The Little Things

We are in sections of Luke where Jesus is doing more teaching.

He is on his way to Jerusalem, as he goes, he is still teaching and healing and causing trouble.

We have been faced with many things Jesus has done. It can be hard for us to compare what he does with what we can do.

He does big, great things.

We do small, seemingly insignificant things.

Do the little things really matter?

We will see today, yes.

The little things you do make a significant difference. The comparison used should give us pause when we thing about how we go about things in our life.

Luke 13:18-19

Luke 13:18–19 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.”

Stop for just a moment and consider the contrast.

Kingdom of God - Tiny Seed

(This has OT references in Ezekiel)

First, you don’t really plant a mustard plan in a garden. (imagery)

Second, mustard plants don’t become trees, more like a 5-8ft bush.

Question: How long will it take for this to grow? Quite a while.

The Kingdom is like a tiny thing you do that grows into something large.

This is a universal concept if we consider this. A small change in your life can yield significant results.

Good or Bad, depends on what you plant that will take root.

Luke 13:20-21

Luke 13:20–21 (NLT)

He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”

Again, consider the contrast.

Kingdom of God - Tiny amount of yeast

The measures are about 150lbs, so this is a lot of bread. Bakers our there know that yeast is a funny substance. It will just replicate itself. It can be dormant and you can refresh it. You can use the remnants of old dough to get the yeast active again.

Question: How long will it take for this to permeate the flour, knead them, bake them, and consume them?

Both items refer to living things.

Again, the Kingdom is a small think you work into dough over a long period, and then you break it up into consumable portions.

The little things matter…Because

If you think you are a great thing, you might be wrong.

Luke 13:22-25

Luke 13:22–25 (NLT)

Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Sir, will only a few be saved?” He replied, “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail. When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

Oh my. How some people don’t like this version of Jesus. He is so…Narrow Minded with his Narrow Doors!

He is continuing on his journey to Jerusalem.

The question is straightforward. It would not be a strange question. Many argued over the scope of God’s kingdom.

Israel Only, Just parts of Israel, Parts of the Nation, Who?

It may not seem like this is connected to the previous section, but it is, and we will see that in a moment.

The desire is to enter God’s Kingdom.

But, for what purpose?

Have you asked yourself, “Why do you want to be part of God’s Kingdom?” Do you know?

Jesus does NOT ANSWER his question.

He talk about what it takes to participate in God’s Kingdom.

Work Hard - Endure, like training for sport.

Many will try, they think they are good (for different reasons)

And there is a time limit, there will be at time when the door is closed.

We want to know when, but we are not told.

IMPORTANT: Work when the door is open.

The image is sad. People will ask to get in, but they won’t be let in.

The master will only allow those that are known.

Luke 13:26-27

Luke 13:26–27 (NLT)

Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’

Notice: Jesus did not say what needed to be done to enter. He has been TEACHING IT.

Contrast: Ate, drank, and you came to our town.

How is that evil?

Regardless, they are defined as Evil.

Can we trust the judgement of the Master?

Luke 13:28-30

Luke 13:28–30 (NLT)

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God.

People read this and they think Hell, but Jesus never uses that term. He describes those on the outside.

Sacred space - Exile

Get the image and how offensive this would be to people.

The fathers of the faith and the prophets are in the Kingdom, like they watch them walking past and getting in the door.

AND…the nations, the strangers, non-Israel, from all over the world, get in.

The TAKE THEIR PLACE in the Kingdom.

And it gets interesting…least and greatest.

Luke 13:30

Luke 13:30 (NLT)

And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

In other words, a tiny seed, a little yeast. The things you consider insignificant, those are the ones that are greatest.

But here an now, if you have your honor, you seem very important, especially to yourself, then you have all the recognition you will ever get.

THE GENIUS OF THIS SECTION IS HOW IT FILTERS:

If you are not offended by this section, you are willing to do the little things, endure, you see yourself as unimportant, then you are good with this.

If you are offended (and don’t fake it by being offended on behalf of other people) because you cannot IMAGINE GOD not letting you in, then it is likely you are not in.

It is a narrow door:

Are you small enough to enter?

Are you too big to get through the gate?

Speaking of too big...

Luke 13:31-33

Luke 13:31–33 (NLT)

At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

Two of the biggest…the religious leaders and Herod Antipas.

Does Jesus seem concerned?

Nope.

Just goes on his way…but not before getting some words in...

Go tell that fox…implies the Pharisee’s have an audience with Herod.

Are they for Jesus

Are they against him

We don’t know.

He will continue on, with a reference to the 3rd day.

He must proceed…it is the Will of His Father.

For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!

What a statement.

He compares this generation of Pharisee’s to those who killed the prophets.

Jesus EQUATES himself like a prophet of Old.

Is he a prophet.

It is hard to tell.

This Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God, seems so small, like a seed or a little yeast that works its way into an ordinary thing like flour.

But is that all he is?

Luke 13:34-35

Luke 13:34–35 (NLT)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

Oh how I could spend time right here…In short.

Jesus is speaking about Jerusalem.

And then he moves to first person.

How often I would gather as a hen:

In the Old Testament writers refer to the LORD as having wings that give a protective shadow.

He wants to gather them as children

But they refused.

And now look, your house (temple) is abandoned

The glory of the LORD that was spoken in the OT is gone.

They have not seen the Glory…they will never see me again…Jesus is the Glory.

Reference is to Psalm 118.

There is a part in here that is interesting.

The reference to the Blessing is referring to when God comes as King to Jerusalem. They throw down branches before the arriving king.

The Psalm talks about binding the festal sacrifice with cords (to the altar), preparing for the sacrifice.

You know what they thought was insignificant was the sacrifice.

It was just an animal.

But in this case, Jesus, the one who is referred to as the sacrifice…IS GOD.

Do the little things really matter?

Yes, even in the words.

Jesus, as King, as God, does not behave as we would expect.

We want God to make these big, huge, moves.

But he works with tiny seeds.

He works with a small amount of yeast.

He has been teaching us all this time what we should do.

If only we would do it.

He makes himself so insignificant, but he is the creator.