Sunday, June 5, 2011 am
LIFE OF JESUS (22)
Setting His Face Toward Jerusalem
a.
Between Luke chapters 9
& 19 we have this final period of His work.
While we do not know the specific time frame, it is estimated
to be a period of about 6 months.
During this time, Luke’s gospel repeatedly emphasizes how Jesus
is moving toward Jerusalem. However
It is also worthy of note that we are not dealing with Jesus taking a
direct route there. His
determination to go to Jerusalem to die meant that He started making
preparations. This would
include a number of events recorded in Luke, most of which are not in
the other gospels.
Bear in mind that during this time, His enemies had already condemned
Him and determined to get rid of Him.
It was just a matter of how to do it.
It has also been suggested that during this time He was sending out His
apostles to make the way for Him to visit various villages in Galilee,
Samaria and Judea.
b.
The texts mentioning
Jerusalem
i.
Luke 9:51-56 – He sets
His face to go toward Jerusalem.
ii.
Luke 12:50 – does not
mention Jerusalem, but it does mention the “baptism” he must face.
It is found in a text where the gospel is said to produce
division within a household.
Jesus is seeking to prepare His apostles/disciples for trials and
sufferings.
iii.
Lk 13 22, 33-34 – He
went through the cities and villages (Probably of Galilee), teaching and
journeying toward Jerusalem.
Then being “warned” by some Pharisees to leave because Herod wanted to
kill Him, Jesus replied that He needed to go to Jerusalem so that He
could perish like other prophets in Jerusalem.
He then mourns over the city because of its violent rejection of
God’s prophets.
iv.
Luke 17:11, “Now
it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of
Samaria and Galilee.”
v.
Luke 18:31-34, for a
third time (See Luke 9:21, 43-45), Jesus speaks to His apostles, seeking
to prepare them for what was about to happen in Jerusalem.
By this time, Jesus has actually begun the trip which will end in
Jerusalem and His betrayal.
In these verses you find very specific details about His death, told in
advance.
vi.
Luke 19:11, He was near
Jerusalem, having left Jericho where He met with Zacchaeus and had given
sight to blind man near that city.
Jericho was about 17 miles from Jerusalem.
vii.
Luke 19 28 His final
determination. “When He had said
this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.”
c.
Events that occurred
during this time.
i.
During this final stage
of Jesus’ teaching and work, as He headed toward Jerusalem, we find
recorded many things He did.
You will notice many of them involve greater intensity than previous
efforts. For example: His
parables were stronger and more indicting.
His statements directed toward His enemies were stronger.
His efforts and teaching of His apostles/disciples become more
advanced.
ii.
Just prior to this, we
have the transfiguration of Jesus, an event to prepare Him for what was
ahead. It is recorded in
Luke 27-36 (cf. Matt. 17:1-13).
We will address this key event in our next lesson.
iii.
The cost of discipleship
is addressed in Lk.9:57-62.
See our previous lesson on disciples
iv.
Luke 10 – He sends out
the 70 to instill confidence in them.
Their instructions are recorded in Lk. 10:1-12.
As they are sent out, we find He pronounces woe against cities
that refused to repent (Chorazin and Capernaum – Lk. 10:13-16).
NOTE: Jesus is preparing them for His leaving.
They will need to continue the work without Him upon this earth.
Lk. 10:17-20 records their return and rejoicing at their success.
Notice what Jesus tells them in vs. 20, “Do
not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather
rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
v.
Lk. 10:25-37 records the
parable of the Good Samaritan.
vi.
Lk. 11:1-13 finds Jesus
emphasizing prayer, particularly persistence in prayer.
vii.
The rest of chapter 11
records several incidents as He deals with the scribes and Pharisees.
viii.
Luke 12:8-12 – Jesus
emphasizes the importance of confessing Him before men.
ix.
Luke 13:1-5 – Jesus
calls for repentance or else you will perish.
x.
Luke 14:15-24 – the
parable of the great supper in which a man has a feast and sends
servants to summon the invited guests.
They all begin to make excuses of different types.
The master in anger then sends his servants into the highways and
hedges to compel those in the streets to come.
The reason was that those invited would NOT partake of His
supper, while others (i.e. Gentiles and the poor) would.
Jesus message was that the kingdom would be made available to all
– even those who are rejected by the elite.
xi.
Luke 14:25-33 – the cost
of discipleship again emphasized (see our previous lesson).
xii.
Luke 17:20-21 – Jesus
speaks of the nature of the coming kingdom – it is NOT a physical
kingdom. The Pharisees ask
when the kingdom of God would come (vs. 20).
Jesus answers in vs. 20-21, “The
kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See
here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
He then proceeds to speak about coming days of judgment (22-37)
xiii.
