The Fox and the Hen

We are now 12 days into Lent and just six weeks away from Easter. As we move deeper into this season, we continue our journey alongside Jesus as he sets his face toward the cross and the empty tomb.

Last week, we witnessed a masterclass in spiritual warfare. We saw Jesus shut down the devil in the desert with three simple, razor-sharp words: “It is written!” But the victory in the wilderness was just the beginning. Since then, Jesus has launched into an intense, non-stop earthly ministry. If you look at the first 30 verses of Luke 13, you see a Savior who was busy flipping the script on everything:

He tackled the heavy questions about suffering and Pilate’s cruelty.

He stopped to heal a woman who had been bound by a crippling spirit for 18 years.

He challenged the crowds with provocative teachings on the Mustard Seed, the Yeast, and the Narrow Door.

Jesus was clearly making waves, and those waves eventually reached the palace. Herod caught wind of what was happening, and he was rattled. You see, Herod was haunted; he was terrified that another John the Baptist had risen from the grave. This is the same Herod who infamously married his brother’s wife and later silenced the truth by beheading John.

Now, that same shadow of violence is turning toward Jesus.

Let’s read Luke 13:31-35

Urgency and Ulterior Motives (vs. 31)

Luke sets the scene with a sense of sudden tension: “At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus...” In the original Greek, the phrase is en autēi tēi hōrāi (pronounced en ow-TAY tay HOH-ray). It literally means “in that very hour.” This isn't just a casual stroll over to Jesus; there is an immediate, ticking-clock energy to this encounter. The Pharisees clearly had a message that couldn't wait.

Their warning was blunt: “Leave this place and go somewhere else.”

At this point, Jesus and his disciples were traveling through Galilee and Perea, making their way toward Jerusalem. They were deep in Herod’s territory—the same jurisdiction where John the Baptist had been executed. The Pharisees claimed the threat was imminent: Herod wanted Jesus dead.

But now hold on for a minute. Usually, the Pharisees were the ones setting the traps, not acting as a security detail for Jesus. So, why the sudden "change of heart"?

It’s highly doubtful this was an act of pure kindness. More likely, they were playing a deeper game. Perhaps they wanted to scare Jesus out of Galilee because his influence was becoming a threat to the status quo. Or, maybe they were flushing him out—driving him straight into a trap waiting for him in Judea. Some scholars even suggest that Herod himself sent them, using the Pharisees as a mouthpiece to scare Jesus out of his district without having to get his own hands dirty.

Unmoved and Undeterred (vv. 32,33)

Whether this was a scheme by the Pharisees, a threat from Herod, or a toxic mixture of both, the real story is how Jesus reacted to their scare tactics. Think about that for a second. Has anyone ever truly threatened you? Have you ever been told that someone with immense power—someone who actually has the means to hurt you—wants you gone? How would you handle that pressure?

In 2015, the story of Hannah Mossman went public; she had been stalked for ten years by a former friend after a trip to Miami. The situation escalated into constant, terrifying threats that eventually forced Hannah to move all the way to Sri Lanka just to find safety. Most of us, when faced with a predator, want to run.

Jesus, however, was completely unintimidated. In fact, his response was biting: he called Herod a "fox." Now, Jesus wasn't using the term the way we do today. He wasn’t suggesting Herod was sleek, graceful, or "foxy." In that culture, calling someone a fox meant they were cunning, yes—but also cowardly and ultimately insignificant. Jesus saw right through the man who had murdered his cousin, John the Baptist. He knew Herod was a man driven by superstitious fears, terrified that Jesus was a resurrected version of the prophet he had already killed.

Jesus looked the Pharisees in the eye and essentially said that regardless of what they or Herod plotted: “I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.” (vs. 32)

His message was clear: “Plot and threaten all you want. I am not altering my course for Herod, nor am I changing my schedule for you. You are not in control of me; the Father is.” Jesus was committed to completing God’s mission—a mission that he knew must end in Jerusalem, the place where prophets historically met their end. But It wouldn't be on Herod's terms, and it wouldn't be by Herod's hand.

What makes this even more brilliant is the specific language Jesus used: “today,” “tomorrow,” and “the third.” This wasn't just a casual timeline; it was a rhythmic, successive declaration of his remaining work. He was laying out the steps of his journey, one after another, proving that he would move toward the cross with a steady, unmoved heart, completely untouched by the "fox" in the palace.

The Third Day

It is fascinating to dig into what scholars believe Jesus meant by “the third day.” While the precise phrasing carries some mystery, the Church has long understood his statement—that he will “complete” his work on that day—as a clear allusion to his resurrection. This isn't just a guess; it’s backed up by the end of verse 33, where Jesus insists that a prophet must meet his end in Jerusalem.

There is a powerful contrast here: Jesus is fully aware of his impending death, yet he remains defiant. He is essentially saying that no matter how much Herod opposes him, he will finish his work. That completion requires a journey through death, followed by the victory of the third day.

