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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 4 - JESUS' MINISTRY DURING HIS JOURNEY TO JERUSALEM (Luke 9:51 - 19:27)

18. Christ's Experience on His Way to Jerusalem (Luke 13:22-35)


LUKE 13:31-35
31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

During his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, Jesus entered within the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. He was a stupid extravagant and ill-tempered ruler who committed many crimes. Yet he was continuously convicted by his conscience (Matthew 2:16; Luke 3:19; 9:7; 23:11). Maybe he sought to satisfy the Pharisees, knowing that they hated Jesus and wanted to drive him away, so he promised to use his few guards for this purpose. The Pharisees sought to lessen Christ’s reputation by frightening him and showing the people that he was a coward, and afraid of death. Herod probably wanted also to satisfy the Roman occupying authority by delivering up to them a popular rebel leader, to prove his own submission and loyalty to the authority.

Jesus perceived the machination of the king and his allies, and called the king a fox. He knew his plotting and scheming and condemned them. Nevertheless Jesus officially informed Herod of his works that he might know him well who was at work in his territory. Christ is the Victor over all demons. In his contacts with evil spirits, Herod was afraid of their dominion, and used to tremble with fear. But Jesus cast out evil authorities by an utterance of his tongue. With these powers he healed the poor and the tormented. His divine love was the motive of his ability.

And yet Jesus testified that no man not even the king himself could kill him without the will of God, who appointed the time and place of his mission, which Jesus had to finish completely. God is the Ruler of the world, and no king or vile leader can hinder or oppose the establishment of the kingdom of God through artifice and human power.

Jesus knew beforehand that his way led to the cross. He called his death on the infamous tree the perfection of his mission and character. Was Jesus not perfect at all times? Undoubtedly, all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt in him bodily. But his ministry was perfected on the cross, reconciling the world with God. His human body had to bear the unperceivable last temptation. The Spirit of God made the weak man Jesus an almighty man who united the world with God by his precious blood, and was worthy of being raised bodily from the tomb. Today, this glorified human body is seated at the right hand of God.

Jesus knew that the last hour of his life on earth would only be in Jerusalem. He obeyed the instruction of the Holy Spirit to die there on the altar of the world.

The Son of God suffered at the same time from the devilry of this city, for he who was a murderer from the beginning (Satan) found in the center of Jewish culture a place for his crimes. Jesus called Jerusalem the City of Peace “the one who kills the prophets”. Jesus was not dazzled by the splendor of the capital, nor was he impressed by the imposing robes of spiritual and civil leaders. He scorned the weapons of the occupying forces, and despised the riches of their civilization and this worthless external show.In this city Jesus tried to unite those who sought after God, that through the power of his love they might respond to him and receive everlasting life. He called them, sought them, and worked laboriously for them. But the people of the city, especially the teachers, did not want at all to follow the Physician who came from a despised village. So they hardened their minds toward the call of God, deserving fearful judgment.

Woe to the village, city, and country whose people shut their ears against the voice of the love of God. The coming grievous judgment is inescapable. Wars must come because of men’s unbelief in Christ. Why do multitudes wonder at the commotions, disasters, and wars in our world?

God’s condemnation continues and spiritual blindness increases, for the light of the gospel is being veiled and darkened. Woe to the city or country from which the Spirit of Christ departs, because its people did not open their hearts willingly to him. Then evil spirits come from all sides, to exercise deception, mastery, fornication, disorder, hatred, and fear.

Thus Christ showed the proud teachers of the law the judgment to come on the nations. But he left for them the dawn of hope shining on the horizon of history, and directed them to his second coming, and the probable repentance of the people of the Old Testament who would cry out at his heavenly shining glory, reiterating the words quoted from Psalm 118:26 applied to the coming of the High Priest into his temple, and crying with tears, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

PRAYER: O Lord Jesus, we worship you, for your faithful love and your truth. Please forgive us our slow hearts if we failed to follow your gentle merciful voice. Forgive all those who hardened their hearts against your Holy Spirit, and call them again to resort to you before the day of great destruction. Thank you for treating us with patient forbearance.

QUESTION 95: What are the different meanings of Christ’s lamentation for Jerusalem?

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