Responding to the Good News

Introduction

Ant story – jelly on the ground, ants come, but there’s a guy gonna come with his big wheel.

How would we warn the ants about what’s coming?

Man stands and yells – why wouldn’t it work?

Can we trust this person? He’s not an ant

How do they know? What if they’re wrong?

You can’t boss us around...

OR

Become an ant – why could it work?

        Lead them to safety

The Unwavering Commitment of Jesus

Point 1: The Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod's plan to kill him. 

Luke 13:31 HCSB

At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, “Go, get out of here! Herod wants to kill You!”

Jesus has been preaching in nearly all of Luke 13 on a single message - repent!

Luke 13:3 HCSB

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!

Luke 13:5 HCSB

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

But that’s not all - He taught on the barren fig tree, He was doing miracles, healing a disabled woman on the Sabbath, the great parables of the mustard seed and of the yeast and the narrow way - showing that that there will be many who don’t enter the Kingdom of God - including many from the nation of Israel.

Luke 13:28 HCSB

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out.

So the Pharisees are warning Him about the threat of Herod Antipas like that’s the great threat facing Jesus -

One of Satan’s great weapons is distraction. The Pharisees are essentially trying to use fear as a distraction, to scare Jesus into setting aside His mission and goal.

Point 2: Jesus's response: "Go and tell that fox, 'I am going to continue my work.'" 

Luke 13:32 HCSB

He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look! I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete My work.’

The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4: Matthew–Acts b. Lament over Jerusalem (13:31–35)

“The course of the Messiah is determined, and will not be abbreviated or changed because of the threats of a Herod.”

Likewise, for His people today - US - we must be committed to the mission as Jesus was. We must clear about the mission He set for us - not allow fear to distract us.

In a simple phrase, the mission trumps everything.

Application: How can we remain steadfast in our faith and mission, even when facing opposition or challenges?

The Unwavering Lament of Jesus

As he usually does, Jesus demonstrates how we can stat committed to the mission - and not what we would think of.

Luke 13:34 HCSB

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

If you’re from somewhere, a city, and that city was known as “the city that kills the prophets” you might not share that.

Remember those ants in the introduction - the ones who were warned by the man yelling in the street - that man was the prophets. Hundreds of years of prophets had warned Israel to turn from their ways - to repent - and now Jerusalem, the heart of the Jewish people - has rejected Him.

The more Jesus reaches out to Jerusalem, the more it hardens itself on the path of destruction.

This verse is loaded with imagery and importance. The Jewish people know Yahweh as the mother hen gathering her chicks, and to hear this language was personal. Instead of welcoming the protection of the mother hen, the chicks run away.

 Look, Jesus is staring at Jerusalem, knowing the finality of His time on earth. Some think that the picture Jesus offers is of the temple, but most theologians agree that the house in verse 35, which we are going to talk about next is the city of Jerusalem. And it will face both spiritual and physical destruction. Of course, in 70 AD the Romans lay seige to the city and destroy it.

Jesus’ lament for the great city is evident. He knows what’s coming, and He is unwavering in the sharing of His grief for the city. He’s not excited - He’s stricken by the disobedience of God’s people to head the message of the prophets.

Explanation: Jerusalem's rejection of Jesus will lead to its destruction, but there is hope for future repentance and recognition of Jesus as Messiah. 

Application: How can we learn from Jerusalem's mistakes and strive to be receptive to God's message?

The Unwavering Love of Jesus

Luke 13:35 HCSB

See, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’!”

Jerusalem has abandoned the prophets and their message, and now, Jesus is abandoning the city. But, that doesn’t change the unwavering love of Jesus. How great is this love?

He makes it clear that He is willing to face death for the sake of others, even for those who had forsaken Him as the Messiah.

Now, Jesus is literally leaving Jerusalem, but will return and when He does, the people will shout Psalm 118:26

Psalm 118:26 HCSB

He who comes in the name of the Lord is blessed. From the house of the Lord we bless you.

Jesus loved the people of Jerusalem. He was unwavering in His call for their repentance because of His great love. They looked right at Him and rejected Him. There were certainly those with eyes of faith that saw Jesus for how He was, but there were many who remained blinded. This can’t be us, our church today.

In this passage, we are either the people of Jerusalem who reject Jesus’ mission, ministry, and love or we are the people who accept and emulate His mission, ministry, and love.

Point 2: Jesus's love for Jerusalem, even in the face of their rejection. 

Application: How can we emulate Jesus's love and sacrifice in our own lives?

How can we emulate Jesus’ love and sacrifice in our own lives?

Commit to the mission He gave us - don’t be distracted by fear, by other stuff

Practice lament - repent daily - don’t delay

Love Jerusalem - the rejecters - as Jesus did