This interpretation carries massive weight as we move toward our Easter celebration. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus repeatedly predicted this "finish line." In Luke 9:22, he was explicit: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected... he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

This verse is the bedrock of the Christian foundation. Over the centuries, many have tried to rewrite this history. For example, in Islamic theology, it is commonly believed that Jesus never actually died on the cross, but that someone else took his place. However, the overwhelming historical and scriptural evidence points to the reality of his death.

This often leads people to ask: How could one man’s death cover the sins of the entire world? And why would God even want to forgive us? In his book, Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, the late Nabeel Qureshi—who was once a devout Muslim—recalled a conversation with his friend David. To paraphrase David’s life-changing answer: "God is your Father. He loves you. This one man is able to die for the sins of the world because He is the Creator. Because our sins are ultimately against Him and no one else, He alone has the authority to forgive them." Not long after grasping that truth, Nabeel gave his life to Christ.

We can never hear this truth enough. It’s a reality we need to be reminded of every single morning. We live in a world designed to distract us, making it easy to forget God or to live as if the resurrection never happened. Too often, we drift into living for ourselves, ignoring the work God has called us to do.

But as Jesus said in verse 33, the "next day" is coming soon. Are we ready for it? More importantly, are the people in our neighborhood and our community ready? My prayer is that during this season of Lent, we would meditate deeply on the death and resurrection of Jesus, allowing it to truly prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

The Lament of Love (vs 34)

The moment the name “Jerusalem” left his lips, Jesus was flooded with the memory of how Israel had historically rejected God and the mission He had for them. In verse 34, we see a rare, raw display of divine sorrow. He cries out: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing!”

When Jesus cries, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem,” we aren't just hearing a man upset with a city’s politics. We are hearing the very heart of the Trinity—the heart of God—breaking through human vocal cords. In this context, "Jerusalem" isn't just about stone walls or city limits; it represents the spiritual center of God’s chosen people. And, if we’re honest, it represents us, too. We have all, at some point, pushed God away.

Here is the Creator pleading with His creation to listen. He is about to bleed for them, to die for them, and to ascend to heaven—yet His greatest desire is simply to protect them, “as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” He wanted them close. But they were not willing. History is a long gallery of people rejecting God’s love, yet God is notoriously relentless.

For years, Saint Augustine was trapped in a deep internal conflict, chased by worldly pleasures and a lifestyle of indulgence. But for 17 years, his mother, Monica, prayed for him with "persistent tears." His Bishop, Ambrose, never stopped encouraging him to repent. Finally, one day in a garden, Augustine heard a child’s voice chanting, “Take and read... take and read.” He picked up a scroll, read Romans 13:13-14, and in that instant, the conflict that had tortured him for decades evaporated. On Easter in the year 387 AD, the man who had run from God for so long was finally baptized.

Many of us carry our own "Jerusalems"—family members, children, or friends who have turned their backs on the Messiah. It is exhausting. Sometimes it’s so discouraging that we feel like giving up on them entirely. But we must not. The love of the Father, the life of Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit can reach anyone. I’ve seen it in my own life, in my family, and even in my own heart.

When my wife, Angie, and I learned that our oldest son no longer believed in God, we wept. It is a heavy, lingering sorrow. But we do not weep without hope. We have an assurance that one day, he will allow God back into his life. We believe in the power of the blood and the reality of the resurrection. If you are carrying a name in your heart today—someone you are desperate to see come to Christ—let’s lay that name before the Father right now. Let’s pray with the faith that God is still in the business of gathering His children.

As Jesus promised in John 14:12-14, when we ask in His name so that the Father may be glorified, He hears us. He is moving, even when we can’t see it.

The Shelter of the Wings (vs. 35)

But we have to ask a difficult question: What happens when we repeatedly ignore God’s tender, protective care? Jesus gives us a haunting answer in verse 35: “Look, your house is left to you desolate.” This isn't a new warning. It echoes the heavy words of the prophets. In Jeremiah 12:17, God warns that if a nation refuses to listen, He will "uproot and destroy it." In Jeremiah 22:5, He swears that if His commands are ignored, even a royal palace will "become a ruin." The pattern is clear: walking away from God eventually leads to a disastrous spiritual drought. Because many refused to accept Jesus, they faced a season of being left to their own devices—unable to see Him until the moment of His return.

This is a massive wake-up call for us today. The most terrifying thing that can happen isn't a financial crisis or a social setback; it is God removing His presence from our lives. When Jesus spoke of a "desolate house," He was referring to the Temple and the nation of Jerusalem. But we must ask: Can you imagine our church, our nation, or our own families if the presence of God were to simply... leave?

The sting of this passage is that it’s directed at religious people. These were people who checked all the boxes. Today, that looks like coming to church every Sunday, singing with passion, attending a Bible study, and dropping an offering in the plate—but then forgetting God the moment we hit the parking lot. If "faith" is just a Sunday morning performance, Jesus warns that we are standing on dangerous ground. He warns that some will barely scrape into heaven, and tragically, others may find themselves locked out entirely because they prioritized religion over relationship.

