Friday, June 27, 2025

Determined - Luke 9:51-62 - Third Sunday after Pentecost

 


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

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.
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.
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

 Here I Am Lord

 

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