not present a problem, for all of it could have taken place within three days, or because the Biblical writers do not always write in a lineal fashion, the parables and events could have happened at other times, and just been inserted by Luke, between this story and Jesus entry into the city.
As important as Jesus’ dialogue with the Pharisees is, for he has told them that nothing, they, or Herod are doing will interfere with his journey. He is in control, not them.
In verse 34 we read of Jesus’ lament for Jerusalem. Now there are some things that you need to understand about Jerusalem in order to get the full meaning of Jesus’ words. First of all Jerusalem, was seen as the holy city, the city of God, the place where God dwells. Second the city represented the people of Israel and Judah, God’s holy people. Third, this is where the Jewish people, scattered all over the known world would come to be one, as they worshiped in the temple at least once a year. The city represented to the world that Jewish people were God’s chosen ones, even if they did not act like it. In other words they were going to be saved, even if they rebelled against God.
When Jesus said to them, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you would 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, but you were not willing.” He said a lot, for when he said “how often I have longed to gather together” he was saying “I am God.”
The Pharisees knew this, or at least they should have known, for the same words were in their Holy Scriptures. What he was saying was true, for God had time and time again brought them back together as a people, only to have the nation rebel and flee from the protection of his wings.
This last verse of our text for today is very meaningful, for Jesus is telling them that there will be a time when they will proclaim his Holy Name. That even though they are rejecting him now, on Judgment Day, when he comes back, everyone will know who he is.
It will not make any difference to those who have rejected him, for they will still be assigned to everlasting hell, but they will still bow their knees in honor of him, as they shout out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” We know that even those who do not except Christ as their Savior will bow down and confess his name, for it is written in Romans 2:8-11 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. That does not leave anyone out, does it? Even those sentenced to hell will know and confess who Jesus is, knowing that it is too late and that they will never have another chance. Now that is hell.
Now that we know what Luke was trying to tell the people of his day, we need to know what it means for us today. Well let us see. First of all we have learned that God pursues us, in spite of our sinfulness and rebellion. You think that you have not rebelled against Jesus? Think of the times that you have sinned, missing the mark of God’s commands. Think of the times that you missed worship service, because you did not feel like going. Think of the times that you have missed Bible study, because you think that you don’t need it. Think of the times that you have looked down on someone, those times that you have tried to control others, to change them to what you think they should be, instead of letting God mold them into the people he wants them to be.
The list could go on and on, but you get the idea. We have run away from God, we have not gathered under God’s wings. We are a people that deserve no love from God, but he loves us anyway and keeps on gathering us under his wings.
We, who Jesus’ loves, are indeed a blessed people. We have been redeemed only because of Jesus perfect obedience to God the Father, and we are now free from condemnation. We do not have to depend on our words, our actions to please God, we do not have to worry about our sinful nature, for God is satisfied with Jesus’ death and resurrection. We, who were bound to sin, are now bound to Jesus, and that is a good thing.
What then should we do, since we belong to Jesus? Well, let us see. We can learn something from Jesus’ illustration of his chicks. Since we are spiritually safe under his wings, and we are to reflect his love, or be, as Luther once said, “little Christs”, we then should model his love. We as little chicks growing up in the faith, although we never grow out of the need for his protection, should gather other chicks so they will not come to any harm. We are to nurture them and protect them until they too are able to go out and do the same with other chicks.
We do this because we are so happy living under God’s protection that we want as many people as possible joining us in proclaiming, “Blessed is the one that comes in the name of the Lord.” Amen
Text: 13:31-35
Title: The Big Three
This morning I would like to share with you some thoughts on our Gospel reading for this morning, Luke 31-35. By the time Luke, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was writing these words, Jerusalem had been made into a pile of rubble. The prophecy Jesus made in verse 35, had taken place, their house was left desolate.
Jesus is in Galilee. He has not yet, at least since his ministry started, entered the city of Jerusalem. We see that at least some Pharisees, those talking to Jesus wanted him to leave the area. Now, I think that would be understandable, for Jesus had been doing miracles and healing people. This, no doubt, was causing the religious leaders problems.
Now this is not to say that all the Pharisees are bad people, for the Bible tells us that some of them became followers of his. There is also the account of two of them taking Jesus’ body from the cross and putting it in the tomb. But it does appear that this group just wanted Jesus gone.
Now, this Herod that the Pharisees and Jesus are referring to is the Herod that had John the Baptist’s head cut off. He is the some one that thought Jesus was John the Baptist come alive. He is also the same Herod that sent Jesus back to Pilate for trial.