Luke 19:11-27, Luke
concludes his record of events just before entering the city, with a
final parable. This one of
accountability. It is
similar to the parable of Talents recorded in Matt. 25:14-30, but very
different in details. 10
servants were each given a mina to manage until He returned (worth only
a few dollars – about $17-20, but back then that was substantial.
The IVP NT Background commentary notes the amount to be
about 100 days wages – so at minimum wage it would be the equivalent of
a few thousand dollars).
There is a sense in which we all are entrusted with the same thing.
What we do with that is based upon our talents and abilities.
a.
Facing the unpleasant – sometimes that is what we need to do.
We know that Jesus was NOT looking forward to the suffering ahead of
Him. He knew exactly what He
faced (i.e. Crucifixion and cruel treatment).
But Jesus did NOT run away from this task.
In fact, even knowing the painful outcome, he kept moving toward
it.
Do we ever find ourselves facing difficult tasks and hesitating in
carrying them out? Perhaps
it is telling someone about their need to repent.
Perhaps it is doing the right thing when you know there will be a
painful consequence. Perhaps
there is something you need to confess that will be humiliating and
might even come with a cost (cf.
the addict must face his addiction if he is to overcome it).
Multiply that tenfold and you MIGHT close to what Jesus
determined to do.
I think of Paul of his way to Jerusalem as he knew chains awaited him
there – (Acts 20:22-23).
I think of Martin Luther who nailed his 95 theses on the door of the
church in Wurttemberg, Germany in 1517.
He was later excommunicated because of this.
Or John Huss, who was burned at the stake in 1415 for renouncing several
teachings of the Catholic Church.
Or John Wycliffe, who believed the Bible ought to be available to
man in his common tongue who also was excommunicated and branded a
heretic even after his death.
(NOTE: While these examples were men who did not complete to process of
restoring the New Testament church, they did see errors and had
convictions to stand for what was right, even in the face of unpleasant
consequences, even to the point of death or loss of all privilege).
Or so many others. Hebrews
11:32-40 describes what many endured standing up for God.
We are again reminded of 1 Peter 2:21-23 and the sufferings of Jesus and
the example He leaves for us in that!
b.
A time for courage
God expects us to be courageous.
Jesus is a perfect example of this.
Facing the unpleasant, he bravely did the right thing.
He still spoke strongly against the ungodly and even stepped into
“the lion’s den” ready to face whatever came His way.
Like Daniel or Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego who faced the fiery
furnace (Dan. 3) we need bravery in face of trials.
Rev. 2:10 speaking to the church at Smyrna – be faithful until death.
1 Cor. 16:13 tells us to “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be
strong.”
c.
He maintained His concern for others
-
Though He faced many personal difficulties as He set out on this
journey, Jesus continued to think about others.
He cared about His disciples.
That is why during this time – He sends them out to build them
up, He teaches them to pray, He warns them of what lies ahead, keeps
doing miracles and reaching out to the needy both physically and
spiritually, and teaches them the lessons they need.
d.
Preparing others to
press on
While
associated with the last point we proceed further.
Jesus realized He would not
always be there. So He
prepared His disciples to continue after His departure.
Much of His time during this period of His work was devoted
toward this.
There is something to be said about legacy in our lives as Christians.
When we finally leave this world what will be the mark we leave
behind? Will there be souls
carrying on the cause of Christ because of our godly influence and
teachings? Will our children
carry on that work? Will we
be remembered for the good that we did and our stand for the truth?
While we are not seeking personal glory, it IS something to think
about.
Hebrews 11:4 spoke of how Abel, being dead yet speaks.
Matt.26:13 speaks of a woman who anointed the head of Jesus with costly
oil. Jesus said what she had
done would be told as a memorial to her.
2 Peter 3:1, His epistle was written as a reminder (cf. 2 Pet. 1:12, 15)
Phil. 3:1, Paul wrote so that they would be safe – something left after
he was gone. (Rom. 15:14-15)
e.
He surrounded Himself
with friends
–
With the difficult times ahead, Jesus wanted those who loved Him to be
around Him. They were there
to encourage Him. In our
next lesson, we will see this as we examine the transfiguration.
When we face difficult times, we too need our friends around us.
Truly, brethren are a blessing from God.
That is why it is so important that we treat each other the way
that we ought to. When the
rest of the world turns against us, we have each other to turn to – Heb.
4:13, 10:24, etc.
There are other lessons we could add to these about this time of the
life of Jesus. The truth is, all of us are headed toward something
greater than us – the judgment of God.
MOST of us will have difficult times we will face on the way.
What are we doing to prepare ourselves for such things? IT is my
hope that we see in Jesus an example worthy of imitation, even in this.