47: U-Turn (Luke 12:49-13:9)

As a Youth Pastor for 17 years, I’ve led a lot of trips - often feeling like a travel agent. Historically, in the Sovereign plan of God, I've had to make some U-Turns while leading a caravan of vehicles. It's always a little humbling to see the faces of those you are leading as they see you pass in the opposite direction. Of course this IN NO WAY, was due to OPERATOR ERROR on my part, and while the REAL CAUSE has not yet been determined, it is my theory that the need for a U-TURN was due to

GPS signals thrown off by solar flares OR

possibly due to demonic activity that specifically schemed to frustrate our traveling plans, AND……make me look bad.

As you are probably aware, no man on the planet likes to be told they need to ASK for directions. And I am TOLD by women married to OTHER MEN, that men rather have hot needles jammed under their fingernails than be corrected because they are going the wrong way. As that is the case, making a U-TURN is the ultimate act of humility for many men. Of course the same might be said of a few women I know.

And today we discover that - like it or not - we have ALL taken a wrong turn and need to humble ourselves and make a U-TURN. Isaiah put it well:

Isaiah 53:6 (NIV)

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way;

This was true of the Jewish people, but it’s also true of US. Notice what it takes to bring these wandering sheep back to right relationship with God:

and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Yahweh - the LORD - takes OUR iniquities - OUR SINS - and places them on another, ONE who could forgive us, ONE who could restore us and bring us back, & the ONE who makes if possible for us to do a U-TURN. This 700 year old prophecy from Isaiah was on the forefront of Jesus’ thoughts when He said these words as we continue our study in Luke:

Luke 12:49 (NIV)

49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Fire is often a biblical metaphor for judgment. So what kind of judgment is about to come on the earth? Something will happen that is about to draw clear battle lines between those who follow Jesus and those who do not. But what is it? Jesus uses figurative language .

Luke 12:50

50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

The physical baptism of Jesus had been a foreshadow of the figurative baptism Jesus was about to go through. This baptism caused Jesus to feel constraint - this word is also translated as distress.

Greek synechō (man. συνέχομαιb): to experience great psychological pressure and anxiety—‘to be distressed, to be troubled.’

What was this baptism Jesus was about to go through? The baptism that caused him constraint, to be distressed? At one point Jesus asks His disciples this question in Mark 10:38-39:

Mark 10:38b (NIV)

38 …Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?”

Jesus was thinking about His crucifixion which would lead to His death, burial, & resurrection (use arm to demonstrate baptism). This is what He meant when He said…

Luke 12:50

50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!

Robert Stein calls this focus on His coming baptism "Jesus’ magnificent obsession.”

With every passing day, Jesus was coming closer to being ENTHRONED on the CROSS. Upon completion of this baptism - His death, burial, & resurrection - you would think that people would recognize Jesus as the Messiah & surrender to Him. But instead of uniting the Jewish people, Jesus became what Paul later calls the stumbling stone (Rom.9:32).

Romans 9:33 (NIV)

As it is written: “See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in him will never be put to shame.”

The message of the Cross is this:

You are going the wrong way and have to make a U-TURN.

Those who turn from sin and trust Jesus’ payment are forgiven! Those who do not are enemies of God! This is like a stick in the eye of the self-righteous. Paul notes these 2 different responses when he writes:

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Those of us who are being saved have come to realize the BIG TRUTH of this entire teaching series - that…

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

We know that following Jesus and sharing the message of His cross could COST us.

Declaring that people are going the wrong way and must make a U-TURN, is OFFENSIVE, especially in our relativistic, non-judgmental, immoral society.

And Jesus doesn’t sugar-coat it for the 1st century disciples nor for us.

Following Him could cost us our most important relationships.

Luke 12:51–53 (NIV)

51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Can you imagine having to make THIS CHOICE?

Jesus OR…your family. Does that still happen today? You better believe it.

Listen to Kassidy’s story. (and baptism)

Kassidy has made a costly choice. She has made a U-TURN because she has come to understand what Dr. Luke wants his ancient audience to understand - that…

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

Sadly, many who SAW & HEARD Jesus didn’t come to the same conclusion.

Luke 12:54–59 (NIV)

54 He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. 55 And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. 56 Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?

57 “Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? 58 As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. 59 I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Do you see what Jesus just did? He once again, used a real life story to drive home what He wants His audience to see…ABOUT THEMSELVES.

Jesus is pleading with this 1st century audience to make a U-TURN, to turn from their sin and recognize the one who would take their sin…before it’s too late.

And as Jesus moves closer to the baptism he must undergo, He keeps beating the same drum over and over again!

Luke 13:1–5 (NIV)

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way?

3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. 4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Finally, Jesus tells one more story the demonstrates God’s patience, yet assures His coming judgment.

Luke 13:6–9 (NIV)

6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. 7 So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ 8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”

The fig tree is figurative for the Jewish nation. Sadly, the nation God had made covenant with had no spiritual fruit. So rather than receive their Messiah - most rejected Him.

But instead of destroying the nation immediately, God showed them great patience and allowed the followers of Jesus time to share His message. Yet within one generation, God would cut down the fig tree. Jerusalem would be pulverized and God’s old covenant people would be scattered by A.D.70.

So what can WE take away from this difficult subject?

Do a U-TURN! Don’t wait until it’s too late! God has been patient, but His judgment is approaching. What are you WAITING ON?

Demonstrate that…

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our LivesBIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

BIG TRUTH: The Story of Jesus is Worthy of Our Lives

As Kassidy said of her Dad,

“His life was an example to me of why I wanted something different. I wanted THAT.”

Is YOUR life an example to others?

PRAY

Would you stand and bow your head as we pray?

“God, what do You want me to do with what I heard today?”

As we sing…