Facing Opposition

Context

Our lesson comes from Luke 13. Up to this point in the gospel, Jesus has been ministering in the northern regions of Nazareth and Galilee. In contrast to Jerusalem, in the south, Jesus will be crucified and on the third day rise from the dead.

The “king”, Herod the tetrarch, has been hearing rumors of Jesus — that he was a powerful prophet and wonder worker, perhaps the Messiah preached about by John the Baptist. Jealous to protect his power, Herod had John executed.

Now he has his eyes on Jesus.

We pick up the story.

Text

Luke 13:31–35 NRSV

At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

Introduction

Lent is a season of preparation for Easter. We journey with Christ toward his cross, death, and resurrection.

Last week, we introduced the first force that attempts to keep us from following Christ — temptation. We saw how Christ overcame temptation for us and showed ways that we too can overcome temptation.

This week, we look at another threat to our discipleship: opposition. Like before, we will see that Christ faces opposition for us, and also provides a model for how we are to deal with opposition.

Exegesis

Some Pharisees are friendly toward Jesus. They had many similar teachings. Existence of angels. Resurrection of the dead. Teaching/ pastoring the laity. These Pharisees want to protect Jesus.

They warn Jesus to flee out of the area because Herod wants to kill you.

Herod had already put John the Baptist to death.

So, they come to warn Jesus. You should flee for your life.

Jesus does not flee. Neither does he show fear. Instead he sends a message back.

Tell that fox. He refers to Herod as a fox.

A sly, insignificant, troublesome, pest.

He is going to continue his work.

casting out demons, performing cures, and finishing his work.

A summary of his ministry.

Today, tomorrow, and the third day. In other words, as long as I intend to do it. Jesus is on his heavenly father’s schedule, won’t be deterred by Herod.

Yet — today, tomorrow, and the next day — he will be on his way. He will depart, not because he is afraid of Herod, but because he must go to Jerusalem to die there.

A wry, ironic comment: it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.

Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship, the temple of the one True God. The sacrifices. The high priest. It would seem that exactly there the Son of God would be most welcome to preach his message.

But the sad history was that the religious institution over and over again persecuted and put to death the prophets who were sent.

The prophets would call for repentance and purification and realignment to God’s will, but these messages were perceived as threats to the status quo and to human wisdom, and so they were put to death.

As if to die anywhere else would be unfitting!

So he will leave but not because he is fleeing Herod. But because he is heading toward a more certain death…death at the hands of Gods people.

He laments over Jerusalem because they reject those who are sent to her.

Sorrow: His own death will mark a final judgment.

your house is left empty. 70 ad Romans destroyed the Temple.

Hope: you will not see me again, until you say, Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

for God will raise him again and all will ultimately say: blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord

Psalm 118:22–23 “The stone that the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.”

Rejection will lead to Jesus death, which will lead to his resurrection and will lead to the forgiveness of sins.

Interpretation

Jesus faced opposition in his ministry.

He was a wise teacher, a miracle worker, driver out of demons. He was one who was opposed.

Not just as a matter of chance. But as a matter of inevitability. He is the suffering Messiah

Isaiah 43: we considered him stricken, but he was crushed for our inequities.

Simeon’s prophecy at the dedication of the infant Jesus: — a sign to be opposed and the cause of falling and rising of many.

Being opposed was intrinsic to his ministry because Jesus’ mission was to redeem sinners. The very nature of being a sinner is to be opposed to God.

Facing opposition is intrinsic to Jesus’ ministry because it is intrinsic to God’s plan to reconcile a hostile humanity back to himself.

1 John 4:10 “In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Romans 5:8 “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:10 “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.”

Sent into a hostile world, of enemies, haters, to overcome hatred and animosity and to redeem back to God.

Colossians 1:21–22 “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,”

Jesus does not flee Herod in fear. He does not fear to go to Jerusalem. He does not fear death. It is an inevitable part of the divine plan.

His ministry of exorcism to show that he will drive out evil by dying and rising again

Colossians 2:14–15 “… He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

His ministry of healing to show that through his death and resurrection he will bring new life

1 Corinthians 15:54 “… the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.””

His ministry today, tomorrow, and the next day, that he is the one and only savior for all and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

The disciples learned from the risen Jesus to face opposition the same way. Opposition was viewed not as a block to their ministry, but as the very REASON for their ministry. They were to carry on Jesus’ ministry of reconciliation.

They understood that people are opposed to God. God reconciles them in Christ. As apostles, they were opposed so that they could reconcile people to Christ.

1 Peter 4:12–13 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”

Colossians 1:24 “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,”

Application

A sure hope for all of is who oppose God in big and little ways.

Struggle between this world and our kingdom identity.

If we say that we are without sin, we lie. Confess and be forgiven.

In Christ we are forgiven every day.

He absorbs our opposition and overcomes it with the power of his death and resurrection.

No sin is as strong as the blood of Jesus.

No resistance as strong as his resurrection.

So come to the rock opposed but valued by God.

Reconciled to God not because of our righteousness, but because Jesus died and rose again.

Therefore we should not be surprise that we face opposition from others when we are in the service of Christ.

We may not get thrown in prison or stoned, but may still be resisted or ignored.

But the opposition not a block but a reason for our ministry. It is exactly those who are opposed to God that God wants to reach out to, to reconcile them to himself.

That means that we need to be ready to suffer, like Christ did. Like the apostles did…as part of the evangelistic methodology. Facing opposition is not alien to the mission, it is the mission.

Example: hurricane Katrina 2005.

1001 Illustrations that Connect Illustration 302: Rescue Refused

Some at-risk people would rather stay put than be led to safety. That’s what helicopter pilot Iain McConnell and the rest of his air station crew discovered in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

McConnell and his crew were told to keep five H-60 helicopters airborne on missions around the clock to airlift stranded people from their rooftops and deliver them to the Superdome in New Orleans. But they were only able to help relatively few survivors. “On our first three missions, we saved the lives of eighty-nine people, three dogs, and a cat,” McConnell said. “On the fourth mission, to our great frustration, we saved no one—but not for lack of trying. The dozens we attempted to rescue refused pickup!

“Some people told us simply to bring them food and water. ‘You are living in unhealthy conditions, and the water will stay high for a long time,’ we warned them. Still they refused.”

In truth, they did not know how desperate their situation was.

—Jocelyn C. Green, “A Rescuer’s Journal,” Today’s Christian (January–February 2006)

People drowning in sin and death and we are working with Christ to witness to them and save them. Message over and over. Today, tomorrow, next day.

Christ will save them. His death and resurrection power at work!

So we do not give up hope for ourselves or others

What a wonderful God and savior who saves those who even refuse to be saved!

Conclusion

Lent a time for preparation for Easter.

Christ has overcome our opposition.

We share the power of reconciliation with the world.

MARY KAY WAGNER PILGRIMAGE