Perseverance through Challenge

Intro

Here in the West we love peace and comfort. Most of us hate any sort of conflict. My wife and I had dated about 4 years when I came to the conclusion that we either needed to end our relationship or seek some counsel. I did not feel she could trust me, and she felt like I flirted with many of the girls in our college group. After months of being miserable, I sat down with her and told her: we either need some help or we need to stop dating. She looked a little bewildered initially. I emphasized my love for her and desire to be with her, but that we could not keep going on like this. We both decided to seek help, and the help we sought would restore our relationship. We would be married within 1 year. Our text comes from Luke’s gospel in chapter 13. Jesus is on his journey to Jerusalem

The New International Version Chapter 13

31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’ 33 In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!

34 “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. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

3 things we can learn from this text:

Jesus is bold

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great. He was the one who had John the Baptist beheaded. In other words, he wasn’t afraid to take a life. He was King of Judea, but don’t let that title fool you. He was a puppet king. Rome was the true authority, but they let the people the rule over have certain ethnic leaders as a way to try to keep the peace. The puppet king still had authority, however. In spite of this reality Jesus calls him a “fox,” - not a pleasant term, and one that would most certainly be relayed back to him. Jesus is bold in the face of power, and he calls us to go and do likewise. For the boss at work who encourages us to lie or cheat to make him look better, we can be bold and call that man what he is.

Jesus is courageous

Going along with that, Jesus also shows great courage in this passage. He doesn’t deviate from his plan despite opposition. This is a far cry from what we often see with Christians in our time. We would often heard that called a “closed door.” For instance, “Well I thought the Lord wanted me to move to the other side of town to be closer to my aging parents but the sell fell through, so it was a closed door and we took it off the market.” I recall a friend I had in seminary who felt a strong call to go to Italy as a missionary. He was married and he had a dear wife who was such a sweet person, but she would often say that she was praying to have a “peace” about going, because she didn’t have one. This phrase, “have a peace about it,” is one heard all the time in Christian circles, kind of like “closed door.” To me, they both show a lack of perseverance and courage. I have a tough time seeing how Jesus had a peace while he was praying in the garden of Gethsemane. You see all kinds of doors close for Paul in the NT but he persists in his mission despite this. Sometimes obstacles pop up in our lives and we aren’t meant to see them as God telling us we shouldn’t do something, but as challenges to see how far we will go to do what we feel God may expect of us. When we may be faced with a difficult situation of being honest with someone, we probably won’t feel a peace about doing it. It’s okay. Courage doesn’t require a peace. Do it anyway. Be courageous. Be like Jesus toward Herod

Jesus is compassionate

Finally, our text shows the compassion and longsuffering of Jesus. We see this right off the bat as Jesus says “Jerusalem” 2 times, which is a sign of affection (“My dear Jerusalem...”). The text says he has “longed to gather your children together.” The word “longed” (θέλω) is used 207 times in the NT, most often with the sense of “desire.” Jesus even uses feminine imagery of a mother hen to describe it. By show of hands, who all has seen a mother hen with her baby chicks? A mother hen cares for a protects her chicks, and Jesus wanted to do that with his people, but thought it were Jesus’ desire, it was a desire his people did not share. Jesus is loving and compassionate, but he is prepared to be tough with necessary, as seen in the next verse.

Jesus is bold, courageous, and compassionate. He calls you and I, brothers and sisters, to follow his example with all of these things. To speak truth to power, to press on in our journey despite opposition, and to act in compassion to those who surround us who need Jesus. My wife and I could have seen our relationship difficulties as a sign that we were to end it. 12 years of marriage, 3 daughters, and 2 happy spouses later, I’m glad we did not. We persevered through opposition. We encountered conflict and we overcame it. Don’t let the Herods of the world make you give up. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen