SERMON
Jesus's resolve to go to Jerusalem (2.22.26)
Luke 9:51-62
Journey with Jesus to Jerusalem – Luke's story
Journey with Jesus to Jerusalem – Luke's story
Luke's Gospel details Jesus's determined journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:27). As a significant “travel narrative,” Luke emphasizes Jesus’ teaching along the way, including parables, and encounters with Samaritans. It was a journey that culminated in the Triumphal Entry where he wept over the city of Jerusalem before his Passion. The destination was important: Jerusalem was where he would sacrifice his life for us just as the Good Shepherd “lays down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). Our Jerusalem – our end purpose – is very important too. But the journey was equally important for Jesus. It showed his resolve, his perseverance, and his deep love for all – those that accepted him and those that rejected him. People’s response to his journey to Jerusalem – whether positive or negative – did not distract him from showing us how we need to journey to our “Jerusalems.”
Jesus resolved to go to Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. Just imagine yourself journeying with him this Lenten season. As you begin the journey you may be a little nervous about what awaits you in Jerusalem. Will it be as “life-changing” as Jesus said (and knew) it would be? Will it really entail the suffering that he so clearly said would accompany life with him? Right at the beginning of our journey we read about 4 kinds of distractions that could “derail” our own Lenten journey:
#1. Competing religious influences
Jesus was not welcomed by the inhabitants of a Samaritan village that he intended to pass through. Luke’s reason was because they knew he was headed for Jerusalem. And among the reasons for the Jews’ and Samaritans’ religious conflict was that Jerusalem competed with their own worship on Mount Gerizim (see John 4:19-22). Jesus would make clear in the John passage that worship had less to do with place than it did with person worshiped!
In our day there are similar distractions that Paul would say as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). There are competing religious forms (or formalities) that have little to do with Godly purpose that we are called to, that can easily distract us
#2. Religious triumphalism
James and John wanted to emulate Elijah who called down fire on King Ahaziah’s emissaries (in 2 Kings 1:9-12) in their religious zeal against the opposing Samaritans. Had they forgotten Jesus’ instructions given that same chapter that in the face of rejection that they were just to “leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them” (Luke 9:5)? Along with Jesus’ rebuke to them some later manuscripts add him saying, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…”
In our day too there is a religious triumphalism that can get violent towards the “other side” that does not agree, or sees things differently than them!
#3. Meager rewards of discipleship
To those that make the grand announcement to Jesus that they would follow him anywhere, he warns them very clearly of the often meager material returns of discipleship. Disciples must be prepared for even more uncomfortable conditions than creatures who know that they have their natural habitat that they can return to.
The life of the disciple can be rough – very rough. True, being in his very presence, following Jesus is the most rewarding experience one can ever have. But that is true only for those for whom Jesus becomes, and is, everything!
#4. Family obligations
There are also those who show an interest in following Jesus on that road of discipleship, but want to first fulfil family obligations. Was Jesus being callous and autocratic in his demand for allegiance to him over family? In fact, a few chapters later Luke records Jesus saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26)!
God understands family responsibility. Even Jesus would entrust his mother Mary to his beloved disciple as he was dying on the Cross (John 19:26-27). But there is something much deeper here than family obligations – there is a relationship that Jesus wants that supersedes all other relationships.
Our Lenten commitment:
Following Jesus will always have the Cross somewhere in the picture, which makes following difficult and challenging.
What would we do if we really considered what awaits all Christ-followers in their faith journeys?
What is our Lenten commitment?
Luke's Gospel details Jesus's determined journey to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51-19:27). As a significant “travel narrative,” Luke emphasizes Jesus’ teaching along the way, including parables, and encounters with Samaritans. It was a journey that culminated in the Triumphal Entry where he wept over the city of Jerusalem before his Passion. The destination was important: Jerusalem was where he would sacrifice his life for us just as the Good Shepherd “lays down my life for the sheep” (John 10:15). Our Jerusalem – our end purpose – is very important too. But the journey was equally important for Jesus. It showed his resolve, his perseverance, and his deep love for all – those that accepted him and those that rejected him. People’s response to his journey to Jerusalem – whether positive or negative – did not distract him from showing us how we need to journey to our “Jerusalems.”
Jesus resolved to go to Jerusalem, knowing what awaited him there. Just imagine yourself journeying with him this Lenten season. As you begin the journey you may be a little nervous about what awaits you in Jerusalem. Will it be as “life-changing” as Jesus said (and knew) it would be? Will it really entail the suffering that he so clearly said would accompany life with him? Right at the beginning of our journey we read about 4 kinds of distractions that could “derail” our own Lenten journey:
#1. Competing religious influences
Jesus was not welcomed by the inhabitants of a Samaritan village that he intended to pass through. Luke’s reason was because they knew he was headed for Jerusalem. And among the reasons for the Jews’ and Samaritans’ religious conflict was that Jerusalem competed with their own worship on Mount Gerizim (see John 4:19-22). Jesus would make clear in the John passage that worship had less to do with place than it did with person worshiped!
In our day there are similar distractions that Paul would say as “having a form of godliness but denying its power” (2 Timothy 3:5). There are competing religious forms (or formalities) that have little to do with Godly purpose that we are called to, that can easily distract us
#2. Religious triumphalism
James and John wanted to emulate Elijah who called down fire on King Ahaziah’s emissaries (in 2 Kings 1:9-12) in their religious zeal against the opposing Samaritans. Had they forgotten Jesus’ instructions given that same chapter that in the face of rejection that they were just to “leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them” (Luke 9:5)? Along with Jesus’ rebuke to them some later manuscripts add him saying, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them…”
In our day too there is a religious triumphalism that can get violent towards the “other side” that does not agree, or sees things differently than them!
#3. Meager rewards of discipleship
To those that make the grand announcement to Jesus that they would follow him anywhere, he warns them very clearly of the often meager material returns of discipleship. Disciples must be prepared for even more uncomfortable conditions than creatures who know that they have their natural habitat that they can return to.
The life of the disciple can be rough – very rough. True, being in his very presence, following Jesus is the most rewarding experience one can ever have. But that is true only for those for whom Jesus becomes, and is, everything!
#4. Family obligations
There are also those who show an interest in following Jesus on that road of discipleship, but want to first fulfil family obligations. Was Jesus being callous and autocratic in his demand for allegiance to him over family? In fact, a few chapters later Luke records Jesus saying, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26)!
God understands family responsibility. Even Jesus would entrust his mother Mary to his beloved disciple as he was dying on the Cross (John 19:26-27). But there is something much deeper here than family obligations – there is a relationship that Jesus wants that supersedes all other relationships.
Our Lenten commitment:
- Commitment to Jesus and his Kingdom purposes
- Jesus wants our all. When he said that the greatest commandment was to love God with ALL our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Luke 10:27), he really meant ALL. But it was more than allegiance. There is a sense of urgency to the Kingdom’s Call – God’s kingdom is here, now. The opportunity to receive and experience God’s Love was urgent, because that would be the only thing that would transform not only our destinies, but also all our relationships – including family ones!
- Radiating grace in the face of opposition
- Instead of being confrontational and aggressive, Jesus wants us to understand what “kind of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” The Cross-life is the life that radiates grace and peace.
Following Jesus will always have the Cross somewhere in the picture, which makes following difficult and challenging.
What would we do if we really considered what awaits all Christ-followers in their faith journeys?
What is our Lenten commitment?