God isn't looking for actors; He is looking for participants. He longs to be the center of our lives. Are we too busy "playing church" to actually join Him in His mission?

One of the things that drew my family to this church was that we didn’t see a "desolate house"—we saw a community living under the wings of Jesus. From the very first day, when nearly everyone stopped to say "Hi," to the worship team whose love for God is palpable every Sunday, we saw a living faith. Whether it’s the mission team running the food drive, the pancake breakfasts, or feeding college students, I see people who want to work with Jesus, not just talk about Him. I see it in the Bible studies Mindy leads, where people aren't just gaining head knowledge, but are figuring out how to live it out. I see it in the volunteers taking offering, leading communion, and Mike in the back managing the tech and the livestream.

This is the “house” that isn’t desolate but that is full of life because it stays under Jesus’ wings. And because we are tucked under those wings, I believe with all my heart that Tri-County Christian Church will be a house filled with worshippers who will worship “the Father in Spirit and in truth." (John 4:23).

But those who pretend to be under those wings while their hearts are far away will find themselves in a "desolate" state, not seeing Christ again until His final return. And when He returns, it won't be like Palm Sunday. Jesus is looking past the cross toward His Second Coming.

On that day, the mask comes off for everyone. Jesus tells us that even those who rejected Him will say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” They will quote Psalm 118:26 because, in that moment, the truth will be undeniable. Every person, regardless of their background or belief, will suddenly know exactly who He is and why He came. As Philippians 2:10-11 declares: “...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Application: Beyond the Threshold: Living the Third Day

So, what does this all mean for us as we head back into our week? What is Jesus actually asking us to do? When we walk out of those doors and head to our cars, how do we practically live under the shadow of His wings?

Trade Procrastination for Presence

If you feel a sense of "desolation" in your spirit—if God feels like a distant memory rather than a daily reality—don't wait for a "better time" to return to Him. Jesus showed us that the spiritual clock is ticking. Do not postpone your repentance or your return to prayer until tomorrow. Today is the day to step back under His protection.

Prioritize People Over Performance

Religion loves a checklist; Jesus loves a child. In this coming week, let your heart be more consumed with serving others than with performing religious duties. Look for the "chicks" in your own life who need gathering—the lonely neighbor, the stressed coworker, the struggling friend. When we serve, we aren't just "doing church"; we are being the hands and feet of the Savior.

Trust the Invisible Growth

Have confidence that God is at work growing His Kingdom, even when the "evidence" seems thin. Just as Jesus was unmoved by Herod’s threats because He knew the Father’s schedule, we can be unmoved by the chaos of the world. The mustard seed is growing. The yeast is rising. The "Third Day" is coming. Trust the process even when you can't see the progress.

Own the Message of the Cross

Finally, anchor your soul in the death and resurrection of Jesus as the only way to salvation. We don't want to be among those who only recognize Him when it’s too late. We want to be the people who have been saying “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” every single day of our lives. Let’s live so deeply in the truth of the Gospel now that His return feels like the arrival of a long-awaited Friend, not a startling Judge.

Further Study & Resources

For those who wish to dig deeper into the historical and theological context of Luke 13:31–35.

Historical & Cultural Context

On Herod Antipas & the Pharisees:

The Tony Evans Bible Commentary (2019): Insights into Herod’s jurisdiction over Galilee and Perea and the "pretext" of the Pharisees' warning.

Matthew Poole’s Annotations (1853): Explores whether the Pharisees acted independently or as secret messengers for Herod.

Lexham Context Commentary (2020): Context on Perea as the location where John the Baptist was imprisoned.

On the "Fox" Metaphor:

New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition (1994): Discusses the "fox" as a symbol of cunning and insignificance.

Word Studies in the New Testament (Marvin Vincent, 1887): A breakdown of the Greek distinction between "willing" and "killing" in Herod’s intent.

Linguistic & Original Language Notes

Greek Timing (en autēi tēi hōrāi):

Word Pictures in the New Testament (A.T. Robertson, 1933): Notes on Luke’s favorite notation for "in that very hour."

The "Third Day" and "Completion":

Faithlife Study Bible (2016): Compares Jesus’ "perfection/completion" here to his statements in Luke 9:22 and 18:33 regarding the resurrection.

Expository notes on the Greek $teleioumai$ (I am perfected): Found in Robertson and Vincent, discussing the "prophetic present" tense of Jesus' mission.

Theological Themes & Lament

The "Hen and Chicks" Imagery:

Faithlife Study Bible: Cross-references to Old Testament metaphors for God's protection (Psalm 17:8, 91:4; Ruth 2:12).

The "Desolate House":

CSB Study Bible Notes (2017): Connects the "abandoned house" to the eventual destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

ESV Global Study Bible (2012): Explains why the "Blessed is He..." quote likely refers to the Second Coming rather than Palm Sunday.

On Religion vs. Relationship:

Holman New Testament Commentary (Trent Butler, 2000): A challenging look at "rote religion" and the urgency of heartfelt repentance.