Luke
9:51-62 NIV
51 As the time approached for him to be
taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. 52 And
he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get
things ready for him; 53 but the people there did
not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. 54 When
the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us
to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” 55 But
Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then he and his
disciples went to another village.
57 As they were walking along the
road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
58 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds
have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
59 He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own
dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Still another said, “I will follow
you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to
the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”
Determined
So, what’s this
passage of Scripture have to do with this season of Pentecost? You know, the
season of the Holy Spirit and the early Church as it develops into the
Universal Church throughout all time. OK, we’ll get to that as we go.
Some theologians
refer to this journey of Jesus as the Perean or Judean ministry. What’s that
about? Perea is an area east of the Jordan river. Perea is the place that John
the Baptist was doing all of his work of baptizing.
Jesus was in Perea,
near the Jordan river when He got news that Lazarus was dead. So, Jesus leaves
Perea for Bethany to raise Lazarus. Well, when Jesus raised Lazarus, the Jewish
leaders decided it was time to kill Jesus. But it wasn’t time, as of yet for
Jesus to die. So, Jesus goes back to Perea through Samaria. Perea is where
Jesus blessed the little children. Jesus spent time with the Samaritans
teaching. This was part of His ministry.
As this passage of
Scripture takes place, Jesus is determined to fulfill the plan God has for Him
and all creation, to go to His death in Jerusalem, be resurrected and ascend
into heaven to be with the Father. So, Jesus leaves Perea and moves into Judea.
So, this is a roundabout
journey in the final month of Jesus ministry as He and His disciples leave the
region of Samaria, pass into Perea, and out of Perea into Judea on Jesus final
journey to the cross.
This gives you some
reference to the reason the disciples want to bring fire on the Samaritan village
that did not welcome Jesus. So, that sets the geography of this passage of
Scripture.
Now, what about this
mission of Jesus? Jesus was on His mission prophesied throughout time, to the
cross, resurrection and ascension. This is right up front with the beginning of
verse 51. “As the time approached for him (Jesus) to be taken up to heaven...” –
That’s a reference to Jesus’ ascension.
This mission, as I
mentioned above, was a mission throughout time. Like a mission that was there
before the beginning of time. I can’t even wrap my head around that, but depend
and trust in God for the Truth of it. Even the thought of it, proclaims the
Love God has for all that He created.
This Gift from God is
the Gospel in eternity. It is the Gospel of Jesus’ destiny and acceptance of
death. A death chosen by Jesus, not forced upon Him. Yes, here, Jesus is going
to meet death. And Jesus is going to meet death FOR all of us throughout time.
SO THAT we may be one with Him and be in God’s care as His Children.
So, Jesus is determined
to complete His mission. Some interpret this as “He set His face” towards the
completion of this journey towards Jerusalem, His death, His resurrection, and
His ascension. God spoke about this determination back in the book of Isaiah as
he spoke through the prophet about determination of the mission of the Love of
God in Jesus… Isaiah 50:6-8
6 I offered my back to those who beat me,
my
cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
I did not hide my face
from
mocking and spitting.
7 Because
the Sovereign Lord helps me,
I will
not be disgraced.
Therefore I have set my face like flint,
and I
know I will not be put to shame.
8 He
who vindicates me is near.
Who then
will bring charges against me?
Let us
face each other!
Who is my accuser?
Let him
confront me!
Well, on the way out
of Samaria, Jesus and His disciples pass through a Samaritan village. Jesus has
been teaching in Samaria for some time now. But as Jesus headed towards
Jerusalem with full conviction, these Samaritans were offended and would not receive
Jesus into their village. You see, the Samaritans and Judeans hated one
another. But Jesus didn’t hate either of them.
Well, the disciples
were enraged at this attitude of the people that Jesus had spent so much of His
time with, teaching and healing, that they were all in favor of obliterating
the village with fire.
To Jesus this part
of the journey and the people of the Samaritan village, was just a bump in the
road to what Jesus has really decided to do, you know, His determination to go
to His death. Jesus “Set His face” on the completion of God’s plan for Himself
and all people, over sin, death and the devil.
So, there was no
need to destroy this Samaritan village. Jesus has a different point of view. There
is no need to kill the sinner or wrongdoer. God is much more patient than this.
After all God is Holy. Thanks be to God for that!
Along the way on
this roundabout journey to Jerusalem, Jesus meets a few seekers who wish to be
followers. But these, unknown to themselves, would prove to be casual followers
of sorts. Jesus was “On a Mission” as the often-used phrase is said.
None of these people
are loyal to the passion that the Kingdom of God requires. Take this seriously.
The Kingdom of God is no joke here. We all fall short of this passion many
times in our lives. Admit it!
The obstacles that
get in the way of mankind and disciples are self-pleasure and a lack of loyalty
to God and God’s mission. You see, the Kingdom of God, far exceeds our need for
food, wealth, power, and many other human desires.
The All-important
mission of God lies in the priority that the Kingdom of God demands from us.
Loyalty to Jesus
demands more that what Elijah asked of Elisha in 1 Kings 19:19-21, as Elijah
was about to go to God.
19 So Elijah went from there and found Elisha
son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was
driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around
him. 20 Elisha then left his oxen and ran after
Elijah. “Let me kiss my father and mother goodbye,” he said, “and then I
will come with you.”
“Go back,” Elijah replied. “What have I done to you?”
21 So
Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered
them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the
people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his servant.
Elisha was the successor of Elijah as prophet. But now we don’t
need a successor to Jesus. Jesus completes the mission, and with the power of
the Holy Spirit we carry on the Gospel message to all those God gives to us, until
Jesus returns to draw all of His Children to Him in a New World, as originally
intended for all of God’s creation.
And this brings us back to Pentecost. This brings us back to that
original question that I posed…
So, what’s this passage of Scripture have
to do with this season of Pentecost? You know, the season of the Holy Spirit
and the early Church as it develops into the Universal Church throughout all time.
As disciples of God, at our baptism, we
were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We were
gifted with God’s Word and God’s coming to us in Word and Sacrament, like Holy
Communion. We were also gifted with anything needed to carry out God’s mission
in the world in which God set us. Part of that world in which God set us was
His Church, God’s universal, catholic church. Gifted in many and various ways,
TO --- hear this --- be determined, to set our face, to work in God’s Kingdom
and proclaim the Gospel of Love that God has freely given to all people, so
that they may see God’s love and believe in the Truth of that Love for all
creation throughout time and eternity. This is our priority.
Why? Because we have seen God’s love, and
are sent on that roundabout journey to give our lives, here and now, to confess
how God has saved each of us from sin, death and evil powers – THROUGH – our
Savior Jesus Christ as He “Set His face” in determination to carry out His
death, resurrection, and ascension.
This is a serious mission that God has
given us. Set your face and turn to God to lead and guide you in that mission…
today… tomorrow… and forever! Thanks be to God!
I leave my Blog Readers with this YouTube
Video that reflects a determination that we are all called to…
Here I am Lord --- Enjoy Set Your Face
Like Flint to what God has called you…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcxOkht8w7c&list=RDEcxOkht8w7c&start_radio=1
No comments:
Post a Comment