When you put this all together it does not seem like what the Pharisees was saying was true, that is, that Herod wants to kill Jesus, although no one knows for sure. Whether they were or were not telling the truth Jesus had set his face toward Jerusalem where he had to go to accomplish his mission. He was not going to let anyone slow him down, or send him in another direction.
He tells them that in three days that he will reach his goal. Now this where this text can get confusing, for some say that he is talking about his crucifixion and resurrection. Others say that Jesus is just using a figure of speech and that he is not talking about actual days.
We really do not know what he means for sure, but we should not get bogged down with all the possibilities and just look at what the words say. He will reach his goal in three days. And the goal he is talking about, is not his crucifixion, but his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
There is a lot written in the Gospel of Luke between this story and his entry into Jerusalem, but that does not present a problem, for all of it could have taken place within three days, or because the Biblical writers do not always write in a lineal fashion, the parables and events could have happened at other times, and just been inserted by Luke, between this story and Jesus entry into the city.
As important as Jesus’ dialogue with the Pharisees is, for he has told them that nothing, they, or Herod are doing will interfere with his journey. He is in control, not them.
In verse 34 we read of Jesus’ lament for Jerusalem. Now there are some things that you need to understand about Jerusalem in order to get the full meaning of Jesus’ words. First of all Jerusalem, was seen as the holy city, the city of God, the place where God dwells. Second the city represented the people of Israel and Judah, God’s holy people. Third, this is where the Jewish people, scattered all over the known world would come to be one, as they worshiped in the temple at least once a year. The city represented to the world that Jewish people were God’s chosen ones, even if they did not act like it. In other words they were going to be saved, even if they rebelled against God.
When Jesus said to them, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you would 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, but you were not willing.” He said a lot, for when he said “how often I have longed to gather together” he was saying “I am God.”
The Pharisees knew this, or at least they should have known, for the same words were in their Holy Scriptures. What he was saying was true, for God had time and time again brought them back together as a people, only to have the nation rebel and flee from the protection of his wings.
This last verse of our text for today is very meaningful, for Jesus is telling them that there will be a time when they will proclaim his Holy Name. That even though they are rejecting him now, on Judgment Day, when he comes back, everyone will know who he is.
It will not make any difference to those who have rejected him, for they will still be assigned to everlasting hell, but they will still bow their knees in honor of him, as they shout out, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” We know that even those who do not except Christ as their Savior will bow down and confess his name, for it is written in Romans 2:8-11 “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every knee will bow, and every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord. That does not leave anyone out, does it? Even those sentenced to hell will know and confess who Jesus is, knowing that it is too late and that they will never have another chance. Now that is hell.
Now that we know what Luke was trying to tell the people of his day, we need to know what it means for us today. Well let us see. First of all we have learned that God pursues us, in spite of our sinfulness and rebellion. You think that you have not rebelled against Jesus? Think of the times that you have sinned, missing the mark of God’s commands. Think of the times that you missed worship service, because you did not feel like going. Think of the times that you have missed Bible study, because you think that you don’t need it. Think of the times that you have looked down on someone, those times that you have tried to control others, to change them to what you think they should be, instead of letting God mold them into the people he wants them to be.
The list could go on and on, but you get the idea. We have run away from God, we have not gathered under God’s wings. We are a people that deserve no love from God, but he loves us anyway and keeps on gathering us under his wings.
We, who Jesus’ loves, are indeed a blessed people. We have been redeemed only because of Jesus perfect obedience to God the Father, and we are now free from condemnation. We do not have to depend on our words, our actions to please God, we do not have to worry about our sinful nature, for God is satisfied with Jesus’ death and resurrection. We, who were bound to sin, are now bound to Jesus, and that is a good thing.
What then should we do, since we belong to Jesus? Well, let us see. We can learn something from Jesus’ illustration of his chicks. Since we are spiritually safe under his wings, and we are to reflect his love, or be, as Luther once said, “little Christs”, we then should model his love. We as little chicks growing up in the faith, although we never grow out of the need for his protection, should gather other chicks so they will not come to any harm. We are to nurture them and protect them until they too are able to go out and do the same with other chicks.
We do this because we are so happy living under God’s protection that we want as many people as possible joining us in proclaiming, “Blessed is the one that comes in the name of the Lord.” Amen
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 1:37 PM
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