Without a definite theme with a message for all (Luke 13:31-35)

Lent 2 (28^th February 2010)

Text: Luke 13: 31-35

 

Today’s gospel is only a short passage but it contains many conflicting and complimentary themes. That is why my sermon today is without a definite theme. And what I shall do this morning is to share with you just 3 things.

The first thing that we can learn from this passage is this: Some Pharisees actually are described by Luke as having concern for the well-being and protection of Jesus. We find, most of the time, the Gospels describe the Pharisees as the bad guys, always out to trap Jesus, trick him, and to find him guilty of something. However, here we have some Pharisees coming to Jesus, trying to protect him. They came to him and said: “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”

If the concern was genuine, then the story tells us something about the Pharisees: that not all of them were against Jesus.  We also know that the Gospels, on a couple of other occasions, tell us that Jesus was the dinner guest of a Pharisee. In John’s Gospel, there is a passage about the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee named Nicodemus.

One of the problems with Christians over the centuries has been that all Pharisees have been stereotyped into one same group. However, biblical scholars have shown that not all Pharisees were in one united group or school. Rather, there were at least two main schools: the conservative school of Shammai and the more liberal school of Hillel. There were Pharisees who were hypocrites; there were Pharisees who would not talk with women in public, not even to their wives; but there were those who genuinely loved God.  And these became friends of Jesus.  The lesson for us here is to remember that people are all different even if they belong to the same race or family or group. We must never to stereotype people and label certain race or group of people as either good or bad.    

The second thing that I want to point out from this passage is that Jesus was faced with many obstacles in his ministry. Those who disliked him constantly tested at him, looking for ways to trap him, and questioned his authority. Those who loved Jesus followed him here and there, making it impossible for him to even move or take a rest.  Even his friends were not making things easy for Jesus.  We know that the disciples were often confused about what he taught, and some of them said stupid things when he tried to teach them something. You remember 2 Sundays ago when I preached about the Transfiguration, I mentioned the feeling of being alone that Jesus must be experiencing. 

How did Jesus respond to all these hard situations?  Did Jesus say that he already has enough of these tests, enough of the spotlights, enough of these disciples who can’t seem to do anything without his help?  When this small group of Pharisees warned him about Herod, how did Jesus react? Did he react in fear?

He said, “Go tell that fox!”  The term “fox” in those days was understood differently than it is in today’s context. Today, when we describe someone as “fox” and we think of sly, smart, or crafty person. Back then, “fox” is used to refer to something of complete and total insignificance. I guess if we were to use modern English, Jesus might say something like, “Go and tell that “worm,” that I will go about what I am doing, I will continue my ministry, and on the third day, all I have worked for will be completed.” Jesus was saying that, nothing or no one could stop him from doing what he has to do and succeed at it…not even a wicked man like Herod. As far as Jesus was concerned, there was nothing that Herod could do to him that was outside the will of God.

The Pharisees really had a good intention to protect Jesus from Herod. Herod was a terrible man, and he would not hesitate to kill anybody, even his own sons if they made him angry. That was why Caesar once said it was better to be Herod’s dog than his son. But the concern of the Pharisees was misplaced. They did not know that Jesus had a cup to drink, a baptism with which to be baptized, and that involved suffering and death.  And he was not going to run away from that.

Even some of the disciples tried to stop Jesus from facing the cross. In Matthew 16: 21-23, when Jesus said that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer and die in order to be raised again on the third day, Peter took him aside and rebuke him, saying, “Never, Lord. This shall never happen to you.”  And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Get behind me Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” 

Our salvation rests on Christ’s resurrection. No resurrection, no salvation. But there can be no resurrection unless you first have a death. That is the price. Not just anyone could do it. Salvation from eternity in hell demands the resurrection of the Son of God, but it would only be accomplished by the death of the Son of God.  But Peter’s idea was for a full retreat: to get back to a safe village, keep low profile, and stay away from trouble.  And Jesus called it “Satan’s idea”.

What is the implication of this?  It tells us that for God’s purpose to be fulfilled in us, we cannot run away, keep low profile and stay quiet, or assume that somebody else will do the job.  The Pharisees, like Peter was telling Jesus to run away and stay safe.  They were thinking that they were doing him great favour.  Likewise we sometime think like that: if we don’t do anything and keep our mouth, we are doing great favour to the Church; and assume that the problem will go away or someone will do something about it. But the work in God’s kingdom, at times, may require us not to keep low profile, but to go on the offensive.

As far as our salvation is concerned, only Jesus could effectively die for us, atoning for our sins. But there are things that may require us to die to ourselves; meaning that only you and I can do it.  For example, if someone has offended you, it is only you who can forgive your offender.  You cannot fix the problem by giving yourself to serve in church, or donating money to the poor, or by praying 10 times a day, or expecting someone else to do it for you. 

And if there are people who continue to live in anger and resentment, it is because they refuse to take the responsibility to forgive.  They don’t want to forgive because it means they have to go on offensive, which demands love, kindness, mercy and compassion.  So whenever there are relationship problems, this is what many people do: they draw back into a defensive posture, trying to just hold on and not lose ground, keep a low profile and grumble to themselves. Just imagine if there are many of us who are like that in church: staying defensive, keeping low profile, and grumbling to ourselves about whatever problems we are in now: we become stumbling block to the growth of the Church.  We don’t expand God’s kingdom and fulfill God’s purpose by neglecting our responsibility. 

The third thing I want to share here is: God yearns for us.  He yearns for the time when we will be with him again. God yearns for the time when all will be right between him and his creation.  In our reading just now we hear the lament of Jesus: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you!”

It was a cry from the heart of God, yearning for a renewed relationship with his people. Can you imagine the hurt in God’s heart as he yearns for a response from us? Jesus says further: “How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!”

Jesus is lamenting that God has tried to bring the creation back to Him. God has tried in all kinds of manner to make the relationship between him and his people right.  He tired through Noah and the flood. He tried through Moses and the prophets. God tried through the Judges. He has tried in all kinds of manner to make the relationship between him and his people right.  

Through the history of the Old Testament, God worked with the people of Israel trying to win them back, but it didn’t work. In the end God has to send his only Son Jesus Christ to reconcile and bring human kind back to him.  God decided that man could not be won back, so he sent to man the gift of salvation in the person of Jesus.  God decided if he came among his people and walked with them; if he told them of the great love he had for them, maybe they would listen and understand. 

We have many images of Jesus in the Gospel: the True Vine, the Good Shepherd, Bread of Life, Lamb of God. In this third theme we have the gentlest image of Jesus as a mother hen inviting us to repent, to turn away from our destructive words, thoughts and actions; to come under his protective, forgiving, loving wings so that we might avoid the tragedy of our own destruction and downfall.